After hours care
Ensuring patients have access to care outside normal general practice hours and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
Ensuring patients have access to care outside normal general practice hours and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
Reminder: Provider contractual obligations
PROVIDER AGREEMENT for FIRST LINE GENERAL PRACTICE SERVICES
Version 1.6.2
7.1 First Level Services: First level services must be provided to the Provider's Enrolled Population, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year (including public holidays). These First Level Services must be available for 95 per cent of enrolees within 30 minutes travel time during normal business hours Monday to Friday and 60 minutes travel time after hours. These services shall be provided directly by the Provider or by formal, specific and notified arrangements with another provider or providers able to provide first level services. The Provider will advise the Enrolled Population about how and when they can access the First Level Services.
Holiday periods
If your practice is closed or has reduced hours over a holiday period, you can notify your patients in the following ways:
- patient portal notification or email
- text message
- poster in waiting room
- distribute holiday checklist to patients (see ideas below)
- notice on website
- practice newsletter
- message on invoices or receipts
- answer phone message
- sign on practice front door
- face to face
- advertisement in local paper
- community notice board
- social media, for example Facebook
Please make sure formal arrangements have been made with your after hours provider so they know when your practice is open for business or closed.
Sample content for your website, email or newsletter message
If you are feeling sick or unwell, always contact your medical centre first.
Please don't head to the hospital emergency department unless it's truly an emergency.
Your GP's after hours response team will help you assess the best treatment and next steps when you or someone close to you is in pain or feeling unwell.
If you have ongoing medical concerns make sure you are always prepared outside of normal business hours.
- I have enough medicine and supplies for the holiday period.
- I am up to date with my tests and other health needs.
- I have checked my medical centre’s holiday operating hours.
- I know where my closest after hours medical centre is.
- I have reminded my family and friends to get prepared too!