10. Productivity Commission Enquiry into Health Workforce
The Board considered the issues raised by the Productivity Commission’s draft and discussed further comments for ADGP.  In discussion the meeting noted that the productivity commission’s paper has a number of inaccuracies and needed some further clarity about GP roles; the responses from ADGP to the paper appeared to have the underlying themes of support for budget holding and divisions of primary care, which may be going somewhat further than divisions and GPs may wish to go at present. Divisions may be too small to be budget holders for regional programs, but groups of divisions might be able to do it.

The board agreed that this paper raised again the process by which ADGP and the Divisions Network reach agreement on responses to policy papers, and suggested that John Meaney raise this at the ASBO meeting in Perth.

11. DHS Board of Health Information Systems
The Board received an update from Bill and agreed that we should continue to seek representation on the board.

12. GPR/HSD
The Board received a report from Lenora on the progress of the handover process. The HSD has not yet gone live but is expected to do so in November. GPDV will monitor its accuracy and will continue to advocate for its use by hospitals and the frequent updating of GP contact data.

13. State Health Emergency Response Plan (SHERP) Working Group
The Board received an update from Bill on the most recent meeting on 21 October and noted that the section of the plan about general practice had not covered the issues in a way that is likely to gain the support of divisions and GPs and that the working group had asked Bill to draft a more appropriate section for inclusion in the plan.

14. Health Assist Line (HAL)
The Board received an update from Bill who also reported that he has been invited to participate in the reference group for HAL.  The board members voiced concern about the possible detrimental effect of a centralised call service on local after-hours services such as those in WestVic, Moe and Whitehorse. The newly Commonwealth-funded project at Eastern ranges Division might also be undercut by HAL.

15. VGPA
The Board received an update from Bill on the meeting of the VGPA with Minister Pike on 26 October at which the minister expressed interest in the proposed A/Prof positions but made no commitments. At the post-mortem meeting the group agreed that the meetings in 2006 will be more formally structured and limited to two representatives of each organisation. The board agreed that, if the VACGP does not continue, the VGPA might be able to take on some of its functions.

16. Support for GPLOs
The Board received an update from Lenora on suggestions for maintaining the GPLO network. Lenora said that the national GPLO email list and website are valuable ways to showcase the Victorian GPLO network, which is stronger and more active than in other states, and that DHS is reviewing GPLOs and aims to develop a funding model.

The Board agreed that GPDV should continue its support of GPLOs in the event that funding does not continue and asked Bill to also address the issue at the next EARC meeting.

17. Refugees not eligible for Medicare
The Board supported Sharon’s proposal that GPDVshould monitor the policy of Southern Health (and other hospitals) on the provision of services to refugees not eligible for Medicare and take it up with Minister Pike if necessary. The meeting also agreed that the failure to give access to Medicare to refugees who are legally in Australia is something that must be taken up with the Commonwealth minister.

18. CPD Coordinators network and RACGP QA/CPD program
The Board noted that the RACGP sought a payment of $792 for the involvement of the Relationships Coordinator for the QA/CPD Program our CPD Network.

The Board agreed to advise the Victorian Branch of the RACGP that this is unacceptable and not how we would like to work with the RACGP, which we have considered a partner, both in these CPD workshops, and through special events such as the Mental Health Forum.

19. Eye & Ear Hospital MoU
John McEncroe informed the Board about the very positive response of the RVEEH to the MoU with GPDV and its serious commitment to the implementation process.