Name Dubbo/Plains Division of General Practice Division Number 230 Classification Rural Number of Member GPs 81 State New South Wales Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 36 Postcodes Covered 2357, 2395, 2396, 2820, 2821, 2823, 2824, 2825, 2827, 2828, 2829, 2830, 2831, 2842, 2843, 2844, 2850, 2852, 2869 Population 99,361 Area Covered 63,000 square kilometres, including the towns of Baradine, Coolah, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Dunedoo, Gilgandra, Gulgong, Mudgee, Narromine, Nyngan, Peak Hill, Trangie, Warren, Wellington. CEO Dr Jenny Beange Chair Dr Robin Williams Physical Address: Bowfield House Level 2, 258-260 Macquarie Street DUBBO NSW 2830 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 1834 DUBBO NSW 2830 Australia Email: gpdubbo@dubboplainsdgp.com.au Phone: 02 6884 0197 Fax: 02 6884 0198 Website: http://www.dubboplainsdgp.com.au

The Dubbo/Plains Division of General Practice covers a large part of central and western NSW. Although Dubbo is a large rural centre (RRMA 3) more than half of the Division area and GP members are in smaller towns (RRMA 4-7) and widely separated, also many are solo practitioners. The primary issues for GP members revolve around workforce, peer support, access to education and training and access to allied health services.  To improve the health care of our population, the Division aims to facilitate appropriate linkages and enhance the capacity of local general practice to address both individual and population health needs.

Current linkages include: Department of Health and Aged Care, NSW Health, Macquarie Area Health Service, Rural Doctors Network, Health Councils and Consumer Groups, Alliance of NSW Divisions, Local Council and Government, RACGP, ACRRM, Rhedwest (Rural Health Education & Development in the West of NSW) and the Sydney University's Dubbo Clinical School.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Record attendance at Division hosted CPD events for GPs.
• Increased uptake of components of the Practice Incentive Program.
• Increased computerisation and subsequent application of both billing and clinical desktop software.
• Immunisation coverage greater than 92%.
• Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative has met all targets and continues to build success.

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• Implementation of Aged Care GP Panels and associated initiatives.
• Further development of local Primary Health Care Networks.
• Continue development of IT capabilities locally to include secure messaging between acute care and general practice.
• Development of solutions to address GP succession and pending retirements in the region.
• Accreditation of the Division.