Review and model development of After Hours Services in South Western Sydney Primary Health Network

Project Status
Completed

Chief Investigators
Prof. Mark Harris, Prof Siaw-Teng Liaw, Dr Ben Harris-Roxas, Dr Iqbal Hassan, Dr Hairong Yu, Karla Jaques

Rationale

UNSW Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity was commissioned by South Western Sydney Primary Health Network to evaluate their current After Hours Program.

SWSPHN requested an evaluation of its After Hours Program, with specific reference to:

  • Co-located after hours clinics at Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bowral
  • Medical deputising services supported by the PHN in the more rural parts of the PHN within Campbelltown, Camden and Wingecarribee local government areas (identified through the SWSPHN needs assessment)
  • Identifying after hours services to support and fund in future

Aims

This project will enable SWSPHN to:

  • Describe the nature and impact of after hours services in South Western Sydney
  • Identify the users of after hours services and barriers to use
  • Identify after hours services for SWSPHN to consider supporting and continuing in future

Design and Method

The evaluation will take place over four stages:

Stage 1: Planning

Stage 2: Data collection and analysis

Stage 3: Integration and analysis

Stage 4: Reporting

  1. Analysis of secondary data: SWSPHN data on AHS and LHD data Emergency Department presentations (Triage levels 4 and 5)
  2. Economic Analysis of SWSPHN after hours services and estimation of avoided costs
  3. Interviews with SWSPHN after hours service providers
  4. Interviews (phone) with after hours clinic patients (in clinic waiting areas) and potential AHS patients in Liverpool, Fairfield, Campbelltown and Bowral Emergency Departments (low urgency only; Triage levels 4 and 5)
  5. Mail and online survey of patients who have used after hours clinics (self-administered survey)