Chief Minister Katy Gallagher MLA will tomorrow join ACT Division of General Practice President, Dr Rashmi Sharma, to launch the General Practice Aged Day Service (GPADS) at Goodwin House in Ainslie on 1 June 2011.
GPADS provides timely care to homebound and residential care patients of all ages when the patient’s usual general practice is not able to provide care in a suitable timeframe.
“This service enables a GP to travel to the patient, helping to improve services for our homebound and residential care citizens and reduce the pressure on other parts of the health system,” Ms Gallagher said.
Since the service commenced in 21 March 2011, 41 practices and 16 Residential Aged Care Facilities have signed a memorandum of understanding with ACTDGP to be able to refer to GPADS.
“If a GP is unable to visit their patient, they refer their patient to a GPADS GP. Currently, the GPADS GP will see the patient within one hour of receiving the referral. This is a very quick response,” said Dr Sharma.
The daughter of an aged patient praised the high level of communication between her mother’s regular GP, the GAPDS GP and Residential Aged Care Facility.
“We were all so pleased when the GPADS GP was able to visit my mother, Dorothy, in her own room, without us having to wait for a long time. The GPADS GP was able to provide just what was needed, with an impeccable manner, warm and calm,” said Gabrielle Hyslop.
“This is such an improvement on having to take Mum to the Emergency Department which is such a stressful environment, especially for someone like my mother who is 93 with Alzheimer’s. This great reduction in stress levels contributed to my mother’s good recovery, I am sure.”
GPADS will continue to improve access to general practitioners for Canberra’s homebound and residential care patients.
For more information please phone Roz Lemon on 0417 179 314 or email
media@actdgp.asn.au.