GP Helpline Demonstrated to Cut Demand on EDs and After Hours GP Services
More than 20,000 people who have called the GP after hours helpline since it commenced on 1 July have been redirected from seeking urgent after hours treatment at either hospital emergency departments or GP after hours services.
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30 December 2011
Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said today this represented a 44% reduction in the requirement for face to face medical consultations out of hours for people using the helpline -- 1800 022 222.
“This is a great outcome for patients, and also for Emergency Departments and after hours GP services, because otherwise that is where these 20,000 people would have ended up,” Ms Plibersek said.
Ms Plibersek said that 74,567 callers have accessed the GP helpline since 1 July.
“These callers are initially triaged by the healthdirect Australia Nurse Triage service,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Those who the nurses triage as needing to immediately attend an Emergency Department are assisted to get to an ED. Those who are triaged as needing to see a doctor immediately, within four hours, or within 24 hours are referred on to the GP helpline.
“Of those 74,000 people, 62% were assessed by the nurses as needing urgent care after hours – that is, they were triaged as needing to see a doctor immediately or within four hours.
“Because of the clinical advice which the GPs on the helpline can provide, the percentage of people who were then referred on to EDs or after hours medical services was reduced from 62% to 35% - a reduction of 27% or more than 20,000 people.
“About 15% were referred to 000 or to a hospital emergency department, with a further 9% being referred to a hospital emergency department because no after hours GP services were available in their area.”
Ms Plibersek said a National Health Services Directory has been established under the auspices of the National Health Call Centre Network to assist GPs and nurses in referring patients to the most appropriate accessible service after hours.
“This directory is used on line by the nurses and doctors in the call centre network to provide up to date information on after hours access to Emergency Departments, GPs and pharmacies.
“As it develops further, it will also be made available to the public, and will be updated in real time by Medicare Locals as they are established and rolled out across the country,” Ms Plibersek said.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7220
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