Primary Care and GP services – Providing holistic care to our community
BHN’s Primary Care and GP services are often the first point of contact for many in our community, serving as a gateway to broader health and wellbeing support.
Our GPs and Practice Nurses not only provide essential medical care but also connect clients to other BHN services and external specialists, ensuring their care is truly holistic.
Last year, more than 1,800 people received care through our clinics. We gave priority access to those who are most vulnerable, including people experiencing complex mental health conditions, chronic illnesses, or social disadvantage, helping them navigate the hospital system and access the right support when they need it most.
Our South Melbourne GP service is one of the few Bulk Billing clinics in the area and plays a vital role in addressing barriers to care. The clinic supports people of all ages with a strong focus on prevention as well as treatment, providing:
- Acute medical care
- Chronic disease management
- Mental health and harm reduction supports and addiction medicine
- Women’s and Men’s health services
- A Travel Clinic
- Specialist Liver and Endocrinology clinics supported by specialists from The Alfred.
The wrap-around care we provide doesn’t just reduce hospital admissions, it often transforms lives. By offering ongoing, person-centred support, our services help people to recover, stay healthy, and rebuild their connection with community.
Our dental clinic and allied health services available at South Melbourne are also an important extension of the care we provide, offering accessible services to clients of our GPs as part of our coordinated, holistic approach to health.
In a recent feedback survey about BHN’s South Melbourne GP service, 96% of patients rated their experience as good, very good, or excellent. The highest scores were for respect, warm greetings, and clear explanations. One client shared: “I have nothing to fault with the service the amazing staff provide. It’s the best I’ve ever received and I’ll always recommend it."always recommend it.
Danni-Jo’s Story
Facing the challenges of homelessness, substance dependence, mental health issues and the impacts of a stroke, Danni-Jo’s journey has not been easy.
For the past eight years, she has been supported by BHN’s GPs and Practice Nurses, who have walked alongside her every step of the way.
With compassionate, coordinated care, our team helped Danni-Jo break free from addiction, connect with physiotherapy for her physical recovery, and access a NDIS plan to ensure she has the supports she needs for the long term.
“BHN has played a big part in my road to recovery, helping me get clean and become stable again. I know the GPs and nurses are always there for me, and I feel like I’m part of their community. I don’t have to keep re-telling my story," says Danni-Jo.
Today, life looks very different. Danni-Jo has a home of her own and meaningful work with The Big Issue Classroom, where she uses her lived experience to educate secondary students about disadvantage and the importance of reaching out for help.
“My take-away message is that getting support is essential to move forward. Thanks to BHN, I have my mental health under control, I’m drug-free, and I have my NDIS plan in place. I am proud to say that I am now successful,” she shares.
