SearchIs your practice disaster ready?
The importance of being ready for times of disaster has been demonstrated throughout the recent years of fires, COVID-19 and floods. During these times, general practices are fundamental in responding to the immediate needs of the community.
Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in Australia play a critical role in disaster management by coordinating the primary healthcare sector before, during, and after a disaster.
Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN provides support to local primary care (including general practices, Aboriginal medical services, allied health practices and our commissioned health services) to prepare, respond and recover from disasters and emergencies.
Our main goal is to ensure continuity of care, reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments, and to support the health workforce with the inclusion of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and satellite hospitals.
Our PHN works collaboratively with Darling Downs Health and West Moreton Health , Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Units (PHUs), all LGA councils within the region, and other disaster recovery and resilience groups to support disaster management efforts within the Darling Downs and West Moreton Regions.
Prepare
Preparation is key when it comes to disasters. The PHN’s role is to support the primary care sector to be prepared for times of disaster, so providers are best able to sustain operations.
Tips:
- Develop an up-to-date emergency response plan: RACGP Emergency Response Preparedness Tool
- Have an emergency kit ready: Disaster Preparedness for Business
- Test and update your plan annually
- Train staff in how to use the plan
- Review Queensland Health's Disaster Management Plans
- Subscribe to the PHN's emails to stay up-to-date
- Prepare communications from your organisation about service disruptions or changes.
SMS Emergency Alerts from the PHN
We offer an emergency alert service to local practices. SMS Emergency Alerts are a free, fast, and reliable way to stay informed about public health notifications and critical information during disasters and emergencies.
subscribe to SMS Emergency Alerts
Update your listing on the National Health Services Directory (NHSD)
To help the community find available heath services during and after the natural disaster via the healthdirect Service Finder, we need to ensure the National Health Services Directory is up to date.
If your service is impacted – closed, reduced hours, reduced service offerings – please update your clinic listing as soon as possible.
If you use an online appointment booking service, by updating your calendar to reflect changes in availability, these changes will be reflected in the NHSD.
Alternatively, you can update your NHSD listing by:
- Visiting Service Finder and look up your practice's listing
- Scrolling down to the bottom of the page and click 'suggest an edit'
- You will be taken to a form where you can enter your changes
If you are too busy to update information yourself, please email our practice support team with the details of your changes and we can notify the NHSD on your behalf.
Updates to clinics can be done multiple times as needed as the impacts of the cyclone are being felt and managed.
Read the RACGP's Guide to Managing emergencies and disasters in general practice
This guide exists to assist you and your practice team in:
- determining the scope and diversity of events that may affect your practice
- understanding the potential serious business implications, including financial impacts, of an event
- developing, or further improving, your emergency response plan
- preparing for, responding to and recovering from the impacts of emergencies and disasters.
Respond
The PHN’s role is to facilitate a primary care response to the health and wellbeing needs of the community during emergencies or disasters. Response during emergencies or disasters is an urgent, high-priority function guided by the Disaster Management Act 2003.
Update your listing on the National Health Services Directory (NHSD)
To help the community find available health services during and after the natural disaster via the healthdirect Service Finder, we need to ensure the National Health Services Directory is up to date.
If your service is impacted – closed, reduced hours, reduced service offerings – please update your clinic listing as soon as possible.
If you use an online appointment booking service, by updating your calendar to reflect changes in availability, these changes will be reflected in the NHSD.
Alternatively, you can update your NHSD listing by:
- Visiting Service Finder and look up your practice's listing
- Scrolling down to the bottom of the page and click 'suggest an edit'
- You will be taken to a form where you can enter your changes
If you are too busy to update information yourself, please email our practice support team with the details of your changes and we can notify the NHSD on your behalf.
Updates to clinics can be done multiple times as needed as the impacts of the cyclone are being felt and managed.
Communicate with patients
Communicate changes in open hours, GP availability or access to your patients. Telehealth may be an alternative option where access is limited.
PHN updates
We actively communicate with practices during disasters than have the potential to impact the delivery of care.
Communicate information about your closure or capacity to support additional patients with the PHN's practice support team.
Subscribe to receive PHN alerts and warning updates:
- PHN GP Updates (email based)
- PHN SMS Emergency Alerts (phone based, emergencies only)
Other services to follow:
Recover
The PHN’s role is to facilitate a primary care response to the health and wellbeing needs of the community during emergencies or disasters.
General practices play an essential role in supporting communities to recover from the physical and mental health impacts following a disaster. The mental health toll of a disaster may take months to emerge.
Find support for your patients:
Support for health providers:
- Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN funds an Employee Assistance Program for health professionals in the region
- RACGP GP Support Program
- For information about recovery grant opportunities, visit our Grants and funding opportunities page.
Latest PHN news
Need PHN support?
Our Primary Care Liaison team is available to provide one-on-one support.
