GP-led Respiratory Centres ease pressure on primary and tertiary care
During the year, SEMPHN helped establish eight clinics to help reduce the burden on hospitals as they faced surges in COVID-19 and influenza cases.
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Since the start of the pandemic, SEMPHN has played a key role in Victoria’s response. We continue to be involved in the design, development and distribution of vital information, resources and services, including the vaccine roll-out, to support the safety of our region’s people, its primary health care workforce and the ongoing delivery of primary care.
Earlier in the pandemic, the Australian Government funded 22 GP-led Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs) across Victoria, four of which are in SEMPHN’s region: Port Melbourne, Prahran, Carrum Downs and Rosebud.
As COVID-19 case numbers continued to swell in Victoria, it became clear that caring for people who developed respiratory symptoms was a challenge, placing even more pressure on general practices and hospital emergency departments. To address this need, the Victorian Government invested $23 million to rapidly establish another 28 GP-led respiratory clinics run by GPs.
Eight of the state-funded GPRCs are in the SEMPHN catchment: Cranbourne, Narre Warren South, Officer, Mentone, Dandenong, Glen Eira, Frankston and Hastings. With the 2022 winter influenza season beginning early, and with ongoing challenges across hospitals, they came into quick use.
Figures from across the metropolitan area show that the State and Commonwealth-funded GPRCs collectively saw 38,711 patients with respiratory or COVID-19 symptoms between December 2021 (when they opened) and June 2022, providing 110,035 patient-related activities.
The clinics support people with respiratory symptoms to access a comprehensive respiratory assessment and management of their illness. Services are available for those with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient, with extended hours and weekend access.
SEMPHN’s COVID team continues to support the four Commonwealth and eight state-funded General Practice Respiratory Clinics by overseeing program delivery, providing updated Department of Health guidelines, supporting GPRCs to operate successfully and importantly, ensuring general practices and other health care services in our region know to refer patients with respiratory symptoms and covid positive patients to these clinics.
State and commonwealth-funded GPRC clinics within the SEMPHN region
South Eastern Melbourne PHN
Level 2, 15 Corporate Drive
Heatherton Victoria 3202
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