Bribie Island After-Hours GP trial delayed

Brisbane North PHN regrets to advise that our Invitation to Tender process for the Bribie Island After-Hours Pilot Project was unsuccessful in identifying a suitable provider that could deliver the service for the community. 

The PHN is now seeking advice on an expedited procurement process, working closely with the Department of Health, the Federal Member for Longman, Mr Terry Young MP, and local GPs, to determine the best way to deliver this service as soon as possible. 

The PHN’s Executive Manager for Health Systems Improvement, Rachelle Foreman, said the Department’s contractual requirements regulated PHN procurement processes. 

“Brisbane North PHN is now proposing to procure services for the Bribie Island After-Hours Pilot Project via an adapted direct purchase process, which will commence with an informal expression of interest (EOI),” Ms Foreman said. 

“Our Primary Care Liaison Officers will help facilitate the EOI process, conducting exploratory conversations with local general practices to determine interest and capacity to deliver the pilot under the current funding arrangements,” she said.  

"The information collected through these conversations will then inform the development of a Request for Proposal, which will require less work for services to respond to than is required for a Tender.  

“Our intention remains to trial a sustainable, blended payment after-hours model of care, in line with feedback we received through the stakeholder engagement and co-design sessions we ran earlier this year. 

“However, the Request for Proposal may allow for more flexibility with regard to the geographic area covered by the after-hours service and the providers involved in its delivery,” she said. 

The Member for Longman, Terry Young said it was important to get after-hours primary health care right and in line with the expectations of Bribie Island residents. 

“Having successfully fought hard for the required funding, the last thing I want to see is a service that is not meeting locals' needs,” Mr Young said. 

“Rest assured, the PHN is doing its best to deliver the best after-hours service possible for the people of Bribie Island. 

“Once up and running, the service should help alleviate some of the issues around seeing a GP on Bribie Island after-hours,” Mr Young said. 

For more information, or to express interest in participating in the Bribie Island After-Hours Pilot Project, contact: 

Amie Horwood | Project Lead
T: 07 3490 3454  
E: amie.horwood@brisbanenorthphn.org.au