Respond

• Refer to the practice's emergency management plan. 

• Communicate to patients any changes to access or open hours and/or reinforce continued access. 

• Consider extending or offering alternative arrangements to accommodate changed or increase in patient demand. 

• Follow alert and warning updates. 

• Offer support to your local practices as agreed if you have the capacity to do so. 

• Consider extending opening hours to accommodate an increase in patient demand.

• Communicate to patients any changes to access or open hours and/or reinforce continued access.

• Regularly visit and follow alert and warning update sites to stay informed.  

Disasters and emergencies are increasing in prevalence and impact, and North Queensland has a relatively high level of exposure to extreme weather events.  

Our region can experience a range of natural disasters including cyclones, floods, storms, bushfires and pandemics. These emergencies can pose a risk to business continuity in primary care. It is a requirement of the RACGP Standards of General Practice that practices prepare and maintain an emergency response plan (ERP). 

In line with the Commonwealth Legislation (Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018), it is essential for RACHs to continue to provide care and support to their clients throughout a disaster. Emergencies can impact residential aged care homes' (RACHs) ability to provide services, and preparing for emergencies helps lessen these impacts. 

Information and resources to help you, your staff and patients during disaster recovery following cyclones and flooding. 

It is recommended that service providers have a plan in place should a disaster event occur (for example, a heatwave) to ensure their staff and clients are aware of strategies to protect themselves and family. 

NQPHN has compiled information to assist service providers who support clients in the community with preparedness activities for heatwaves. 

Heatwave specific resources 

• Heatwave warnings (Bureau of Meteorology) 

• Extreme Heat and Heatwaves Stakeholder Kit 2023-24 (Queensland Government) 

• Heatwaves asset library (Queensland Government) 

• Hot weather health and safety (Queensland Government) 

• Heatwave preparation checklist (Queensland Government) 

Fine smoke particles can cause health problems like itchy or burning eyes, throat irritation, a runny nose, and illnesses like bronchitis. 

They can also aggravate existing lung conditions, like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Symptoms can occur for several days after smoke is inhaled. 

Residents should: 

• close windows and doors 

• use fans or air conditioning on recirculating mode to keep cool 

• keep medications close by if suffering a respiratory condition 

• be vigilant in taking prescribed medications for existing lung conditions. 

If you have a known respiratory condition such as asthma please have your regular medication at hand and see your GP if you do not feel you are adequately prepared. 

Residents should call Triple Zero (000) if you are having health problems or believe your property is under threat. 

• Bushfires in Australia factsheet (RACGP) 

• Bushfires Stakeholder Kit (Queensland Government) 

• Managing pandemic influenza in general practice (RACGP) 

• Emergency planning and response in general practice: Measles (RACGP) 

• Outage Finder (Ergon Energy power outage information)  

• Queensland Traffic Road Condition Information (search for flooded or damaged roads) 

• RACGP Natural Disasters (New information for GPs in, or supporting, disaster-affected communities) 

Supporting staff and patients in a time of crisis.

Free wellbeing support for general practice and pharmacy staff. 

NQPHN offers free EAP support for all general practice and pharmacy staff affected by the impact of cyclones and/or floods.  

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to enhance the emotional, mental, and general psychological wellbeing of all employees and includes services for immediate family members.  

To access this confidential service, please contact AccessEAP on 1800 818 728 and identify as one of these groups when calling into our service, starting with Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, then either Chemist Staff or GP staff.  

For more information on AccessEAP, visit their website.  

NQPHN has also created an EAP support poster to advise staff of the service availability:  

• Download poster (General Practices)  

• Download poster (Pharmacies)  

Wellbeing support for Practice Managers and their teams  

AAPM has set-up a dedicated opportunity for Practice Managers and their team members to access the AAPM Member Assistance Program. AAPM will fully fund the first few engagements to ensure healthcare professionals can remain supported.  

AAPM Non-Member Support can be accessed here using code NMS024 to successfully identify and validate your eligibly.  

Head to Health  

Prioritising your mental health is important. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, it’s available 24/7. Find resources and helplines at Head to Health.  

Other support services 

Queensland Health factsheets 

• Public health advice for disaster management 

• Black flies-a public health risk after a flood 

• Restoring flood-affected domestic swimming pools and spa pools 

• Ensuring safe drinking water 

• Restoring rainwater tanks affected by natural disasters (including bore water-holding tanks) 

• Health advice for emergency response workers 

• Use and disposal of medicines after a disaster 

• Food safety in an emergency 

• Controlling mosquito breeding after floods, storms and cyclone 

• Mosquito-borne diseases after a storm, flood or cyclone 

• Dealing with mould after a storm, flood or cyclone 

• Returning to a disaster-affected house or building 

• Stay safe and healthy after storms, floods and cyclones 

• Use of playgrounds and sporting fields during flood recovery 

  ABC 

• ABC information on what to do during a cyclone