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List of GP’s in the Northern area
| During feedback sessions a number of
people identified the very real problem of after hours access to General
Practitioners in the Northern Suburbs. The Northern region has the least
number of GP’s per resident in the metropolitan area. There is also the
important issue of raising patient awareness of the respective roles of
the ED and local GP’s.
Long waiting times indicate that resources are often stretched to the
limit and that a number of patients who present at the ED could be
diverted to an alternative health-care setting. |
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Strategies suggested by consumers during focus groups included:
 | Give people who might have to wait a considerable time a list of
appropriate nearby GP’s and clinics. This would be of use to patients who
present at the ED and who may have a low triage priority coding. |
| Would it be possible for people who are going to have extended waits to be
given a list of local GP’s who speak languages other than English and who
are sensitive to different cultures? |
| Why not develop for consumers a Directory of Doctors similar to that
designed by the Adelaide Western Division of General Practice? |
The Division has produced a Directory of GP’s in the northern region. The
Directory, which is due for release in June 1999, lists disability access,
opening hours and identifies GP’s who speak languages other than English.
Customer Focus Training
|
There were countless
positive responses from consumers relating to the work of the ED staff. There
was a clear message from the community that the work of the ED staff was
valued and highly regarded. However, feedback from some community
members participating in the focus groups indicated that their needs had
not been addressed by ED staff.
Issues raised included:
| Feeling like the staff are rushing you through, not taking enough
time to explain anything. |
| Some of the staff “talk down to you like you are silly or
something” (patronising). |
| People have a basic right to be told what is happening to them. |
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