GP visits down because of lack of access - AMA
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that Health Department figures showing that patients are reducing their visits to the doctor are more likely a reflection of lack of access to a doctor, not affordability.
The Sydney Morning Herald today linked a drop in patient visits to the doctor to areas where bulk billing has declined the most.
Dr Phelps said in many areas of Australia people are seeing the doctor less often because there is no longer a local GP to see.
"It is an issue of access, not affordability," Dr Phelps said.
"With the reduction in bulk billing, Australian patients are becoming accustomed to paying a co-payment when seeing their GP. Many GPs continue to discount their fees for patients who are genuinely disadvantaged. However, we will need a workable safety net system.
"An emerging problem is the difficulty for many communities to access GP services at all. We have to move on from the bulk billing debate and concentrate on the medical workforce issues.
"GP bulk billing rates will continue to decline and the community will learn to accept that. But I think you'll find GP visit statistics will drop off significantly as more communities lose their GPs who leave town or retire, with nobody to replace them. This alarming trend is accelerating.
"You can find proof of this on the NSW Rural Doctors Network website where 95 vacancies for country GPs are advertised.
"Even Lucky Starr would have trouble finding a GP in country NSW today.
"There are vacancies in Albury, Balranald, Baradine, Batemans Bay, Boggabri, Broken Hill, Bungendore, Byron Bay, Casino, Cessnock, Cobar, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Denman, Dubbo, East Gresford, Emmaville/Ashford, Finley, Geurie, Goulburn, Grafton, Griffith, Gundagai, Gunnedah, Harrington, Hay, Hillston, Inverell, Jerilderie, Jindabyne, Kempsey, Kingscliff, Kyogle, Lake Cargelligo, Lavington, Leeton, Lightning Ridge, Lismore, Lithgow, Macksville, Maclean, Moss Vale, Muswellbrook, Nimbin, North Haven, Pambula, Perisher Valley, Port Macquarie, Sanctuary Point, Shoal Bay, the Shoalhaven area, South West Rocks, St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Tamworth, Temora, Tenterfield, Tocumwal, Tumut/Batlow, Tweed Heads, Uralla, Urunga, Vincentia, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Wauchope, Wee Waa, Wellington and Wentworth.
"Translate that pattern nationally and you will have some idea of the medical workforce shortages confronting us at the moment," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761