GP Psychology Services

 In 2000, the Mid North Coast (NSW) Division of General Practive embarked on its first program targetting the direct delivery of medical services in support of General Practice care to the Mid North Coast Community.

The fist step in this direction involved an application under the Commonwealth Government funded More Allied Health Services Program to provide allied health services where there was identified service gaps.  Following an extensive community and stakeholder consultation process, the lack of Mental Health Services on the Mid North Coast of NSW was identified as the highest priority of need.  The funding applicaton was successful and supported the establishment of a dedicated unique GP Psychologist Service, with the employment of four Psychologists to support affordable public access to primary mental health care.

The Division soon became the largest employer of community based public psychologist services on the Mid North Coast of NSW, recording over 3,200 patient visits per annum.  Within two years, the More Allied Health Services (MAHS) employed Psychologists were joined by a further Psychologist employed under the Commonwealth funded Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOiHMC) program, increasing the total of Psychologists employed by the Divsion to 5, and total patient visits over 4.000 per annum.  Access to the MAHS, BOiHMC can only be made through referral by the patient's General Practitioner.  

With the introduction of the Commonwealth Government funded Better Access MBS items, affordable access to Private Psychologists has improved signficantly on the Mid North Coast, and this has attracted the establishment and development of a strong Private Psychologist workforce in our region.  The supply of providers has improved affordable access to patients referred by GPs to Psychologists.  With the increase in private pyschologist uptake under this new initiative, the Division has reviewed the allocation and model of delivery of MAHS and BOiHMC Psychologist services. The review has responded in a drop in demand for services, with a reduction of Psychologist Services under the MAHS program, with residual MAHS Pscyhologists funding compolemented by BOiHMC Psychologist funding to provide a mix of subonctracted and salaried Psychologist services targetting socio-economically sectors of the community at point of need, where private service delivery is not viable.

The transition and mix of Private provider and Division public provider services, has the ensured comprehensive coverage of Psychologist services to meet the needs of all members of the community within the Division boundaries. 

The review of the MAHS needs analysis has identified Diabetes Allied Health Services as the next priority for the Division MAHS program.  Residual MAHS funding has been directed to support the employment of Allied Health Services in the provision of Diabetes Services, particularly supporting GP Diabetes Clinic shared models of care.