Gippsland Medicare Local (GML) engaged Larter to work with stakeholders to develop a new after-hours primary care Sunday service for the towns of Leongatha, Foster and Korumburra.
After-hours primary care refers to healthcare services provided outside of standard general practice operating hours, typically in the evenings, weekends, and public holidays. In Australia, these services play a critical role in ensuring patients can access timely medical care when their regular GP is unavailable. They help reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments by offering an alternative pathway for non-life-threatening conditions that still require urgent medical attention.
Background and aim
General practices in Leongatha, Foster and Korumburra have provided a Sunday service to their communities for many years. While stakeholders are committed to ensuring that these communities continue to have access to a GP on Sundays, practices report an increasing workload and the potential for burnout. Stakeholders are looking to collaborate to find ways to sustain Sunday services in the future.
The project aimed to sustain community access to primary care medical services on Sundays by creating a model for the region that considers the needs and preferences of the community, general practices, hospitals and ambulance services.
After-hours primary care services are an essential part of Australia’s healthcare system, particularly in improving access for patients who cannot attend daytime appointments. These services support continuity of care, reduce delays in treatment, and ensure that patients receive appropriate medical attention when needed. They are especially important in rural and regional areas where access to healthcare services may be limited outside standard clinic hours.
Project phases
After working with Gippsland Medicare Local to confirm the project scope and agree on a communication and engagement strategy, Larter contacted all stakeholders to arrange consultation meetings.
Consult with stakeholders and draft a collaborative model
Larter consulted with the three general practices, South Gippsland Hospital, Gippsland Southern Health Service and Ambulance Victoria’s regional manager to explore how a collaborative after-hours model could work.
To develop the draft model, Larter:
- Considered hospital presentation trends at each hospital in the region on Sundays and compared these with trends in other regional hospitals
- Investigated alternative models and provided recommendations that help inform the new model
- Considered the impacts of a new model on the community, including during peak holiday seasons
- Identified the potential benefits and challenges of a new model
- Tested the proposed model with health service stakeholders and addressed any concerns
By strengthening after-hours primary care services, healthcare systems can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. These services enhance healthcare accessibility, improve system efficiency, and ensure that individuals receive timely care regardless of time or location. In Australia, after-hours care is a key component of integrated primary healthcare delivery.
Larter prepared a report on the findings of the consultations and a recommended collaborative after-hours model for the region that considers key governance, financial and operational elements and a plan to inform local communities.
Present model to stakeholders
Larter presented the draft model to stakeholders at a workshop convened by the Gippsland Medicare Local in April 2015. The Medicare Local and Larter facilitated the discussion about the model and next steps.
Conclusion
After-hours primary care can play an important role in improving access to healthcare when standard services are unavailable. By understanding local needs, identifying service gaps, strengthening coordination, and using evaluation evidence, organisations can develop more responsive and connected primary care pathways.
Read more about Larter’s team and how we work towards a stronger primary health system.
Frequently Asked Questions
After-hours services help address healthcare needs that arise outside standard clinic hours, particularly for people who cannot easily access daytime appointments because of work, caring responsibilities, location, or other circumstances.
Appropriately designed after-hours primary care can provide an alternative point of care for issues that may not require hospital treatment, helping people access suitable services at the right time and place.
Planning should consider local population needs, existing services, geographic access, demand patterns, workforce availability, referral arrangements, and how the service will connect with regular primary care.
Clear communication and referral pathways between after-hours providers and a person’s usual healthcare providers can help ensure relevant information is shared and follow-up care is coordinated.
PHNs can use local health data, stakeholder engagement, and service planning to identify gaps in primary care access and support approaches that respond to the needs of their communities.