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Welcome to the NSW Outback Division of General Practice Ltd
NSW Outback Division of GP Ltd (ODGP) has four directors who are practising GPs in the Division, plus one non-GP Board member. ODGP employs twelve staff members and receives the third lowest amount of funding for Divisions in NSW. The Division has auspiced the Commonwealth Regional Health Services (RHS) program since late 2003 - increasing capacity to deliver a wider range of population health services directly through the Division and in partnership with the local Aboriginal Health Services and the Greater Western Area health Service. The RHS program hosts the quarterly Walgett, Bourke and Brewarrina Shire Health Forums. The Division has a very low socio-economic rating. In three of the four shires the average weekly income is below that of NSW. In many categories the population within the Division has the poorest health of people in NSW. The Division works with a number of stakeholders to try and ensure that best value is achieved and best practice implemented. The Division is a member of the Far West Regional Aboriginal Health Forum. Members of the Division are active in the The Division suffers from the tyranny of distance. Dubbo, the headquarters for the Greater Western Area Health Service is 300 kilometres from the Division area. Our Division head office is currently co-located with the Dubbo Plains Division of GP in Dubbo, in an effort to stimulate structural efficiencies. Fully staffed ODGP offices in Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge improve our capacity to work with local GPs and their communities. Major Achievements The Division has been active through its members in providing GP services to remote communities in times when those communities have been without resident GPs. The Division has been innovative in its approach to getting health messages to communities with low literacy through the use of videos (Aboriginal First Aid and Immunisation) and TV advertising (Immunisation), involvement in Greater Western Area Health portfolio committees on Diabetes, Mental Health, Infectious and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The Division has actively supported the creation of "GP entities" including Rural & Remote Medical Services (RARMS) and both Ochre and Kini Health, and secured funding to support the integration of Medical Services at the Cobar Primary Healthcare Centre. The Division directly employs, and indirectly supports a variety of Allied Health Service providers including nursing, aboriginal health, psychology, physiotherapy, dietitican, sonography, occupational therapy and podiatry. A contracted IT/IM position has given additional capacity to further develop computerisation (100% of GPs) and information management. Looking back ODGP has evolved rapidly since 2006 and is now in far better shape to deliver effective and efficient Programs and services for the people of NSW Outback towns. The evolution will continue under the themes of `Integrated Primary Health Care¿ and `better access to health services¿ and in the opportunities presented by amalgamation with Dubbo Plains Division. Amalgamation will allow economies of scale to allocate skilled staff to specific programs and be better able to market and integrate Programs to all Practices in ODGP.
Challenges for the Future A key issue of critical significance is the GP workforce depletion and turnover. The capacity of ODGP has improved significantly 2006/2007 - and can now concentrate of delivering high quality services, efficiently and equitably within an integrated primary health care framework. The amalgamation with Dubbo Plains Division will greatly enhance ODGP¿s capacity to support Practices, particularly given the investment in local capacity of staff and offices in Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge. |
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