GP practices in flood-affected communities of NSW are being offered funding to remain open after hours to help patients access health care during the aftermath of the crisis. 

A primary health network (PHN) program for the northern and mid-north coast of the state, which covers about 520,000 people, says it will pay GPs $400 for every three-hour session they provide on a weeknight (5-8pm) and $600 for every three-hour session on the weekend until 22 March.

This is so the “primary healthcare services don’t run at a loss” while helping their communities, said Healthy North Coast.

The ‘We Are Open’ program — which also supports Aboriginal medical services and pharmacies to extend their hours at short notice — will help cater to patients whose regular healthcare providers cannot be reached or have had to shut down.