Role
We aim to undertake activities to enhance the quality of service delivery of GPs that will improve the health outcomes of our community.

We will assist GPs in managing a constantly changing environment including implementing best practice, increasing efficiencies, improving the quality of patient care, and introducing new payment systems.

The Adelaide North East Division of General Practice is committed to keeping in focus the needs of general practice, the community and other stakeholders in order that our services contribute to improved health outcomes for our local community.

We have undertaken an analysis of the priority health needs of the community and the needs of individual General Practitioners and their practices:

Highlights of Community Need

• There will be an increasing ageing population, particularly in Salisbury, Tea Tree Gully, and Campbelltown.
• There will be an increase in chronic conditions, co-morbidities, and neuro-cognitive conditions.
• There are high levels of socio-economic disadvantage in some areas, such as Enfield, Salisbury East, Marden, Campbelltown, Blair Athol, and Greenacres.
• Major health issues are mental health, indigenous health, lung cancer, diabetes, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
• There is a need to ensure that GPs are accessing interpretation services, particularly for face-to-face consultations.
• There was a gap in information for the Lower and Upper Hermitage, Houghton, Inglewood, and Kersbrook areas.

Highlights of General Practitioner Needs

• There is a need to continue the GP education program and to plan it around the needs of GPs and the health needs of the community.
• There is a need to offer flexible education sessions to meet the varying needs of GPs (eg small interactive groups as well as larger groups).  Flexibility in relation to the time that the education is offered and whether it is offered in the Practice or outside of the Practice also needs to be built into the program.
• GPs identified the major health problems serviced by their practices as mental health, CVD, diabetes, and geriatric care.  Mental health was also identified as the most difficult health issue to manage and address, along with people of non-English speaking backgrounds.
• There is a need for the Division to find appropriate strategies to disseminate information to GPs.
• GPs require and increased knowledge of, access to, and use of, local community groups and services.
• There are a lack of services for patients who are suffering from depression and anxiety and GPs are also finding it difficult to access mental health services, particularly when a quick response is required.
• Small practices (eg 1-2 GPs) have different needs from larger practices.
• Female GPs with young families have additional needs.
• Lack of locum services is an issue for many GPs.
• The key practice issues are income, workforce, time availability, "red tape", and paperwork.

Highlights of Service Providers Comments

• Mental health is the major issue for the population identified by service providers, followed by ageing, drug and alcohol dependency, poor nutrition, and cardiovascular disease.
• Improving links between GPs and community service providers, increased funding, and training for GPs were identified as key strategies for addressing health issues.
• Social isolation is considered to be the key social issue for the population followed by financial problems, unemployment, and domestic violence.  Early intervention is considered to be a key strategy in addressing these social issues, as well as increased funding and better networking at the local level.
• The major gaps in health services perceived by the service providers are mental health, and drug and alcohol services.  There is also a concern about access to health services generally and access to public hospital beds.

Highlights of Consumer Groups Comments

• There is considerable support from consumer groups for GPs to remain accessible at the neighbourhood level.
• There is a need to increase the GPs interest in the provision of mental health services, including their continuing education.
• There is a need to increase the GPs awareness of the services available in the community through education, as well as promotional material.
• There is a need to promote to GPs the importance of the roles of other health professionals in the community.
• There is a need to raise the GPs awareness of the importance of working closely with families and carers.
• There is a need to develop pathways that incorporate both the clinical and support needs of the population.
• There is a need to raise the GPs awareness of carer health issues through the development of a Carers Health Policy.