More GP Programs Needed for Residential Aged Care
GP services in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) must be improved or primary health care services will not meet the rising demand from Australia's ageing population, say general practice experts.
According to an article in the latest Medical Journal of Australia, in June 2005, 7.3 per cent of people aged over 70 years were permanent residents of aged care facilities.
A review of current research by Dr Svelta Gadzhanova and Professor Richard Reed, of the Department of General Practice at Flinders University, also found that, in 2004, 52 per cent of residential aged care facilities sometimes had difficulty obtaining GP services for existing residents.
In their review of current GP services in RACFs, they identified three barriers to quality services:
- Low levels of financial reimbursement for GP visits
- The time-consuming nature of visits
- Older GPs offer more RACF services than younger GPs, and these older GPs may soon be reaching retirement age themselves
"A variety of incentives and programs has been initiated by the Government and State health departments to facilitate GP activity in RACFs," says Dr Gadzhanova.
"These include the Aged Care GP Panel Initiative to encourage GPs to work in residential aged care, the Enhanced Primary Care program to provide financial incentives for GPs, and palliative care programs that include guidelines for staff working in aged care facilities.
"These initiatives appear to be having an impact, but it is too early to determine whether they will be sufficient to meet the rapid projected growth in this sector.
"Additional research is needed," says Dr Gadzhanova.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
The original article can be viewed online at www.mja.com.au
CONTACT: Prof Richard Reed 08 8204 5606