Name North West Melbourne Division of General Practice Division Number 307 Classification Urban Number of Member GPs 229 State Victoria Year Established 1994 Number of Member Practices 96 Postcodes Covered 3032, 3033, 3034, 3036, 3039, 3040, 3041, 3042, 3043, 3044, 3045,3046, 3047, 3048, 3049, 3058, 3059, 3064 Population 271,826 (2001 Census) Area Covered The Division covers 427 870 square kilometres. Divisional boundaries cover selected postcodes in the City of Hume, Moonee Valley, Moreland and Brimbank. CEO Ms Carolyn Searle Chair Dr Debra Wilson Physical Address: Broadmeadow Health Service 35 Johnstone Street BROADMEADOWS VIC 3047 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 3239 BROADMEADOWS VIC 3047 Australia Email: admin@nwmdgp.org.au Phone: 03 8345 5600 Fax: 03 8345 5622 Website: http://www.nwmdgp.org.au

The North West Melbourne Division has always enjoyed a high activity level, both with core program areas as well as additional funding and policy planning and development. Additional funding includes Commonwealth Grants relating to Information technology and Immunisation. The National Prescribing Service is funding the Division to address appropriate prescribing. Staff and GPs are actively involved in the local policy planning and development. The North West Melbourne Division has a well established Community Action Forum who provide a consumer perspective on all Division programs.

Stakeholders include Local Health Services - Public and Private Hospitals, Community Health Services, Local Government; Hume/Moreland Primary Care Partnership Alliance - 90 local organisations involved; other divisions; Australian Securities and Investment Commission; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; University of Melbourne Department of General Practice; Practice Managers; Practice Nurses; GPD-V; VicHealth; Consumers; National Public Health Partnership; Department of Human Services; Northern Metropolitan Region Health Promotion Action Group; Melbourne/Moonee Valley Primary Care Partnerships; Local Schools; Local worksites; Centre for Ethnic Health; Northern Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre; National Heart Foundation; Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria; and QUIT.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Patient Confidentiality
• GP Case Management of Nursing Home Patients
• Total Diabetes Care within General Practice
• Community Liaison Project - establishment of Community Action Forum
• Development of Board Member's Handbook
• Community Education in Menopause - DCALB emphasis
• General Practitioners in Health Promotion
• Consultation Liaison in Primary Care Project (CLIPP)
• Palliative Care Project
• Improving Paediatric Care in the Community

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• Development of GP to GP referral protocols.
• Increased use of Information Technology for patient records.
• Encourage use of Clinical Practice Guidelines.
• Continued participation and liaison with relevant planning and hospital committees.
• Encourage GP involvement in research.