Flooding in the Mid North Coast has resulted in the establishment of evacuation centres across the region.
Evacuees are presenting with a range of health issues, from immediate injury to exacerbations of chronic health conditions or need for medication. Evacuee mental health and wellbeing is also a common presentation and ever-present concern.
Over the weekend, Healthy North Coast has worked with local general practices and pharmacies, as well the Mid North Coast Local Health District and the State Emergency Service to ensure access to primary health care services to people in evacuation centres in Port Macquarie and Laurieton. Thank you to the general practice and pharmacy teams who have opened their doors to new and existing patients outside of normal working hours. Recognition is also provided to clinicians who have volunteered their time assisting displaced residents in evacuation centres.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting further rainfall to occur over the coming days. Healthy North Coast has already received notifications from some general practices and Aboriginal Medical Services that they will be closed for the next couple of days. We expect other services to consider closing due to flood impact or risk.
What is Healthy North Coast Doing?
In order to support universal access to primary medical and mental health services for flood-affected residents in the coming days, Healthy North Coast is undertaking the following activities:
- The free Healthy North Coast GP Telehealth service has been established for our region to support people in evacuation centres: 1800 931 158. This number will provide access to GP consultations by phone or video. This service will provide assessment and referral, and can issue prescriptions to local pharmacies. A care summary will be sent to the patient’s regular GP.
- The Connect to Wellbeing (mental health information assessment and referral) line is available to provide connection to mental health support during standard working hours, with the possibility of an after hours extension, if required. This service is free for Mid North Coast and Northern NSW residents and is open from 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Referral to local services is available. Phone 1300 160 339 or visit Connect to Wellbeing North Coast.
- Providing a local coordination role between the Mid North Coast Local Health District, state emergency services and local primary health care services.
- Working with the Department of Health and national peak bodies to investigate further initiatives that will reduce barriers to primary health care professionals providing immediate care during this natural disaster.
What Can My General Practice Do to Help?
To date, some general practices have already provided extended hours to meet the need. Other actions by general practices in the days and weeks to come could also involve:
- Prioritising care for evacuees or first responders.
- Buddying with other practices to keep one large practice open if there are insufficient staff to keep several individual practices open.
- Buddying with closed practices to accept other patients temporarily.
Some GPs have volunteered to visit evacuation centres with the aim of providing medical care to evacuees. Volunteer GPs need to be aware that ‘spontaneous volunteers’ face some unavoidable challenges when attending evacuation centres:
- Centre coordinators do not have the capacity or resources to coordinate an on-site medical response. Communication to these positions is performed by the emergency agencies and is not easily accessed by outside agencies.
- There will not necessarily be facilities to provide confidential and comprehensive care.
- It will not be clear who is to be seen and in what priority, or, generally, the extent of medical care to be provided.
In addition, it is essential that volunteer GPs and nurses ensure they are covered by the necessary insurances to provide ad hoc care in a temporary evacuation centre. Some comprehensive insurance may include a ‘Good Samaritan’ clause while others do not.
Please check with your insurance provider to ensure you have the appropriate insurance in place.
Please contact your Primary Health or Aboriginal Health Coordinator if you have any questions. More information will be provided in the coming days.