Bupa Launches First Onsite GP in Aged Care

BUPA aged care is the first aged care provider to provide an onsite General Practitioner in their aged care homes as part of Labor’s new ‘GP’s in Aged Care’ Program. The new program hopes to reduce hospital admissions and the need to leave the facility for simple procedures. “The aim is to improve health outcomes for residents and it is expected this will decrease their need for hospital visits and the need to leave the home for simple procedures” said Federal Minister for Ageing Senator Jacinta Collins.

The program was launched at BUPA Care Service in Berwick last week and the aged care provider plans to have an onsite GP in 15 of their homes by 2014 including three in Melbourne as well as Bendigo and Wodonga.

A minimum of one GP consultation each month will be provided to residents who will be bulk billed to avoid any out-of-pocket costs. Minister Collins said residents would have access to regular consultations with the same GP.