Are you interested in supporting the community by becoming a General Practice Respiratory Clinic (GPRC)?
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is seeking Expressions of Interest’s (EOI) from accredited general practices in priority local government areas (LGAs) to rapidly establish GP respiratory clinics (GPRCs) that have assessment, testing and initial treatment support capabilities.

Background

Increasing COVID-19 cases in Victoria has highlighted the critical role of primary care in reducing demand on hospitals, including presentations to emergency departments (EDs) for respiratory-type symptoms. 

The Victorian Government and Victorian Primary Health Networks are collaborating to support more Victorians to access respiratory assessments and COVID-19 testing and care close to where they live.

Twenty new GPRCs will be rapidly set up across metropolitan Melbourne to support people of all ages with respiratory symptoms to access a comprehensive respiratory assessment (including COVID-19 testing) and receive immediate support in management of their illness. Services will be available to those with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient, with the fit for purpose facility open after hours. GPRCs are anticipated to provide service until 30 June 2022.

This document seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from accredited general practices in priority local government areas to rapidly establish GP respiratory clinics that have assessment, testing and initial treatment support capabilities. Accredited general practices and community health services with GPs may express their interest in participating in the program as per the guidelines below.

This EOI is intended to identify individual general practices capable of participating in this program. An EOI should be completed for each individual practice location.

What is involved?
Set up costs

A one-off initial payment to cover the cost of setting up facilities, including minor works, procurement of equipment, consumables and other essential establishment costs up to $150,000 excluding GST (subject to PHN review and approval).

Monthly payments 

Monthly operational payments of $109,794.00 excluding GST to cover staffing related costs, consumables and facility running costs. (NB: clinic to claim MBS item numbers in addition). These payments are also to cover those patients without a Medicare card. All GPRC services must be bulk billed.

Indicative timetable

This EOI closes at 5.00pm on Tuesday 9 November 2021. A market briefing will be held on 3 November. If required, interviews will be conducted over the following week, concluding Wednesday 17th November 2021 (times to be confirmed). The purpose of the interviews will be to discuss and clarify the information included in the applications.

Due to the very short timeframe for this project we hope to notify the successful applicants as soon as possible after the interviews. We will aim to complete contracts so that services can be operational by Monday 6th December 2021.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in due course following the appointment of successful ones.