Review of Royal Darwin Hospital GP/Hospital Liaison Project

Abstract

Integration of health services is a high priority for the Northern Territory Government and for the Commonwealth. There are numerous policy statements that reinforce this direction. As services become better integrated it is expected that health outcomes will improve and services will be more cost effective. In 1998 the Royal Darwin Hospital and the Top End Division of General Practice agreed to conduct a pilot project for improving integration of care with a GP-Hospital Liaison Officer paid for by the hospital. Although the pilot period was for 13 weeks, the project continued with funding from the RDH. This review of the General Practitioner Hospital Liaison Project was conducted to assess the project for impact, effectiveness and cost.