WA Primary Health Alliance has committed to a project which will consider the placement of general practice in Western Australia’s State Emergency Framework.
General practice can play a vital role in disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery by maintaining continuity of care at a time when communities need it most.
In 2023, WA Primary Health Alliance was successful in obtaining a grant from the Disaster Ready Fund to commence the General Practice Emergency Response Team (GPERT) project. GPERT aims to provide clarity on the capacity of WA to include GPs within the State Health Emergency Response Plan (SHERP) and what is needed to enable this.
The role of general practice is not formally defined in the SHERP, leaving GP’s and practice staff without inclusion across prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (PPRR) activities.
This highly skilled workforce has the potential to support across a multitude of activities. However, without formalisation, this workforce is not currently accessible nor are the appropriate supports in place to enable the required activities. WA Primary Heakth Alliance has identified the need to create a fit for purpose and evidence-based solution, in conjunction with key stakeholders and in close consultation with GPs and general practice peak bodies.
Background
This project has been launched because of known and current risks to the communities serviced by general practice:
- The recurring natural disaster seasons (e.g. bush fire, flooding, and cyclone) which have historically impacted both country and metro general practice.
- The impact of natural disasters and all hazards on the health and wellbeing of communities and their subsequent health care needs.
- The need for coordinated general practice service provision in times of disaster.
- Impact of climate change on primary care providers.
- COVID-19 pandemic which has had a direct impact on the primary health care ecosystem, including general practice and WAPHA commissioned services providers.
Consideration will be given to the implications of the inclusion of a private medical workforce in the context of the SHERP, including economic and feasibility considerations. Thorough consultation will enable an appropriate needs assessment for all key stakeholders and result in an evidence-based solution created through co-design. The model will seek to effectively address issues experienced by GPs and strengthen their capacity to provide optimal care in the context of disaster.
EST – Project commencement
EST – Phase 1: consultation
EST – Phase 2: model governance
Project complete
General Practice Emergency Response Team - webinar
Defining the role of general practice in the State Health Emergency Response Plan.
Click to expand and watch the full length interviews with guest speakers Dr Tudor Codreanu, Dr Sara Renwick Lau and James Sherriff.
Dr Tudor Codreanu – Director Disaster Preparedness and Management Directorate Department of Health, MD MSc (Med) MSc(Disaster Medicine) PhD (Disaster Medicine).
Dr Sara Renwick Lau – GP based in Mallacoota in East Gippsland, with more than 20 years of experience working with regional and rural communities.
James Sherriff – Kimberley Health Response Lead and Broome Hospital Executive.
The GPERT project is dependent on a diversity of contributions that can reflect and contextualise WA’s health care needs in disaster. Please e-mail the Disaster Preparedness Team to register your interest for updates on ongoing project work at disasterpreparednessteam@wapha.org.au. Click below to expand for more.