The role of the division is to promote general practice as the key to optimal health care, and to improve the quality of care GPs provide to their patients, the quality of their professional lives and the quality of their personal and family lives as GPs. The division's area includes the towns of Alstonville, Ballina, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Casino, Evans Head, Kyogle, Lennox Head, Maclean, Mullumbimby and Yamba. More than 170 GPs are members. There are 123 divisions of general practice Australia-wide, with almost half in rural areas.
Divisions are formal organisations of GPs within a geographical area.
They provide a framework for GPs to interact with health services, community groups and public. Divisions are primarily funded under the Commonwealth Health and Family Services, Divisions of General Practice Program. Funding also comes from NSW Health and the private sector. Finally the AMA has found two issues that touch base with us at the coalface of general practice. The incidence of malignant bowel obstruction in the general population is not known.