Bendigo CHS Men's Health Clinic Improving access to primary care

Men have higher age standardised death rates than women from causes including cardiovascular disease, cancer and injury. Improving men's access to primary care through engagement is vital to achieving gender equity in health outcomes. This article describes the Men's Health Model of Practice at Bendigo Community Health Services in Victoria, which was developed to address the acute and preventive healthcare and health promotion needs of men in the Bendigo region, and reflects on strategies general practitioners can use to improve access to primary care for Australian men. It is important to seek opportunities to engage men in preventive healthcare when they present to general practice for an acute problem. In a busy general practice setting, a practice nurse or nurse practitioner can play a role in completing a comprehensive assessment of men's preventive health needs.