Cairns and Townsville general practitioners (GPs) are invited to express their interest for a new information pack that will highlight the provision of health care for refugees, including relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item codes, interpreter services, and culturally responsive approaches.
In recent years, there has been a decline in refugee arrivals to northern Queensland due to the impacts of COVID and travel restrictions. Now that the restrictions have eased, the number of refugees arriving in Cairns and Townsville will increase.
New arrivals to Cairns and Townsville will undergo health assessments by Queensland Health Refugee Health Nurses. However, they will also require access to GPs for the completion of the initial assessment (medical section) and for their ongoing health needs.
Dr Sneh Tiwari, a GP at Cairns Family Medical Centre, began working with new arrivals soon after arriving in Australia in 2001.
“For the first couple of years, there was no support at all for GPs. I remember researching as to what constitutes a refugee experience and a Refugee Health Assessment,” Dr Sneh said. “Things changed with the advent of the Refugee Health Network and dedicated Refugee Health Nurses.
“Now the process for providing health care to refugees is that new arrivals are seen as soon as possible for any acute problems by the Refugee Health Service, and then an initial health assessment is booked with a GP.”
The initial health assessment involves a time-based health assessment with MBS item numbers 701-707.
Dr Sneh said for this process, a close collaboration was required between practice staff and the support agency, which looks tends to the logistics of getting the families to and from their appointments.
“I found the initial consultation is mainly education of how the Australian health system worked. For example, what is Medicare, who is a GP, when to dial Triple Zero, how does the prescription work, and so on, while patients on long-term medication would stop taking their regular medications not knowing that they can go back to the chemist with the initial script for the next month’s supply,” she said.
“Working with new arrivals is always challenging but, as hard-working GPs, we all like a challenge. Despite the many complexities and time constraints, I have always found Refugee Health rewarding.
“Now that we have the Refugee Health Network and dedicated nursing support, as well as a practice support team - consisting of the practice manager, receptionist, and practice nurse - providing a service to the new arrivals is much more organised.”
Louise, a receptionist at Aitkenvale Family Health Centre in Townsville, is responsible for liaising between the refugee health nurses, case managers, doctors, and refugees.
“As a practice, we find it runs smoothly when one person takes charge to organise initial appointments, interpreter bookings, and any follow-up appointments required,” she said.
“It’s amazing to watch our refugee patients come out of their shells during their time with us. Despite most of the time not being able to understand one another, the smiles and waving between reception and patients shows that they are comfortable in our practice and feel safe with us.
“We aren’t doing anything out of the ordinary, just treating people with kindness and respect, and without judgement, which is the least everyone deserves.”
The information pack has been developed by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network in partnership with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, and Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
GPs and their teams interested in receiving more information about the provision of health care services to refugees are invited to complete this EOI.
On receiving the EOI, an information package will be forwarded.
