Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice

Programs

The palliative care program is a three year program that commenced in April 2003. Funding is provided by the Department of Health and Ageing under the Caring Communities Program. The projects official name is "Experiential Palliative Care Programme for General Practitioners". The Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice is the lead agency. Other agencies involved are: -

• Peninsula Hospice Service

• Royal District Nursing Service, Frankston & Rosebud

• Peninsula Health Service

The program aims to: -

• Support the educational needs of the general practitioners in palliative care

• Improve collaboration between groups involved in palliative care

• Improve awareness of a broad range of health care providers the role of palliative care as an integral part of the health care system and their role in this area

The program involves general practitioner being funded to leave their clinical practices and attend over a 4 to 6 week period 4 clinical attachments involving: -

• Home visiting palliative care patients with the RDNS

• Inpatient ward round and multidisciplinary case conference at the inpatient palliative care unit

• Participation in Peninsula Hospice activities such as case conferences, counselling and support services

• Consultancy visits at either home or hospital with the Director of Palliative Care

Funding has been provided for 50 general practitioners in the three year period to complete these rotations. Associated with each rotation will be the provision of resource material and the opportunity for CPD points.

A steering group has been established to help deliver the program. Its members are: -

• Dr John Siemienowicz

• Dr Brian McDonald

• Bev Armstrong

• Helen Wearne

• Tracey Easte

• Lizz Hamilton

Program Leader        Dr John Siemienowicz