November 2002

Partners for better healthcare

The healthcare of women and children around the State will continue to improve after the signing of a further five-year agreement between General Practice Divisions–Victoria (GPDV) and Women’s and Children’s Health (WCH)—the Royal Women’s and Royal Children’s hospitals.

An agreement over the past five-years has resulted in Victorian GPs developing enhanced services and the hospitals improving care through enhanced relationships and communication with community providers.

‘The new agreement has provided a platform for us to extend the successful collaboration of both GPDV and WCH for another five years,’ said Women’s and Children’s Health Service Chief Executive Officer Associate Professor Kathy Alexander.

General Practice Divisions–Victoria Chair Dr John McEncroe also praised the collaboration.

‘We look forward to using this agreement to further drive change and increase improved health outcomes for Victorian women and children.’

Over the past five years, WCH has introduced GP Liaison Officers at both hospitals and involved them in hospital projects, published clinical services directories for GPs, established GP hotlines, websites, newsletters, involved GPs in research projects and improved the discharge planning process, among other achievements.

Over the next five years Victoria’s GPs and Women’s and Children’s Health will work on collaborative projects to further enhance and support the role of GPs in preventative healthcare.

The GPDV is a state-based organisation of 30 divisions of general practice, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing under the GP Strategy, encouraging GPs to work together and link with other health services and professions to upgrade the quality of health services delivery at the local level.