Respond to a disaster at your practice

In an emergency divert your office phone and update your on-hold message.

The most effective support you can provide during a time of disaster is to consider extending practice opening hours to accommodate an increase in patient demand.

Divert practice phone number to another number
Update message bank details, social media and website with information about how GP services can be accessed
Contact SWSPHN to advise if your practice is affected
Advise SWSPHN if you have the capacity to extend opening hours, undertake residential aged care visits or offer telehealth consults
Contact SWSPHN to be linked with GPs who are available to assist with Residential Aged Care Home (RACH) visits

For more guidance on disaster preparedness, refer to the RACGP’s guide on Managing Emergencies in General Practice: A Guide for Preparation, Response and Recovery.

Contact your Practice Support Officer or call 4632 3000 to advise when your practice is affected by a natural disaster.

What we do
Disaster management support for practices

Put a plan in place to ensure your general practice can react quickly and confidently when disaster strikes. Practice managers...
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What we do
Respond

The most effective support you can provide during a time of disaster is to consider extending practice opening hours to accommodate an increase in patient demand. Read on for more activities to keep your patients and other care providers aware and supported by changes in your practice’s normal operations.
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What we do
Become a We Are Open practice

Can your practice extend business hours during a nearby disaster, and see new patients affected by the emergency? ‘We Are...
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What we do
How pharmacists can provide support during a natural disaster

During times of a declared natural disaster or emergency, pharmacists can continue to support patients to access eligible essential medicines...
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What we do
Prepare

Use the General Practice Disaster Planning Guide to consider and plan for unexpected disruptions to your practice, staff and patients. Arrange for the SWSPHN disaster coordinator to visit your practice and help you initiate the plan. This guide aligns with RACGP practice accreditation activities.
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What we do
How GPs can look after themselves when affected by a natural disaster

We know primary healthcare professionals are usually on the frontline of disasters such as bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic,...
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What we do
Recover

From help setting up digital health technologies to spreading the word on evacuation sites and support options; here are a few ways SWSPHN can help you tackle some of the challenges which may arise in a disaster.
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What we do
Disaster training resources for primary care

Training is available to help GPs and other frontline general practice staff better prepare for natural disasters like bushfires and flood.
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What we do
Become a disaster volunteer

SWSPHN keeps a register of primary care professionals who have expressed an interest in volunteering to assist in a disaster....
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What we do
Supporting patients with a chronic disease during and after a natural disaster

Natural disasters can impact on access to healthcare and medications, which can result in deterioration of chronic conditions. Diabetes...
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What we do
National disaster information and resources

Emergency websites | NSW emergency services | Local councils Disasters and emergencies are unpredictable by nature, though forecasts and warnings...
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General Practice Forms

Respond to a disaster at your practice

Related Pages

Disaster management support for practices

Respond

Become a We Are Open practice

How pharmacists can provide support during a natural disaster

Prepare

How GPs can look after themselves when affected by a natural disaster

Recover

Disaster training resources for primary care

Become a disaster volunteer

Supporting patients with a chronic disease during and after a natural disaster

National disaster information and resources