Bridging the gap

As part of health service reform, the Government is committed to greater collaboration between hospital and community based health providers. For all patients, including children and adolescents, the interface between hospital and community based care, including general practice, should be facilitated.

A significant tool to assist health care providers achieve this goal in the paediatric environment has been released. Child Health: A Practical Manual for General Practice has been written by child health practitioners from The Children's Hospital at Westmead as well as around Australia and New Zealand. Dealing with clinical problems commonly seen in general practice, the problem oriented text focuses on key features in diagnosis and management so as to assist general practitioners in the care of children and adolescents.

General practitioners are the main providers of health care to families. As such, it is vital that they have access to easy-to-use resources that enable them to identify and treat a range of paediatric problems. It is also important to know when it is appropriate to refer a child for further advice, consultation or inpatient services.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead has been committed to the development of a mantle of care for the State's children for many years. By working with other hospitals in the greater west, the level of paediatric expertise throughout the area has increased. This is an ongoing process with some projects still in their infancy.

Parallel to this process, has been the move to bridge the gap between general practice and hospital care. Comprehensive patient care requires a partnership between various professionals with the general practitioner playing a central role in the care of the whole patient. Good hospital care recognises this and supports the GP in their quest to ensure the best care for their patients.

"I believe that this text will have a significant positive impact on child care. It is an excellent resource for GPs but also has a role in hospitals for residents. It assists with continuity of care and helps ensure the best possible results from community based care," said the book's co-editor, Professor Kim Oates.

For further information, please contact:

Gilly Paxton
Manager
Public Relations
Ph: (02) 9845 3568