The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is committed to supporting general practitioners (GPs) and practice teams in delivering quality care to Australian patients. Recognising the vital role that GPs and general practice teams play in responding to emergencies, the RACGP has demonstrated its commitment to supporting its members by developing a range of resources relating to disaster, emergency and incident planning and management.
The RACGP was actively involved in supporting GPs and practices adversely affected by the floods in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales in 2010, 2011 and 2013; the Victorian, New South Wales and Tasmanian bushfires in 2009 and 2013; and the Sydney siege in 2014.
The aim of the guide is to assist general practices to better prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of emergencies. The guide has been designed as an educational resource for general practice staff during emergency preparation and response efforts.
The RACGP continues working with stakeholders including GPs, other general practice organisations, and state, territory and federal governments to coordinate the provision of clinically relevant health information and emergency management resources to support GPs and their communities.
We would like to thank the people and organisations listed in the acknowledgements for their dedication and support. We would particularly like to thank members of the project steering committee and RACGP staff for their efforts in contributing to the development of this resource.
It is with great pride that we present Managing emergencies in general practice: A guide for preparation, response and recovery.