After Hours Primary Medical Care Program

ADGP was contracted by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) to manage the After Hours Primary Medical Care (AHPMC) Program and to provide current, accurate and timely national, regional and local information on AHPMC services and service innovations across Australia.  The Program seeks to assist Divisions of General Practice and GPs in analysing AHPMC issues and in developing innovative responses to issues raised. 

The AHPMC Program forms part of the Commonwealth After Hours Primary Medical Care Initiatives which are aimed at improving access to quality primary medical care for consumers during those out of hours periods of the day or week when their own general practitioner is not available. 

ADGP is committed to improving access to primary medical care in the after hours periods and to finding ways of supporting GPs in providing the care to their patients.  The program has identified and highlighted some of the major issues and barriers in confronting GPs and consumers in Australia to date and is providing the Department with advice on the impact of these barriers to AHPMC and what broad policy and system change should be implemented to address the issues. 

ADGP and the network of AHPMC State Policy Officers based in each of the State Based Organisations (SBOs) are working with Divisions and other key stakeholders to improve access and support GPs in the provision of these services.

For further information contact:

Elke Purnell
National Coordinator
After Hours Primary Medical Care Program
Ph   02 6228 0889
Fax 02 6228 0899