When Dr Roxane Craig started her new job as a GP liaison with Darwin Hospital a year ago, she wasn’t expecting just how much difference she would make in the world of health.
Established by Northern Territory PHN (NT PHN), the GP liaison role aims to improve communication between GPs and hospitals, and enable better outcomes for patients.
With her extensive experience across both public and private health care, Roxane was the perfect fit for the role.
“It’s about making sure people get the care they need without waiting unnecessarily,” Roxane explained. “I’ve seen first-hand how effective communication can change outcomes.”
GPs are often the first point of contact for patients with health concerns, and they rely on timely updates from hospitals to deliver ongoing care.
This connection is crucial for closing the health care gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where access to specialist services is often a challenge.
In her day-to-day work, Roxane assists doctors by facilitating hospital discharge summaries for post-hospital care and providing guidance on best practices for navigating the hospital system.
A lifeline for many time-poor GPs.
She also runs regular teleconferences, connecting rural and remote GPs with hospital specialists as part of their ongoing professional development.
Whether it’s addressing minor queries or more complex issues, Roxane ensures that every enquiry is answered promptly.
One year later, the results speak for themselves.
Where hospital responses previously took longer, Roxane now handles 300 to 500 requests each month. Most are resolved within days.
The program’s success has led to calls for expanding GP liaison roles across other hospitals in the NT.
Johana Zuluaga, NT PHN Primary Health Care Manager, emphasised the importance of the role.
“Roxane’s work has been a key factor in ensuring GPs and specialists can collaborate effectively,” Johana said.
“It’s not just about improving communication—it’s supporting better patient outcomes.”
For Roxane, it’s about ensuring people, especially those in remote areas, get the care they deserve.
“It’s rewarding to know that by simply connecting people, we’re making a difference in patients’ lives.”
The NT PHN Primary Health Care team coordinates primary health care across the NT. Find out more about our work: https://ntphn.org.au/health-professionals-hub/practice-support/
