New psychiatry support line for GPs 

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is now funding a psychiatry support line for GPs in the region.

Operated by ProCare Mental Health Services, the free-to-call hotline allows GPs to speak directly with a qualified psychiatrist about the mental health needs of their patients. The hotline can be used to discuss medication, diagnosis, treatment plans and more.

Professor Michael Breakspear contributes to the helpline as a consulting Psychiatrist and believes the helpline is a vital, clinical service to support primary practice.

“Drawing on my clinical experience as a psychiatrist in the private and public sectors, the information I am able to give directly to the GP is frequently as relevant as that I am able to provide after an in-person review, saving time through the GP’s knowledge of the patient,” said Professor Breakspear.

Waiting times to access a psychiatrist for an assessment can extend beyond six months, meaning patients are waiting too long for much-needed support.

“Based on my experience working with the support line, it is my opinion that the benefits to GPs, their patients and the mental health system as a whole cannot be overstated.”

GPs can use the hotline’s advice in conjunction with their pre-established patient knowledge to provide timely, high-quality support to patients, which may remove the need for the patient to wait for a psychiatry booking.

The GP psychiatry support line is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm to all GPs working in the Darling Downs and West Moreton region.

To access the GP Psychiatry Support Line, call 1800 16 17 18.
More information can be found on the GP Support website.