Department of Health – Primary Health Care COVID-19 Response Teleconference 8 & 15 September  2021 – Meeting notes from Dr Maria Boulton The Primary Care Implementation Group (PCIG) is an online meeting that includes most primary healthcare peak bodies. It is convened weekly by the Department of Health as part of the COVID-19 response. Dr Maria Boulton attends on behalf of the AGPA.

8 September PCIG Meeting

General discussion included:
  • the management of patients with long COVID.
  • workforce issues.
  • Pilot of home quarantine for people returning from overseas underway in South Australia.
  • POP up mental health clinics in Sydney-went live on Monday-10 clinics. 1800 number established. Some have already been established in Victoria. Head to Health – headtohealth.gov.au website for more details.
Response from the task force about my email last week re-PIP, WIP and indemnity for medical students working in GP clinics and providing vaccines: They will have a response for us soon

15 September PCIG Meeting

General Discussion:
  • GPs can mirror state based eligibility guidelines.
  • Work ongoing on rapid antigen testing, in particular for high risk settings eg RACFs.
  • GPs have to be on site for MBS vaccination item numbers.
Issue raised:  regarding the need for recommendations that GP  can follow to avoid clinics being shut down in the case of a positive case coming in, particularly those doing COVID vaccines as it would slow down the rollout. Response: Task Force recognises the fact that there are differences between jurisdictions. There was acknowledgement that this warrants suggestion, however we need to be lead by our jursidisction public health units.