General Practice Tasmania Ltd
| Name: |
General Practice Tasmania Ltd |
| Number of Divisions: |
3 |
| Year Established: |
1998 |
| State: |
Tasmania |
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| Physical Address: |
| Level 3, 86 Murray Street |
| HOBART TAS 7000 |
| Australia |
| Postal Address: |
| GPO Box 1827 |
| HOBART TAS 7001 |
| Australia |
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General Practice Tasmania Limited (formerly Tasmanian General Practice Divisions Limited) was established in 1998.
The broad objectives of General Practice Tasmania are to:
- enhance the role of general practice in the delivery of health services in Tasmania;
- position and promote Tasmanian general practice and its lead role in primary health care;
- provide informed advice on primary care policy, and service planning.
General Practice Tasmania Limited has four member organisations:
- General Practice South
- General Practice North
- General Practice North West
- General Practice Workforce
General Practice Tasmania has responsibility for representing and advocating on behalf of genreal practice and primary care interests in matters of a statewide nature. To do this, the company has established mechanisms to ensure the views of its members are accounted for.
General Practice Tasmania also provides common or shared services on behalf of its members including stakeholder liaison, representation on statewide committees, datta and information services, workforce planning, development of funding proposals, media monitoring and marketing.
Major Achievements:
Ongoing development and evaluation of the MoU jointly with DHHS and the development and implementation of strategies to address issues identified in the evaluation including the refocus of the MoU workplan on eight key theme areas through a planning session held in April 2004.
Continued role in the convening and support of the General Practice Advisory Council of Tasmania (GPACT) and related initiatives and actions. Key areas of interest have included emergency response planning, immunisation, emergency retrieval services, the development of the nurse practitioner role, the State hospitals review, review of palliative care services, a range of public and population health initiatives as well as broader health reform planning.
Development of an MoU between General Practice Tasmania, the three Divisions, General Practice Training Tasmania and the University of Tasmania to support greater collaboration in four priority areas including promotion, GPs as teachers, research and strategy.
The receipt of funding through the National Health Development Fund managed by the State Government for the development of a Diabetes Care Pathway to support GPs in diabetes care and a Patient Held Record to support consumers in their own care. This project was undertaken jointly with the three Divisions of General Practice and was completed in November 2004.
Development and continuation of focussed media and communication activity through media releases, media events, editorial coverage as well as continued publication of a quarterly newsletter and website. Members of the General Practice Tasmania Board have also been invited to participate in local ABC radio medical talkback.
The completion of the Stage 2 evaluation of the General Practice Liaison Program and the development of a strategy in consultation with Divisions to maintain General Practice Liaison Officers (GPLOs) to 30 June 2004 in each of the three hospitals (Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional Hospital).
The completion of Phase 2 of the After Hours Primary Medical Care Project and submission of a final report submitted to AGPN in December 2003.
Challenges for the Future:
Continue discussion and analysis in exploring opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness across the Divisions network in Tasmania including assessing potential re-structure and reducing the costs of infrastructure.
Establishment of a Statewide GP Policy Group (SGPPG) to facilitate the development of agreed statewide general practice policy positions as a basis for stronger negotiation with the State and Australian Governments and clearer representation of GP views on key issues impacting on quality care.
