Allied Health Services

The Mid North Coast (NSW) Division of General Practice has consistently risen to the challenge of leading the delivery of primary mental health care on the Mid North Coast of NSW through a variety of innovative programs.

The GP Psychology Service (Access to Allied Psychological Services) and the Better Access Program are complementary initiatives designed to improve consumers access to high quality mental health care. For further information please contact the Mental Health Project Officer, Karen Dell on 02 6651 5774 or email kdell@mncdgp.org.au

Did you know…

  • One in five Australians have a mental health problem, but less than 40% will seek help. Of those who do seek help 75 % will do so from their GP.
  • 85% of the population sees a GP every year, and mental health is the second most common general practice co-morbidity.
  • GPs provide more than 10 million mental health consultations per year and 3.4 million of these are for depression!

Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative (including ATAPS – no cost services)

The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative (BOMHi) was introduced in 2001 and provided General Practitioners with access to a system of care for patients with mental disorders.  Better Outcomes provided increased renumeration for GP's to work with patients on a 3-step process that encompasses assessment, plan and review.  Better Outcomes also provided increased access to allied mental health professionals and psychiatrists and provided improved education and training opportunities for General Practitioners.  The initiative also led to the establishment of Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) programs in Divisions of General Practice.  ATAPS programs continue to expand and be tailored to the local needs and changing mental health environment.

Duration of Program and how it operates
The BOMH - ATAPS program is administered through Divisions of General Practice to support a more integrated primary care system adapted to local needs.
The Division receives limited funding under this initiative and must also meet reporting and data collection requirements. The Division has received a commitment of funds from the Department of Health & Ageing until August 2011.

How the Program benefits GPs and their Patients
Funds are available for GPs to refer patients to a Division contracted AHP for the provision 'time - limited' focused psychological strategies (FPS) for defined mental health disorders.  Referrals must occur in the context of a GP Mental Health Care Plan - Item 2710 or Item 2702.  Item 2710 is for GPs who have completed accredited Mental Health Skills training.  Item 2702 is for GPs who have not completed accredited Mental Health Skills training.

Historically there have been barriers to delivery of quality mental health care in General Practice including inadequate mental health education and training and limited referral pathways. Through the BOMHi these have begun to be addressed in a structured and systematic way. This program is funded through the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. There are 5 key aspects to the program:

  1. Education and training for GPs - to familiarise GPs with the initiative and to increase mental health skills
  2. The 3 Step Mental Health Process - a Service Incentive Payment (SIP) is provided to encourage effective management of mental health problems by GPs through a 3 Step Mental Health Process that includes an assessment, a mental health plan and a review
  3. Focused Psychological Strategies - to encourage appropriately trained GPs to provide evidence based focused psychological strategies (FPS) through the provision of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates
  4. Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) - to enable GPs to access psychological and other allied health services to support their patients with mental health disorders. ATAPS individual services are delivered in Grafton, Nambucca Heads, Woolgoolga, Bowraville and Corindi Beach. Perinatal mental health services are delivered in Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Heads. Group therapy programs are delivered according to need and these have included chronic pain, anxiety, perinatal depression and Triple P Parenting Programs. ATAPS clinical services are targeted at disadvantaged and hard to reach populations. The GP Psychology Service (ATAPS) in this Division is funded under the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOiMHC) initiative, and targets isolated remote low socioeconomic areas and youth. The service is delivered by a mixture of contracted private psychologists and salaried staff available at the Division to disadvantaged communities who do not have access to current or new services. Currently the Division has 3 employed psychologists and 9 sub contracted psychologists and social workers who provide psychological counselling in these areas. Referral to these services is through a GP. The GP's are able to refer their patients for evidence- based mental health care, delivered over 6 time-limited sessions with an option of a further six sessions following a mental health review by the referring GP.
    Division Psychological Services are delivered according to a standard service model. Each clinic is conducted along similar lines to a private practice and tailored to meet the needs of the local community including culturally and linguistically diverse and indigenous clients. Providers are supported with appropriate professional development and supervision opportunities, including monthly service meetings. GPs make discretionary decisions as to which patients are referred. Access to the service by the patients, whilst free, is also limited to a maximum of six sessions to ensure ongoing availability. The success of this model has resulted in the development of the largest public service of Psychologists on the Mid North Coast of NSW.
  5. Access to Psychiatrist Support - to better enable psychiatrists and GPs to participate in case conferencing and for psychiatrists to provide emergency advice to support GPs. The GP Psych Support Service will also continue to provide a network for GPs to seek patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24 hours.

Can a psychiatrist help you help your patient?

The GP Psych Support service provides GPs with patient management advice from psychiatrists within 24 hours. GP Psych Support provides advice in the following areas of psychiatry:

  • General adult psychiatry
  • Child & adolescent psychiatry
  • Old age psychiatry
  • Drug and alcohol psychiatry

        
Accessing GP Psych Support is easy:

  • Free Phone: 1800 200 588. You will be asked some brief questions concerning your enquiry and a psychiatrist will call you back within 24 hours.
  • Free Fax: 1800 012 422. Using the faxback form provide details regarding the issue for discussion. A psychiatrist will then fax or phone you to discuss case details.
  • Email: www.psychsupport.com.au is a secure and password protected website. Log in and submit your questions online. For your username and password, call 1800 200 588.


The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners proudly manages the GP Psych Support service
The GP Psych Support service is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care initiative.