Page 5505 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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2. The current SFA expires on 30 June 2019.
3. Clause 14.1 of the SFA allows for the Agreement Period to be extended only by the written agreement of the parties prior to the expiration of the SFA.
4. Base funding for CALMS in 2017-18 is $1,262,432 (GST exclusive) per annum.
5. CALMS is paid 50 per cent of total annual funds twice a year in July and January.
6. New SFAs with existing service providers was the chosen procurement method for the CALMS to ensure continuity of service to the Canberra community by commencing new SFAs with existing service providers.
7. Funding provided under the agreement does not subsidise service fees. CALMS is funded to provide Afterhours GP services through the whole of the after-hours period at three agreed clinic settings and at Home or Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF’s) as clinically appropriate.
8. Yes, CALMS provides an accredited, after-hours primary medical care service, available to all ACT residents based on clinical need, inclusive of residential aged care facilities.
9. Canberra Hospital's Emergency Department (ED) is a specialised unit designed to provide quality emergency care and treatment to people who are seriously ill, injured, in pain or are suffering from life-threatening conditions. CALMS GP service provides afterhours primary medical care services for conditions that a patient would usually see their GP for, and that cannot wait until the in-hours period. Patient attendance at CALMS reduces demand on the more costly, tertiary treatment and trauma services provided at ED.
10. CALMS call centre operates from 6pm to 8.30 am the following morning, with clinic hours from 8:00pm until approximately 11:00pm weekdays. A home visit can be arranged outside the clinic hours. On weekends & public holidays, CALMS clinic is open from 10.00am until approximately 11.00pm. Walk In Centres hours are 7.30am to 10pm every day of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
CALMS operates after-hours including its call centre, overnight, while walk-in clinics do not operate overnight. There is a small overlap in the late evening and early morning, however CALMS and nurse-led walk-in clinics provide different, albeit complementary, services. CALMS provides GP services and the Walk In Centres provide one-off nursing advice and treatment for people with minor illness and injury.
11. A comparative cost analysis is not possible as the service scope/purpose and business models of CALMS and nurse-led walk in centres are different. CALMS is a private service, receiving Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) funding from the Commonwealth Government and gap fees from some patients. In addition, the ACT Government provides funding to enhance their capacity to employ GPs. Nurse-led walk-in centres are fully funded by the ACT Government.
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