The Primary and Integrated Care Unit (PaICU)
What is the PaICU?
The PaICU is a unit within SWSLHD Mental Health. We build primary and integrated care for the community through teaching, research and service development. Our doctors are experienced clinical general practitioners with university appointments.
What does the PaICU do?
We provide specialist general practice services to patients of South Western Sydney LHD living with severe mental illness. Our aim is to work with patients and local services to safely transition them to mainstream general practice.
We teach at all levels.
We lead and partner in research and evaluation relevant to primary and integrated care.
What research does the PaICU do?
Our main research/evaluation focus is on improving the physical care of people with severe mental illness. We also lead projects and contribute to research and evaluation in integrated care more widely in South Western Sydney.
What teaching does the PaICU do?
We have provided training to many vocational and academic GP registrars. We supervise students undertaking their “independent learning project” (research) and honours projects, teach in the Primary Care and Society and Health courses, and undertake clinical assessments in the UNSW Medicine program.
The Primary Care Clinic
The Primary Care Clinic is our clinical service in the Fairfield Community Health Centre. We provide general practice care for people living with severe mental illness. Patients are referred to us largely, but not exclusively, from the specialist mental health services in the Fairfield and Liverpool regions. We also provide services through outreach clinics in SWSLHD. This includes chronic disease care, preventive health, care of acute conditions or other health care. We work closely with local services to safely transition patients to mainstream general practice.
Please call reception on 02 97941830 for appointments
Fairfield Community Health Centre
53 Mitchell St, Carramar.
Entrance is through FLYHT and Specialist Disability Clinic
Staff
Dr Michael Tam (Director, and Staff Specialist)
Dr Michael Tam is a Specialist General Practitioner with clinical interest is in the whole-person primary care of people living with mental illness. He has a master’s degree in mental health from the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. He is actively involved in mental health policy, strategy, and governance, with local, state, and national bodies. Michael’s research is in integrated care and preventive care in general practice. Michael is a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health of the University of NSW and is on the board of directors of SWSPHN.
Dr Andrew Knight (Staff Specialist)
Dr Andrew Knight has been a Specialist General Practitioner for over 30 years. His research addresses quality improvement and integration of care in general practice. He has been a Director of Training in the Australian General Practice Training program, and was the former chair of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network and NPS Medicinewise. Andrew is also a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health, UNSW.
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