Finding Common Ground: Allied Health and GPs Collaborate to Improve Patient Care
04 Nov 2025
The event brought together nine allied health professionals, one nurse, and 13 GPs, offering an opportunity to network, understand each other’s scope of practice, and explore ways to strengthen collaboration for better patient outcomes.
The inaugural session focused on chronic pain management, a condition that affects one in five Australians aged 45 and over, with greater prevalence in lower socioeconomic areas. Chronic pain is often interlinked with other health conditions, making isolated management approaches less effective.
In South Western Sydney — including Camden, Liverpool, and the Southern Highlands — an increasing number of older adults are experiencing chronic pain alongside multimorbidity, placing growing pressure on hospital services.
Attendees heard from:
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Dr Lance Holland-Keen, GP from Gregory Hills
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Matthew McMullan, Senior Physiotherapist at Liverpool Hospital
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Brendan Chiew, Pharmacist with SWSPHN’s Allied Health team
Dr Holland-Keen discussed the limited access to pain specialists in the region and the challenges this creates for both patients and practitioners. He also shared insights into low patient engagement and the underuse of appropriate pain medications.
Matthew McMullan outlined how GPs can enhance referrals to the Liverpool Pain Management Clinic, emphasising the importance of clear documentation and the use of HealthPathways to connect patients with suitable providers.
Brendan Chiew spoke about the value of Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs), explaining how adding a brief clinical context to HMR requests allows pharmacists to better align their assessments with the GP’s priorities.
“When pharmacists understand the reason behind an HMR, it transforms the process — making it more collaborative, targeted, and clinically meaningful,” he said.
The event underscored the power of interdisciplinary communication in improving outcomes for patients with chronic pain.
Next in The Common Ground Series:
Topic: Health in Obesity Management
Date: Thursday, 13 November, 7 pm
Format: Webinar
Register via the SWSPHN website.
Source: South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN)
