Urgent need to train more GPs

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, has called on the Government to immediately lift the cap on general practice training places, after it was revealed that more than 200 would-be GPs will be turned away. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported today that patients' access to GPs in Australia has fallen since 2002. Dr Capolingua said patients are telling doctors it is becoming more difficult to get an appointment.

"This must be rectified immediately. Today's report demonstrates that the Government must urgently lift its cap on places for trainee GPs," Dr Capolingua said.

The training body, General Practice Education and Training (GPET), has said that it could take on an extra 100 trainee GPs each year, to bring the total to 900 places by 2011.

"There is every reason to train more GPs, and no reason not to," Dr Capolingua said.

"The Government would have Australian patients believe that GPs can be replaced by nurses and allied health providers.

"But even the nurses' union says there are not enough nurses in Australia to manage the current nursing workload, let alone think about taking on the work of doctors.

"To ensure that Australian patients enjoy continuing access to high-quality primary health care, the only answer is to train more GPs." More

GPs: the heart of primary care reform

Dr Capolingua said this week that international studies prove that ensuring GPs remain at the centre of primary health care keeps patients well and saves lives.

Launching the AMA blueprint for the delivery of primary health care services in Australia, General Practice in Primary Care: Responding to Patient Needs, Dr Capolingua said research highlighted in the document busts the primary health care myths that have been encouraged to bloom.

"This blueprint demonstrates that, while GP services account for less than one-tenth of per capita expenditure on health care, GPs provide all the care needed for 90 per cent of the health problems they encounter," Dr Capolingua said.

"Not only does this prove that Australian patients receive top-quality health care from their family doctor, but it shows that the Government should view GPs as excellent value for money."

The blueprint outlines the steps that must be taken to maintain and improve access to high quality primary health care for all Australians including an urgent requirement to fund more training places for GPs.

"For the sake of our patients, we cannot accept a dilution in the standard of primary health care," Dr Capolingua said. More

Support for GPs in delivering palliative care in aged care homes

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has launched a new online learning module to support GPs, practice nurses and general practice managers in the delivery of palliative care in residential aged care facilities. These activities have been developed by Palliative Care Australia, with funding from the Department of Health and Ageing. The activities are now available through the RACGP's online education portal. More

MBS book goes online

The AMA has objected to the Department of Health and Ageing's decision that the MBS will be distributed in CD-ROM format only. The President has written to Ministers Roxon and Ludwig objecting to the time of, and lack of planning to implement, the decision to allow medical practices to adjust to electronic access to the MBS. Hard copies of the book can be purchased for $50 at www.mbsonline.gov.au.