1. Brief History of MSOAP Current Activities Issues for Discussion
MSOAP Overview 2007
Brief History of MSOAP
Current Activities
Issues for Discussion

2. Overview
The Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing under the Rural Health Strategy.
It operates in all states and the Northern Territory.
In NSW administration of MSOAP is shared between NSW Health (public sector) and NSWRDN (private sector).
The current round of funding will continue until June 30, 2008.

3. Stakeholders 14 Divisions of General Practice
3 Aboriginal Medical Services
2 private hospitals
1 Area Health Service

4. Stakeholders Other stakeholders include:
The Department of Health and Ageing
The MSOAP Advisory Committee
The specialists
Rural and remote communities
NSW Department of Health

5. From Humble Beginnings
In 2002 there were 7 specialist outreach services.
In March 2007 there are 102.
By the end of 2006/07,this will have increased by approximately 25%.
The result of a positive partnership.

6. MSOAP Progress

7. Budget
MSOAP’s annual budget for 2006/07 is $2,652,610

8. Services
There are currently 102 MSOAP private specialist services in NSW
They operate across 46 rural and remote communities
The services are:

9. Services March 2006 *GP upskilling **Established specialist
18 Psychiatry services in:
Coffs Harbour*
Cowra/ Blayney*
Grafton*
Griffith*
Kempsey*
Leeton*
Lithgow*
Muswellbrook*
Nyngan/Warren**
Singleton*
Tamworth (2)*
Taree*
Wagga
Forbes*
Purfleet*
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

10. New Services to March 07- continued
12 Dermatology services in:
Armidale*
Bega/ Narooma**
Broken Hill (2)*
Coffs Harbour(2)
Cooma
Dubbo
Griffith
Port Macquarie
Taree
8 Neurology services in:
Armidale/ Inverell*
Bega
Coffs Harbour* (Parkinsons Disease)
Cooma
Dubbo
Port Macquarie*
Coffs Harbour
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

11. New Services to March 2007- continued
12 Paediatric services in:
Bega*
Bombala*
Broken Hill (Developmental)
Corowa*
Albury* (Endocrinology)
Wagga (Haematology)
Wagga (Neurology)
Deniliquin
Wagga (Renal)
Wagga (Respiratory)
Gunnedah
Taree
8 Endocrinology services in:
Lithgow
Port Macquarie/ Kempsey
Coffs Harbour
Armidale/Inverell*
Griffith*
Narooma
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

12. New Services to March 2007- continued
6 Rheumatology
services in
Dubbo*
Moruya*
Orange**
Tamworth*
Wagga*
Pambula
6 Cardiology
services in:
Bega**
Broken Hill
Dubbo (2)
Walgett
Kempsey
4 O&G services in:
Broken Hill*
Finlay*
Narrabri/Inverell*
Young
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

13. New Services to March 2007 - continued
2 Orthopedics
services in:
Leeton*
Young
3 Ophthalmology
services in:
Bega
Hay
Moree**
6 General Physician
services in:
Parkes*
Dareton*
Moree/Inverell/Armidale**
Kempsey
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

14. New Services to March 2007- continued
1 Oncology
service in:
Finley
1 Palliative Care
service in Moruya*
2 Respiratory Medicine services in:
Dubbo
Walgett
2 Surgery
services in:
Warialda
Bingara*
2 Vascular Surgery
Bega
Batemans Bay
1 Addictions Medicine
service in:
Bourke
3 Neurosurgery
services in:
Gulgong
Tamworth
Port Macquarie
2 Anaesthetic
Upskilling in:
Kempsey*
1 ENT service in:
Crookwell**
*GP upskilling
**Established specialist

15. Current Activities
Specialist survey
Patient survey
Annual review

16. Annual Review
Both surveys are part of an annual review which all MSOAP fundholders are required to conduct.
For RDN this involves site visits to local fundholders, budget and program reviews.
The results of the review are then incorporated into the annual project plan, which requires endorsement by the Advisory Committee followed by submission to DoHA.

17. Recent Initiatives Dermatology Registrars
Outreach to Indigenous communities
Upskilling programs

18. Questions/Discussion

19. MSOAP Contacts Sharif Bagnulo Project Manager – MSOAP
NSW Rural Doctors Network