Family doctors need support to provide vital after hours care to local communities
AMA Family Doctor Week 18-24 July 2011
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that Government plans to overhaul funding for after hours GP services could leave some practices without the necessary support to continue providing vital after hours care to their local communities.
In the 2011-12 Federal Budget, the Government invested additional funding to address the gaps in local primary care services, which included an overhaul of arrangements to support after hours services and directing the money, over time, to Medicare Locals.
Dr Hambleton said that funding to fill service delivery gaps is welcome, but this must not be at the expense of services that are already available.
“The Government’s decision does not guarantee that those practices currently delivering quality after hours services will be properly supported to do this once the Government’s plan to move funding to Medicare Locals is fully implemented,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The AMA believes that, while gaps in service delivery should be identified and addressed, funding support for existing practices providing quality after hours services should be retained.
“Family doctors are providing round-the-clock services in urban, rural, and remote parts of Australia.
“We know that there is a demand and need for family doctors providing out-of-hours care, with after hours GP services growing by more than 4.5 per cent each year over the past few years.
“When GPs are not available to deliver care, they put in place arrangements for patients so that they can get help when it’s urgent.
“The AMA recognises that there are gaps in the delivery of primary care services, but it doesn’t make sense to fill those gaps by taking funding away from quality services that are in high demand and are vital to keeping Australians healthy,” Dr Hambleton said.
22 July 2011
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