Hunter GP Access After Hours Program

Overview

The purpose of the Hunter GP Access After Hours Program is to provide funding to the Hunter New England and Central Coast primary Health network to commission GP Access After Hours Services at five locations within Maitland, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. The objectives of the grant are: Deliver primary care after hours services at five locations within Belmont Hospital, John Hunter Hospital, Maitland Hospital and Toronto Polyclinic and at the Calvary Mater Hospital; Restore primary care after hours services to the five locations which can include a mix of face to face and telehealth services; Improve efficiency and effectiveness of health and medical services for patients in the after hours period within the region; Develop regional responses to address the after hours primary health care needs of the local community and support the after hours primary health care workforce; and Promote coordination between services at the local level and support local service providers in having the skills and systems to provide effective after hours care that integrates with a patients usual primary care provider. The intended outcomes of the grant are: Increased patient access to after hours primary care services in the region; More efficient health and medical services for patients in the after hours period; Regional responses address the after hours primary health care needs of the local community and support the after hours primary health workforce; and Services at the local level are coordinated and local service providers have the skills and systems to provide effective after hours care that integrates with a patients usual primary care provider.