SEMPHN's support during natural disasters and health emergencies
Maintaining access to primary health care is pivotal to emergency response and recovery efforts. Maximising capacity and ensuring integrated and coordinated support across primary care providers is essential for optimising health outcomes in local communities during emergencies.
SEMPHN - and PHNs in general - are positioned to coordinate a localised primary health care response, supporting the delivery of care where and when it is needed, reducing pressure on the acute care system, and ensuring a coordinated and effective primary health care emergency response. Diligent planning and preparedness are key to realising this capability. The primary objectives of PHNs in emergency planning and preparedness include to:
- Coordinate: Support and coordinate the primary health care contribution to health emergency preparedness and coordination processes to identify primary health needs and build resilience.
- Build capacity: Assist local primary care providers in health emergency planning, response and recovery.
- Continuity of access: Make plans to support local primary care providers continuing to operate during emergencies e.g. by arranging alternative premises.
In the event of a natural disaster or a health emergency, SEMPHN will partner with the Commonwealth and/ or Victorian Government to support the delivery of primary care at that time.
Supporting the State Emergency Management Plan
SEMPHN is committed to supporting primary care in planning preparedness and capacity building and will develop resources to support emergency management and local and regional emergency management, in particular to support the State Emergency Management Plan.
In an emergency, the Victorian Department of Health has a number of responsibilities as outlined in the plan. The Plan covers a wide range of events, including fire, flood, heatwaves, epidemic, wide-scale food poisoning, and train or plane accident. As emerging diseases and natural disasters cannot be predicted, primary care preparedness is a vital step for providers to consider and enact, to reduce vulnerability, minimise risk and increase business resilience. Being prepared for emergencies ensures that services and staff are ready to respond.
Volunteer to help
If you, or your practice, are interested in supporting your community during an emergency, please fill out this form.
Information gathered will be recorded in a secure, limited-access database, and shared with the Victorian Department of Health (DH) for the purposes of the emergency response only.
We will confirm yearly your continued involvement.
