The GP Liaison Unit sits within the Ambulatory and Community Care sector at Southern Health in conjunction with Outpatient Services, Hospital In The Home, Post Acute Care, and the HARP CDM Program.

The GPLU recognises the importance of the general practitioner in patient care and the need for Southern Health to engage more effectively with the GP sector to provide continuity of care and enhanced service integration.

The GPLU works closely with the five Divisions of General Practice that border the catchment areas. These are: Dandenong Casey GP Association, Monash Division of General Practice, Greater Monash GP Network, Eastern Ranges GP Association, Bayside GP Network.

The key aims of the GPLU are to:

• Bring a GP perspective to policy and planning across the organisation
• Enable improved GP engagement and representation
• Maintain effective relationships with the Divisions of General Practice in our catchment area
• Work collaboratively with the Victorian and National GP Liaison networks
• Improve communication between Southern Health and GPs, Divisions of General Practice and other primary care stakeholders
• Contribute to the planning for improved provision of primary care within the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne
• Enhance continuity of care for consumers
• Support best practice shared care models, and
• Facilitate the development of joint projects between Southern Health and the Divisions of General Practice.
  

The GPLU attends the following committees to ensure a GP perspective is brought to the groups and relevant information is disseminated to GPs as required:

• Maternity Services GP Reference Group
• Maternity Services Executive Committee
• Maternity Collaborative / Statewide Network Group
• Casey/Dandenong GP Reference Group
• Monash/Moorabbin/Kingston GP Reference Group (MMK)
• Primary Care & Population Health Committee
  
• Access Steering Group (1300 3icare)
• No Wrong Door Project Steering Committee
• Orthopaedic Wait List (OWL) Working Group
• Outpatients GP Reference Group
• Casey Hospital Department Heads Meeting
• Ambulatory & Community Care Senior Leadership Team
• Ambulatory & Community Care Executive
• Academic Unit Executive
• GPLO Statewide Network Forums
• GPLO National Forums
• Maternity Outpatients Executive
• E-discharge Project Steering Committee
• National Breast & Ovarian Cancer Committee (NBOCC)
  

For any GENERAL  enquiries, please call:
Natalie on (03) 8768 1481

Kate MacRae, Director Ambulatory & Community Care with portfolio for GP Liaison Unit - is operationally responsible for ensuring the Unit meets its strategic and General Practice Liaison Officer (GPLO) program objectives and manages a range of project and portfolio areas, overseeing all aspects of the GPLO program. Director is a member of the Ambulatory & Community Care (A & CC) Executive Team.

 Dr Duncan Syme, GP Consultant (Tues and 1/2 day Wed) - provides consultative advice in the development of GP services and functions and participates in several GP sub committees.

Dr Rebecca Fradkin, Maternity GP Liaison Project Officer (Wed only) - has the responsibility for coordinating the accreditation requirements and continuing professional development program for Southern Health’s Maternity Shared Care affiliates and GP Obstetricians. She coordinates the Maternity Services GP Sub Committee and is the key contact for maternity related queries from our GP stakeholders.

Christine Prendergast, GP Liaison Project Officer (Wed) - is employed by Dandenong Casey GP Association and currently provides project support to a range of GPLU activities and GP education events.

Natalie Taylor, Admin/Project Support  (Mon - Thurs) and Josie Ciotta, Admin and Communications (Tues & Wed) provide the unit with key project and administrative support. They are primarily responsible for supporting the Director and project staff in their roles and ensuring the GP Access website is up to date and informative. Josie maintains the Specialist Directory database.

About the Statewide GP Liaison Program

GP Liaison programs have evolved in Victorian hospitals. Originally they were part of the Hospital Demand Management (HDM) and then became part of the Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Currently, programs are funded specifically under the General Practice Liaison Officer  (GPLO) banner. There is a statewide framework and a set of common strategic objectives and priority areas which are the focus for all GPLO programs across the state. GPLO program managers report to their respective health service and via General Practice Victoria to The Department of Health.