Waitemata District Health Board (DHB) currently has a number of GP Liaison advisors working part time and associated with specific hospital departments:
GP Liaisons are doctors who have a role in supporting patients to receive timely care within the hospital system.
The GP Liaison's role is to assist the patient to get a medical opinion and be treated.
Your GP will refer you to the appropriate hospital service requesting a first specialist assessment (FSA) which is a consultation with a specialist or a trainee specialist.
District Health Boards have introduced a priority system to manage waiting lists where GP referrals are given a priority based on the severity of their patient’s medical condition and the disability it causes the patient. The aim is that all patients will be seen within 6 months, with more severe cases seen earlier.
GP Liaisons work with specialists to assist this prioritisation process. In addition they work with GPs and patients to assist with finding alternatives when a patient cannot be seen due to classification as a low priority. This may involve advising the GP on other available treatment options or influencing the hospital to increase the priority rating when it is clear the condition creates a significant disability for the patient.
Sometimes investigations or tests will be arranged for a patient where the results indicate that a specialist assessment is unnecessary. This saves the patient and the hospital time and money and makes space for others to be seen.
GP Liaisons encourage GPs to use best practice guidelines, increase their skills to treat patients in their own community, and make the hospital system work for those with the greatest need.
GP Liaisons also educate the hospital sector on the strengths of primary care and have valuable input into planning and funding.