The Health Consumers Alliance of SA (HCA) was contracted by Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice (AHDGP) on behalf of Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local (CAHML) to undertake community consultations on after hours primary care services in the region. As part of the national health reform, the Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local is expected to improve co-ordination and integration of after hours services, including the new after hours GP helpline.
The results of this extensive consultation conducted during February and March 2012 will contribute to the needs assessment and plan development. A final report has been submitted to CAHML. A summary report is available here.
HCA engaged with a range of consumers, and community and stakeholder groups within the CAHML region. This included:
- Community forums at Underdale, Mount Barker, Adelaide and Fullarton.
- Focus groups in a variety of locations including Mount Barker, Angle Park, Campbelltown, Kilkenny and Unley. These included focus groups with carers of the very young, aged people (and some family members) in residential aged care facilities, home-bound aged people living in the community, and consumers with mental health issues.
- Fifteen key informant interviews conducted with stakeholders from a range of sectors including HCA consumer advocates, sexual health, drug and alcohol, palliative care, aged care, mental health, carers, maternal heath, Alzheimer’s Association, Royal District Nursing Service and the university sector.
- A comprehensive survey was made available online and in hard copy. A total of 127 surveys were completed by people living or working in the CAHML region.
In summary, the after hours consultation has identified the services that consumers in the CAHML region currently access for urgent primary care after hours and also highlights the barriers some face when seeking this care.
