During a disaster, SWSPHN is here to help you tackle some of the many challenges which may arise.
Your Practice Support Officer is your first point of call. They are here to help understand your needs and challenges during this difficult time. They will liaise with other teams within SWSPHN on your behalf and assist your practice to get back on track.
Support can include:
- Letting you know what support mechanisms are available to you, your staff and your community
- Supporting you to deliver telehealth services to your community if your practice site has been affected by a disaster
- Sharing information about your practice's change of circumstances, for example, site relocation and altered hours through e-newsletters and social media
- Recovery and evacuation sites, emergency contacts and support services will be widely communicated by SWSPHN.
HealthPathways is a useful tool for you and to support your patients.
Here's what you can do:
- Undertake a debriefing session with your staff
- Connect staff and patients with appropriate support services (SWSPHN Mental Health funded services)
- Be mindful of how disaster may exacerbate the condition of patients with chronic illness
- Prepare yourself for consultations with patients and staff who have been affected by disaster, by understanding what is normal and how you can provide the best support RACGP - Information for GPs in, or supporting, disaster affected communities
Psychological First Aid
Psychological First Aid is the recommended approach to assist people who have been affected by trauma. It helps to reduce initial distress, as well as assisting people to cope in the days and weeks following a traumatic event.
Resources for GPs:
Information for health professionals | Beat the heat (nsw.gov.au)
Disaster Recovery Toolkits | Phoenix Australia Disaster Mental Health Hub
Supporting your community | Australian Red Cross
Psychological First Aid: Supporting people affected by disaster in Australia
Factsheet - Mental health and emergencies | racgp.org.au