In the last financial year 65 per cent of patients who presented at the accident and emergency department in Orange did so for minor ailments that could have been treated by a general practitioner or medicated by pharmaceuticals in an out-of-hospital environment.

WPHN chief executive officer Andrew Harvey   said while the organisation knows it isn’t practical for some non-hospitals to operate throughout the night, even extending services for a few hours could have a huge impact on taking the pressure off emergency departments.

Orange pharmacist Kate Gray says under the existing model costs are prohibitive for pharmacies to remain open after 7pm.

“The problem for pharmacies is the way we are remunerated by the government,” Mrs Gray said.

“At the moment there is no provision for pharmacists to be paid for these services.”

Mrs Gray said pharmacists were committed to primary care.

“But the issue of suitable funding for services needs to be resolved,” she said.

Mr Harvey said the WPHN was asking for service providers such as general practices, pharmacies, aged care facilities and Aboriginal medical services to tell the organisation how they could extend and enhance their after-hour services with the help of federal government funding.

“We know that one size does not fit all and these service providers know best the needs of their local communities,” Mr Harvey said.

“We want to hear how existing services could be enhanced as there are many barriers people face in accessing after-hours healthcare.”

WPHN invites eligible organisations to apply for funding to provide high-quality, effective and efficient after-hours primary healthcare services in western NSW.

Applications for funding close at 10am on December 7.

Details of the competitive grant process are available at www.wnswphn.org.au.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au