Name Barossa Division of General Practice Division Number 506 Classification Rural Number of Member GPs 33 State South Australia Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 10 Postcodes Covered 5233, 5234, 5235, 5236, 5244, 5351, 5352, 5353, 5354, 5355, 5356, 5360, 5372, 5373, 5374, 5381, 5400, 5401, 5402, 5410, 5412, 5413, 5501, 5502 Population 35,318 (2001 Census) Area Covered The Division covers a large rural area extending east to the River Murray, south to the northern edge of the Adelaide Hills, north to Saddleworth and Robertstown, and west to Mallala and St Vincent Gulf. The centre of the Division is approximately 75 kilometres north of Adelaide. CEO Mr Ian Dobbie Chair Dr Stewart Martin Physical Address: 29a Murray Street ANGASTON SA 5353 Australia Postal Address: 29a Murray Street ANGASTON SA 5353 Australia Email: division@bdgp.net Phone: 08 8564 3266 Fax: 08 8564 3261 Website: http://www.bdgp.net

The Barossa Division of General Practice will continue to develop and implement strategies which will improve the integration and quality of health care services and health promotion, thereby improving the health outcomes for the local community. Many members do behind the scenes work, especially at the community level, which maintains a high profile for the Division. The fact that 42% of personnel payments is to GPs reflects this work. The Division is most fortunate to have keen and dedicated GPs who contribute to the activities and success of programs conducted in the region. A major reason for the high level of GP involvement in Divisional activities is the need for GPs to get out of the surgery and be seen in the local community. This is particularly so in rural regions as local services such as banks and allied health are diminishing with limited access to transportation. It is now well recognised that rural people suffer from poorer health than the urban population. The high GP activity outside of the surgery has enhanced the close working relationships of the GPs with other organisations. They are consulted as the local health experts on a wide range of public and emerging health issues.

The Division supports the educational needs of the GPs through Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities and provides invaluable peer support for rural GPs and their families. Although the Barossa does not suffer from the same degree of GP shortages as experienced by other regions, the GPs work long hours, have limited locum service access and, if a sole practitioner, are often on call 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. As well, rural GPs are disadvantaged by the higher travel and communication costs in accessing educational upskilling.

The Barossa supports individual GPs in CME, information technology etc., the uptake of which supports improved health outcomes for individuals and their families. The Barossa Division has established strong alliances with other groups and continues to maintain a high focus on GPs as providers of good health information. The main population is located in the major towns of the Division - Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston, Kapunda, Williamstown and Mt Pleasant along with a number of smaller towns. There is also a significant population outside of these towns. The Barossa Valley has a high tourist influx with approximately 50 000 visitors to the area each year, along with a high level of itinerant workers due to the wine industry. Practice vacancy rates are not exceptionally high but difficulty is usually experienced when practices seek to appoint an additional/replacement GP. (One practice has finally attracted two GPs having tried to do so for the past five years.) Locum services are limited, expensive and often prohibitive for many rural GPs. There is one semi-retired doctor who provides a locum relief service. South Australian Rural and Remote Medical Support Agency (SARRMSA) provides a locum service, predominantly for CME activities. Barossa Valley Medical Association (BVMA) is a unique political group that was formed over 40 years ago. The Barossa Division facilitates the meetings held by the Association which has been instrumental in providing a forum for the local GPs to meet in an informal setting in addition to providing CME attracted events.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

• The Barossa Division of General Practice has developed and maintained collaborative links with other service providers. Often the Division is sought out as the major information base for local community groups.
• The GPs are very active in the community and like to get out of the surgery and provide good health information for the public. The GPs are involved in local community groups and sporting organisations and are recognised as trustworthy community members.
• The Division provides the mechanism for GPs to develop a professional peer relationship with other GPs. This enhances the lifestyle of the rural GP and their family.
• The Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program coordinated by the Division has a dual role of updating the skills of the GP and enhancing the social support structure important for a GP to live in a rural environment.
• The Division is known to be a doing Division and has enjoyed success in implementing programs such as the Cooperative Trauma Project, Developmentally Delayed Children Project, SA Farm Injury Project and the Mental Health Case Conferencing Project.
• The Information Technology Program has been instrumental in increasing the uptake of computers in General Practice with GPs now embracing the technology.
• The Enhanced Primary Care Program will encourage GPs to share the planning and care of patients across a diverse range of allied health organisations.

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• Demands for GP time and involvement when they are busy rural GPs with full-time practices and a family. The Division is now finding it difficult to attract a GP to the position of Medical Director due to the demands of the position
• Limited infrastructure funding
• Increased expectations on the small number of Division personnel to be involved in a range of activities
• Increased expectation and demand for Divisional involvement by the State Health Service
• Dealing with gaps in Major Health Services, including:
•  Diabetes
•  Cardiovascular Disease
•  Limited mental health services Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
•  Asthma
•  Early intervention for children
•  Limited aged care facilities
•  Specialist services
•  Transportation
•  Cancer support groups

Rural Workforce Issues including:

•  High cost of employing a locum
•  Lack of accommodation for locums
•  Adequate respite leave for GPs and their families from the practice
•  Expectations by university medical training facilities for GPs to assist in the training of medical students and post graduates

The Division is keen to work with other organisations in developing strong collaborative links and successful programs. The Enhanced Primary Care Program is an example of a program that will facilitate such a link. Despite the ever evolving nature of the health industry, the Division remains a stable base for the rural General Practitioner.