1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Well, the situation with the Catherine GP service is one 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: which has been raised with us on numerous occasions, and 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,720 Speaker 1: we know that the Northern Territory Primary Health Network have 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: confirmed that an interim GP service operated by our fewer 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: medical clinics is going to commence this Thursday. Now joining 6 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 1: me on the line to talk more about it, from 7 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Primary Health Network, the Health Workforce Manager, 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: Paul Connolly, Good morning. 9 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: Paul, Good morning, Katie. How are you very well? 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: I know that there'll be so many people in Catherine 11 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: who are so pleased to hear that an interim GP 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: service is set to begin on Thursday. 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm very pleased to announce that it will commence 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: this week. At this stage we have services being delivered 15 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 2: on Thursdays. However, we are in discussions with other gps 16 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: and we'll try and add additional days and increase that 17 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 2: schedule as those gps confirm their availability. 18 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: So talk us through exactly how it's going to work 19 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: in the interim poll. 20 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 2: So the community can nestar to as of today book 21 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: appointments and we will be sharing a flyer with our 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: stakeholders and we have an ad scheduled for Catherine Times 23 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 2: and some other media to make sure that the phone 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: number and the details are available to the community, so 25 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 2: as it would with any other GP clinic, Coudy, people 26 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: can call up book and appointment and see a GP 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: face to face. And as I said, this will be 28 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: a bit of a moving feast. As more GPS become available, 29 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: we will let the community know as hours increase, So. 30 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: At this stage the service will just operate on Thursdays initially, 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: and then it will progressively build up as more of 32 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: those gps are confirmed. 33 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, that's correct, And we do have four GPS that 34 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: we're currently speaking with at the moment who will be 35 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: able to cover some part of that schedule, so as 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: we get the green light from them, we'll be able 37 00:01:58,800 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: to add those days. 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: And Paul, do we have any idea when things will 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: sort of get back to normal in terms of there 40 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: being that full time GP service. 41 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, so no time frame as yet. But as we've said, 42 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: the situation is still the same as it has been 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: from our perspective in that there are a number of 44 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: interested parties interested in setting up a new long term service. However, 45 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: a lot of that is commercial and confidence discussions, so 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 2: we can't really get into the middle of it, but 47 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: we are working to support them where we can and 48 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: where they've made themselves known to us. 49 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: And will the GP service it's just going to operate 50 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: on Thursdays initially. Is it going to be where is 51 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: it going to be and Catherine in the same place 52 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: where people have previously been able to see a GP 53 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: or somewhere else. 54 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, somewhere else. So it'll be based at the Rocky 55 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 2: Ridge Aged Care Facility, which is fifteen Rocky Ridge Road. 56 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,399 Speaker 2: It's just directly across from Catherine Hospital. I can and 57 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 2: there will be signage which is going up today for 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 2: the community to direct them to the facility and to 59 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: the clinic. 60 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: And in terms of the costs, I mean, can people 61 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: anticipate that it's going to cost around the same amount 62 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: as what you would have paid to previously see the GP. 63 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: So this interim service will be fully bulk builled, so 64 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 2: there will be no cost to Medicare card holders at 65 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 2: this stage. As far as the longer term service, not 66 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: so sure yet, but this one will definitely be free 67 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: of charge. 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: Well, like I say, I think there'll be plenty of 69 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: people in Catherine who are pleased to hear that this 70 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: interim service is going to get underway, even if it 71 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: is only on Thursdays initially as you've said, though hopefully 72 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: building that up as more gps are confirmed. Paul, where 73 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: can people go if there may be after a little 74 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: bit more information, Well. 75 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 2: We will be on the ANTIPHN website, which is antiphn 76 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: dot org dot au. We will make sure the information 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: is available there and we'll also share it through our 78 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 2: Facebook page each and people in the community would encourage 79 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: them to also speak to their usual health or other 80 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: healthcare providers because we'll be making sure we share all 81 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: the details through those networks that we're engaged in as well. Okay, 82 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: if I could just add to remind the community whilst 83 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: the service is one day at this stage and hopefully 84 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,679 Speaker 2: increasing very soon, those other services are available as people 85 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: do need to access the GP outside of those hours 86 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: that tell you health services from Health Now, the pharmacy 87 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: and the Headspace facility for people aged between twelve and 88 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 2: twenty five. 89 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: Well, Paul Connelly, the Northern Territory Primary Health networker Health 90 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: Workforce Manager, I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks 91 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: for having a chat with us. 92 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 2: No promodad Thanks Katie. 93 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: Thank you, and well, like I said, some positive moves 94 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: there for the community of Catherine. I know that a 95 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: lot of you have been really concerned about the situation 96 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: and the lack of GP services, But as we now know, 97 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: there is going to be that service which is going 98 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: to be able to operate on Thursdays initially and progressively 99 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: build up as more gps are confirmed.