Recover

Tips to support recovery

• Review and identify lessons.
• Communicate with patients about return to normal business hours and services.
• Connect with and refer to local social and community support agencies.
• Identify and reach out to patients with increased vulnerability factors.
• Identify community population health needs post disaster and develop campaigns to address emerging needs e.g. focus on mental health assessments.

Providing and accessing care and support

Patients in areas affected by natural disaster are now exempt from the existing relationship (12-month rule) requirement for telehealth. This means patients don’t need to have had a face-to-face consult with a GP in the last 12 months to access MBS subsidised telehealth services.

A person is exempt from the 12-month rule if, at the time of accessing a telehealth service, they are living in a local government area that is declared by a State or Territory Government to be a natural disaster area.

Distress, denial and disbelief are common reactions people may show for days and sometimes up to weeks after a disaster. In the initial hours and days, people may be stunned and dazed, particularly in response to a sudden and devastating disaster.

During the first consultation with an impacted patient, GPs are advised to:

1. Listen, comfort and quietly accept information.
2. Ensure survival, safety and security.
3. Orient towards goals.

Doctors may be directly impacted by disasters and need to look after their own health and wellbeing. Doctors may also become overloaded by the traumatic experiences of others.

Early indicators that a doctor is affected by the traumatic experiences of their patients may include:

• heightened response to the patient.
• increased levels of arousal (sleep disturbance)
• avoidance (includes increased alcohol use).

To avoid being overwhelmed, doctors should consider:

• discussing distressing or difficult experiences with colleagues
• limiting their exposure to a tolerable level
• maintaining good general health with regular exercise, good nutrition and sleep habits
• seeking help if needed.

Community support services

Financial assistance

Queensland Government financial and housing supports are available for people affected by the flooding events and other natural disasters. To access support please visit the website or phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) may have been provided funding for disaster recovery grants to support local community wellbeing and resilience, community connections and emergency response capabilities. Please contact our Practice Support team to see if funding is available.