Emergencies and natural disasters can disrupt access to health care facilities, reduce the availability of the health workforce and cut off essential utilities such as electricity, water and telecommunications.
In rural areas particularly, there is also the potential for natural disasters and emergencies to exacerbate existing workforce shortages.
The ‘We Are Open’ initiative provides temporary financial support to general practices and AMSs to extend their opening hours at short notice during an emergency or natural disaster and in the immediate recovery.
If your practice can see the need and is able to open for additional hours you would not normally provide, please click through to the Primary Care Impact project page for more information.