Consumer Participation in the Division

Our Division works with consumers at three levels:

Operational level input from consumers via individual program reference groups 

For some time, our Division has benefited from consumer representation on appropriate program reference groups. These representatives provide consumer participation in the planning and implementation of specific programs and activities.

Independent Director on the Division's Board of Directors

One of two Independent Directors on the Division's Board is identified through the Health Consumer Network. This position provides a non-GP perspective to the governance of the Division. The Independent Directors on the Board have the same rights, responsibilities and remuneration as the GP Directors, and actively participate in Board meetings, training and all other activities undertaken by the Board.

 Helen Hutchinson was first appointed to this position in 2002.

Strategic input from consumers via the Division's Health Consumer Network

 The Division's Health Consumer Network was formed in August 2001, with the aims of:

• Improving communication between consumers and the Division

• Broadening the understanding of general practitioners of the health care needs of patients

• Providing a mechanism for nomination of consumer representatives to Division program reference groups and working groups of the Division as appropriate

• Providing a mechanism for nomination of a consumer representative to the Division's Board

The Network allows for a broad base of consumer participation and information flow between the Division, consumer organisations and individual consumers. Via regular newsletters, the Division informs Network members of the latest developments within the Division and general practice, as well as seeking consumer opinion on key topics. Members of the Network are also invited to come together twice annually for Consumer Network Forums, which enable the Division to obtain focussed consumer contribution to strategic planning processes.

Membership of the Division's Health Consumer Network is open to organisations that represent the interests and concerns of health consumers in southern Tasmania. There are currently 81 members of the Network, consisting of 75 organisations, and 6 individual members.

A number of Consumer Forums have been held, which were all very positive times. In the early stages of the Network's development, an emphasis was placed on educating Network members about the Division's role and scope within general practice. Since then, Forums have served a number of purposes, including:

• Obtaining consumer input to the Division's strategic planning processes. The document "Hallmarks of Quality" was developed at a Network Forum, and contributed to the division's planning for the 2003-4 Business Plan.

• Development of resources such as: "Getting your message across", about getting the most out of consumer representative opportunities, which was shared with all Network members.

• Guest speakers on topics of interest to consumer members. These have included Marg Brown (Chair, Health Consumers of Rural & Remote Australia) who shared ideas for how consumer representatives can maximise their impact; an information session on health complaints presented by the Health Complaints Commissioner of Tasmania and Chair of the Medical Council of Tasmania and a session on suicide prevalence and prevention by Wendy Quinn from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Our Division was a finalist in the Consumer Engagement category of the Australian Divisions of General Practice Divisions Achievement Awards in 2003.

The Division presented a paper titled "Towards Meaningful Consumer Participation in Divisions- a Continuing Journey" at the 2004 National Divisions Forum in Adelaide. The paper was presented by Carolyn Field (Program Officer), and co-authored by Carolyn and Helen Hutchinson (Independent Director, and Consumer Network member). The PowerPoint presentation from this paper is available in the Downloads section of this web page.

Getting the most from your visit to the doctor brochure - 2009 Reprint

We have recently updated a useful consumer information brochure, which includes helpful hints and advice for making the most of a visit to the GP.
Copies of the brochure will soon be distributed to general practices in early 2010 for display in waiting rooms.

A copy of the brochure in PDF format can be downloaded from here.

Downloads

• Network News Brief  ^{June 2010}

• Terms of Reference

• Can we influence increased uptake of physical activity? Click here for April Forum feedback in full. ^{June 2010}

Other Resources

• ABC Health Matters- Consumer Guides and Patient Support Groups:

• Aged Care Australia

• Allergy Information for Consumers

• Anaphlaxis Australia

• Asthma Foundations Australia

• Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) - Consumers and Divisions: The AGPN is the national parent body of the Division

• Australian Policy Online News and research from leading Australian research centres and institutes.

• Better Health  Victorian Government consumer health information.

• Consumers' Health Forum of Australia (CHF): The national peak body for health consumers in Australia.

• Commonwealth Carelink Centres are information centres for older people, people with disabilities and those who provide care and services. Centres provide free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available locally, interstate or anywhere within Australia.

• Doctors Reference Site- Support Groups

• Healthconnect  

• HealthInsite an Australian Government initiative - Through this site you will find a wide range of up-to-date and quality assessed information on important health topics such as diabetes, cancer, mental health and asthma.

• Health Translations Directory A Victorian government site for multilingual health resources.

• HON Health on the Net Foundation

• Lab Tests Online  A public resource on clinical Lab testing.

• MS Society Australia

• My Doctor

• National EHealth Transition Authority (NEHTA)

• National Prescribing Service (NPS)- Consumer Page: NPS is a non-profit organisation, independent of government and the pharmaceutical industry, which can provide evidence-based information about medicines to both health professionals and consumers.

• Patient Information: A collection of links giving pre-admission information at various hospitals as well as pre-testing pathology requirements ^{Jun 09}

• Tasmanian Deaf Society