General practitioners' knowledge and use of an urban Australian hospital General Practice Liaison service A qualitative study

Background and objective Strong integration between primary and secondary healthcare is essential. Health services across Australia have developed General Practice Liaison (GPL) services to improve communication and understanding between general practitioners (GPs) and hospitals. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' experiences of and interaction with a health service's GPL service and capture perspectives concerning future service expansion. Methods This descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 10 GPs in the catchment area of a large urban health service in Melbourne in 2018. Data were analysed thematically. Results While GPs accepted the value of a GPL service, few had direct experience. Acknowledging the challenge of negotiating complex healthcare systems, they saw GPL services ideally staffed by a health professional, not necessarily a GP. Discussion The results provide insight into what GPs want from a GPL service. This can inform development of the GPL role within health services.