Accredited general practices and community health services with GPs are invited to express their interest to establish 3 additional General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRC) in south eastern Melbourne. 

Since 2021, the Victorian Government and Victorian Primary Health Networks have collaborated to support Victorians to access respiratory assessments, COVID-19 testing and care close to where they live.

Three new clinics for south eastern Melbourne

The three GP respiratory clinics in the South-eastern Melbourne region (SEMPHN) will be rapidly set up in the following Melbourne local government areas:

• Glen Eira
• Frankston
• Mornington Peninsula

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are sought from accredited general practices and community health services with GPs in Glen Eira, Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula to rapidly establish GP respiratory clinics that have assessment, testing and initial treatment support capabilities. An EOI needs to be completed for each individual practice location.

Service overview

The new GPRCs will support people of all ages with respiratory symptoms to access a comprehensive respiratory assessment (including COVID-19 and other pathogen testing) and receive support in the management of their illness. 

Clinics will also provide care for patients with COVID-19. Services will be available to those with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient, with the fit-for-purpose facility open after hours.

GP Respiratory Clinic Requirements

General practices or community health services with GPs who are selected will need to demonstrate an ability to provide a GP Respiratory Clinic model of care including:

• Undertaking full respiratory assessments including testing for respiratory pathogens including but not limited to COVID-19, and paediatric respiratory care.
• Supporting short-term management of patient’s acute, immediate respiratory needs, with longer term management supported via referral back to patient’s regular GP. 
• Supporting patients who test positive for COVID-19 to receive care through the COVID Positive Pathways program, which links people to clinical care, monitoring and support services. 
• Providing clinical care and support for patients with COVID-19 if the patient does not have a regular GP or they are unable to access support via their regular GP. Care can be provided via telehealth or in a face to face capacity, with discharge back to patient’s regular GP following episode of care.
• Capacity to provide paediatric respiratory care.
• Be easily accessible and help to reduce ED presentations, especially after hours. It is anticipated that each clinic will see over 350 patients a week.
• Providing services to people with and without a Medicare card, with no out of pocket costs to patients.

Further requirements are outlined in the EOI documents in eProcure.

Funding

Clinics will be eligible for an establishment grant, to cover the cost of setting up facilities, including minor works and procurement of equipment and consumables – up to $150,000. Clinics will also receive operating grants of approximately $109,000 per month to cover staffing related costs, consumables and facility running costs, to ensure the clinic is open 16 hours a day and staffed appropriately.

How to apply

Expressions of interest must be made through SEMPHN's eProcure.
An EOI needs to be completed for each individual practice location.
Questions about the EOI must be asked through SEMPHN's eProcure. 

Key dates

8 April 2022: EOI opens in eProcure
14 April 2022: Questions close in eProcure at 12 pm (noon) 
19 April 2022: EOI closes at 12 pm (noon) 
27 April 2022: Interviews with shortlisted respondents (if required)
28 April 2022: Outcome advised
2 May 2022: Contract commences
30 September 2022: Contract ends

Update: As of 31 October 2023, all General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRC) in South Eastern Melbourne have closed.