ABOUT THE REGION

Population

•  59,208 people

Area

• 815,464 kms2 (32.6% of land mass of WA)
• Distances from Perth metro area range from
  369km to 1200km

Photo courtesy of Goldfields Esperance GP Network

PROJECT FEATURES:

• 47 Full Time Equivalent GPs.
• GP/Patient Ratios ranging from 1500-1999, to 2500-9999.
• Commencement of the Caring Communities Grant Kalgoorlie-Boulder Palliative Care Coordination Project in January 2003.
• Proposed milestones of EGMDGP Rural Palliative Care Project include
  - integrated multidisciplinary approach
  - indigenous Palliative Care Advisory Service
  - determine related roles of all service providers within GSHER
  - GP resource directory
  - multi-agency consent form
  - GP education events
  - regional integration and management of patient information
  - establishment of a Bequest Process

REASONS FOR PROJECT

• Dovetail with Caring Communities Kalgoorlie Boulder Palliative Care Coordination Project.
• Focus on integration of GPs into Palliative Care Team.
• Pave the way forward for regional coordination of palliative care.
• GPs need to be included in care management teams and have access to education and resources necessary to deliver palliative care to a level that satisfies national standards.
• There is a need to ensure GPs are incorporated into the primary health model.
• Evidence indicates a paucity of GP knowledge surrounding the health services that could be utilized for palliation and support of the client and family, with limited access and usage of reliable networks of care for their clients.
• Whilst the Caring Communities Grant currently assists to coordinate these services, GP referral of patients to the Palliative Care Team is integral to the success of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Palliative Care Co-ordination Project (KBPCCP).

For further information on this project please contact: Goldfields Esperance GP Network on
08 9021 6610, email: info@gegpnetwork.org.au