Name Tweed Valley Division of General Practice Division Number 226 Classification Rural Number of Member GPs 93 State New South Wales Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 33 Postcodes Covered 2483, 2484, 2485, 2486, 2487, 2488, 2489, 2490, 4225. Population 77,260(2001 Census) Area Covered The Tweed Valley Division of General Practice covers an area of approximately of 1307.5 sq kilometres, which includes the Tweed Shire (1,303 sq kms) and Coolangatta in Queensland (approximately 4.5 sq kms). CEO Mr Gary Southey Chair Dr Diane Blanckensee Physical Address: 7 Nullum Street MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 104 MURWILLUMBAH NSW 2484 Australia Email: office@tvdgp.org.au Phone: 02 6672 5158 Fax: 02 6672 5195

The geographical Divisional boundaries are the Burringbar Range in the south, the McPherson Range in the west, the Pacific Ocean in the east, to Coolangatta (Queensland) in the north.

The Tweed Valley Division comprises three distinct population areas, i.e. Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah and the Tweed Coast.  The Tweed Heads area is suburban and residential in nature and is the eighth largest urban centre in NSW, Murwillumbah a small country town, and the Tweed Coast backs onto rural areas and is fast growing.

Division Overview/Introduction:
The Murwillumbah and Tweed Coast Division was established as a company limited by guarantee in August 1993. It grew out of the strong professional links that already existed among Murwillumbah GPs, and between general practice and the local health services and community.

In response to the restructuring in late '93 of the local area health service to include both Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads District Hospital, Division collaboration, representation and activities expanded to include all Tweed Valley GPs.  The Division officially became the Tweed Valley Division of General Practice in January 1996.

The office base for the Division is located in Murwillumbah in the Tweed Valley.  Murwillumbah is approximately 30 kms south west of Tweed Heads and the Queensland/New South Wales state border.

There are currently 85 GPs and 6 GP Registrars working within the Division boundary of which 100% are Division members.  Division services are extended to all GPs within the Division area.  The 29 GP members outside the boundary receive all Division mailouts, printed information, and have access to education events.  The Division's Board comprises 2 Murwillumbah GP Directors and 2 Tweed Heads area GP Directors.  The Board meets bi-monthly, at the Division office in Murwillumbah.

The Division core staff comprises a fulltime non GP Executive Officer and 2 full-time staff (Administrative Officer and Program Officer).  The Finance Officer, Administrative Support Officer, Education/Mental Health Project Officer, Immunisation Project Officer all work part-time and the Practice Support Advisor/NPS Facilitator is employed as a contractor. 

The Division has developed a strong working relationship with the local health service, including the hospital and community health services at both ends of the Tweed Valley.

Major Achievements:

• Chronic Disease Management - the Division managed to achieve, through effective collaboration and communication with Area Health Service chronic disease program staff, increases in referrals; 7% for cardiac rehabilitation, 8% for heart failure & 10% for respiratory into the Murwillumbah District Hospitals' chronic disease rehabilitation programs. This translates to an increase of 66% in patients accessing these programs.
• Mental Health - The Division communicates between both inpatient and community mental health managers to keep abreast of any changes in service provision for dissemination to GPs.
• Immunisation - Achievements to December 2004;
  • An increase in immunisation coverage of 0.4%
  • An increase of 7% in GPII payments
  • 29% increase in practices accessing the ACIR
  • 3% increase in practices utilising recall systems for immunisation
  • 97% of vaccine fridges are in the desired range when data logged
  • 45% of TVDGP practice nurses are accredited immunisation providers
    (The above has been achieved despite the Tweed Valley having a conscientious objector rate of 3.63%.)
• Quality Use of Medicines - The Division continues to engage in a collaborative program with the Gold Coast Division of General Practice.
• National Prescribing Service - The GP participation rate in NPS is 57%, which is above the NPS target of 50%.
• Aged Care and Aged Care GP Panel - The Division has participated in regular meetings with managers of Residential Aged Care Facilities and ACAT staff prior to the release of recent Commonwealth initiatives under the Strengthening Medicare program. This previous engagement facilitated timely response in the implementation of the Aged Care 'GP Panel' initiative.
• After Hours - The Division has progressed the provision of After Hours Primary Medical Care services for the Tweed community through collaboration with the Area Health Service in the implementation of a proposed co-located GP clinic at Tweed Heads Hospital.
• More Allied Health Services (MAHS) - The Division, under MAHS funding, provides a child and adolescent psychology service "Help 4 Kids". This service operates from the RRMA 5 areas of Murwillumbah and the Tweed Coast.
• Workforce Support for Rural General Practitioners - Included in this program are the practice managers forums, practice nurse forums and practice receptionists forums. Forums offer education and networking opportunities for participants, participation remains approximately 80% across all three areas.

Challenges for the Future:
Building capacity through strategic partnerships is the focus for the future and is critical for the long term success and survival of this small Division.

Page Updated: February 2005

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