News and Events

General Practice Queensland

Together we can build a better health system

Policy & Advocacy 2007/08

General Practice Queensland provides strategic leadership, advocacy and representation for its member divisions and general practice and works collaboratively to build a stronger, more comprehensive, integrated primary health care sector.

Key overarching priorities include:

  1. Sustaining, enhancing and advocating for the capacity of general practice to deliver improved health outcomes; and
  2. Leading and shaping health policy at all levels of government in order to improve health outcomes.

State Policy Development

 

Issue The QLD Divisions Network and Policy Development
Actions Position paper developed and endorsed by the QLD network in 2005 – reviewed and endorsed in June 2007.
Impact Position paper developed and endorsed by the QLD network in 2005 – reviewed and endorsed in June 2007.

Issue Queensland Government Engagement Strategy
Actions Strategy developed and endorsed by the General Practice Queensland Board in December 2007.
Impact
  • Consistency in approach and delivery of messages to key stakeholders within the Queensland Government.
  • Identification of opportunities for collaboration with the Queensland Divisions Network.

Issue Position statement on the Role of Divisions of General Practice in Primary Health Care
Actions Developed a position statement and disseminated this to the Queensland Divisions Network, AGPN, and Queensland Government stakeholders.
Impact Provides a unified statement to funding bodies and other stakeholders on the role of General Practice in innovation, collaboration and best practice in primary health care.

Issue Discussion paper on the Role of General Practice in Primary Health Care
Actions Developed a discussion paper and disseminated this to the Queensland Divisions Network, AGPN, and Queensland Government stakeholders.
Impact Provides a unified statement to funding bodies and other stakeholders on Divisions role in innovation, collaboration and best practice in primary health care.

Issue Community Health Reform project
Actions

Meetings are currently suspended

Impact

Currently the work of this project is connected with negotiations around the national health reform agenda which are taking place in the coming months.

Issue Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) Standards review
Actions General Practice Queensland consulted with the Queensland Divisions Network and submitted a consolidated response to the HQCC in January 2008.
Impact As at April 2008 we are currently liasing with HQCC on the next stages.

Issue Primary healthcare assessments for children entering foster care (Child Health passport)
Actions

Representations made to Queensland Health from General Practice Queensland and the Queensland GP Alliance.

Issues raised included:

  • Billing arrangements;
  • Practice systems to support implementation, currently practice re health assessments and the gaps;
  • Appropriate forms required and how they should be incorporated into the practice systems; and
  • Provision of Child Health Passport information to office of child safety and appropriate processes for this to occur.
Impact Ongoing liaison with Queensland Health on issues of implementation and timely and appropriate general practice input.

Issue Nurse Practitioners
Actions

General Practice Queensland has provided representation on the state steering committee and consulted with the Queensland Divisions Network and the Qld GP Alliance on proposed changes to NP role and scope of practice.

Impact Feedback provided to Queensland Health’s legislative policy unit – liasing with Queensland Health as at April 2008 with regards to the next steps.

 National Policy Development

 

Issue Australian General Practice Network AGPN draft position statement on funding models for general practice based multidisciplinary team care
Actions

Consultation with the Queensland Divisions Network on successive drafts of the document, and feedback provided to AGPN.

Impact As at April 2008, AGPN will provide advice on the next steps in the consultation process. It is anticipated that the Queensland Divisions network will have an ongoing opportunity to contribute to the national debate on funding models for multidisciplinary team care.

Issue GP Super Clinics
Actions

Meeting of relevant Division CEOs and Board Chairs held in January. Awaiting tender details from DoHA.  A further meeting is scheduled for February 2008 at the Queensland Divisions Forum.

Impact
  • Effective communication across relevant Divisions and the Queensland and National Divisions networks.
  • Developing and influencing policy on GP Super clinics

For further information please click here.

Issue National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC)
Actions

The Commission is an ALP election commitment.

It will provide advice on performance benchmarks and practical reforms to the Australian health system which could be implemented in both the short and long term.

Impact The NHHRC will play a major role in shaping the new Australian Healthcare Agreement between the Commonwealth and the States.

Issue Council of Australian Governments Working Group on Health and Ageing
Actions

The focus for the March CoAG meeting is on:

  • Tackling elective surgery waiting times
  • Investing in aged care, especially in transition care
  • Investing in public dental programs
  • Preventative health care
  • GP Super Clinics
Impact

Potential impacts for Divisions in relation to:

  • Population Health Initiatives
  • Aged Care GP Panels Initiative
  • GP Super Clinics Initiative



Together we can build a better health system