Information for General Practitioners

COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Alfred is actively involved with Victoria’s COVID-19 vaccination program, but our clinic is not presently a designated site for community vaccination.

Please refer to this following link for up-to-date information regarding COVID- 19 vaccinations:

COVID-19 Updates

Alfred Health have a designated COVID-19 page, which is regularly updated and includes useful information and resources for patients, along with other important service updates.

Victorian Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) provides up to date resources, information, plans and guides for health professionals.

South East Melbourne Primary Care Network (SEMPHN)  provides COVID-19 information for health professionals in the South East Melbourne area.

Alfred Health Primary Care Management

The Alfred Health Integrated COVID-19 Community Care Pathway provides GPs with COVID-19 resources and contacts which Alfred Health offers.

It outlines the Alfred Health model for managing low-moderate and high-risk patients residing within a specified Alfred Health catchment who have tested positive for COVID-19.

This project is a collaboration between DHHS, Alfred Health, South East Melbourne PHN, Connect Health and Community and Star Health.

Primary Care support for patients in Residential Aged Care Facilities

There are supports available through Alfred Health to assist in the care of patients residing in Residential aged Care Facilities (RACFs).

The Mobile Assessment & Treatment Service (MATS) is a mobile medical and nursing service aimed at providing hospital-type treatment to older people in the community. At this time MATS primarily see people in residential care facilities. MATS accept referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Palliative Care Assessment Service (PATS) is also able to provide assistance with decision-making and goal setting, symptom management and end of life care for patients in RACFs.

The MATS service have also developed Management of COVID-19 positive patients living in residential aged care facilities to provide practical advice to assist GPs providing care to residents in RACFs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DHHS COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program

This program aims to give all patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) access to high quality care and support at the right time and in the right setting.

COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program - Factsheet for referrers

COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program - Factsheet for clients

The Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic

The Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic provides free screening to people meeting the current Victorian COVID-19 case definition and testing criteria. No referral is required and it is not necessary to call ahead prior to attending. The clinic is a screening service only, and cannot provide clinical assessment or management.

All people tested for COVID-19 are advised to self-isolate until test results are available.

Alfred Health are undertaking pre-operative COVID screening in accordance with DHHS advice. All patients scheduled for surgery and planned admissions at Alfred Health will be contacted and provided with the details of attending for screening at The Alfred. 

Impacts on Alfred Health services

Specialist Clinics (Outpatients)

Specialist Clinics have now returned to normal activity. All referrals will be triaged according to clinical need, but due to the impact of COVID-19 non-urgent appointments may be delayed.

Transit Lounge

The Alfred Transit Lounge is now closed; however, patient transport requests will continue to be considered for those patients requiring face-to-face consultations or procedures. Patient transport requests can be faxed to 9076 2290.

Other services

The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre

The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre has a dedicated 24-hour hotline for GPs seeking advice. GPs can phone the Admitting Officer on 1800 ALFRED (1800 253 733) any time of the day or night.

Please call the Admitting Officer prior to sending patients in to ED to provide clinical handover. This is particularly important for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, to ensure the Emergency Department can prepare appropriately for their arrival.

Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP)

Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) cares for people with chronic and complex health and social conditions that require care coordination. They work with clients to improve their understanding of their health and psychosocial conditions, build their capacity for self-management and self-determination, and coordinate access to services for long-term support.

GPs can refer directly to HARP via Caulfield Access (phone 9076 6776) and patients do not need to have been an inpatient of Alfred Health.

Mobile Assessment & Treatment Service (MATS)

Mobile Assessment & Treatment Service (MATS) is a mobile medical and nursing service aimed at providing hospital-type treatment to older people in the community. Although MATS primarily see people in residential care facilities, they can also see people in their homes.

MATS accept referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, phone 1800 007 656.

Alfred Health Mental Health Service

Alfred Health Mental Health Services can be contacted for referrals on 9076 9888, or for mental health emergencies please contact triage on 1300 363 746.