Patients Put Access To Doctors Ahead Of Bulk Billing - AMA Poll

AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the poll result - 72 per cent concerned about access to a doctor compared to just 21 per cent who see bulk billing as more important - confirms the long-held AMA view that access to quality medical care is more important to patients than bulk billing.

The poll also showed that 69 per cent of respondents consider health to be either the most important (20 per cent), or one of the top three issues (49 per cent), facing voters at the coming Federal election.

In regard to spending any Budget surplus, 47 per cent say it should be spent on health services, 31 per cent say it should be spent on other service areas, while just 14 per cent want it spent on tax cuts.

In another interesting result, respondents said the loss of a GP (79 per cent) would have a significant impact on their communities.  This compared to the significant impact from the loss of a lawyer (18 per cent), a teacher (64 per cent), a pharmacist (57 per cent), a church (31 per cent), or a bank (57 per cent).

Dr Glasson said the poll confirms community and patient concerns about doctor shortages and reflects the AMA view that bulk billing is not a measure of the success or failure of the health system.

"People are finding it harder and harder to get to see a doctor when they want one," Dr Glasson said. 

"And when they find one they are prepared to pay a gap because they know the Medicare rebate is not enough to keep their doctor in their town or suburb.  The poll shows that people are very knowledgeable about health policy, the health system, and doctor shortages - and they are not happy.

"Australian communities want to keep their doctors, but this poll shows clearly that current Government policies are not doing enough to provide all Australians with easily accessed and affordable high quality GP services," Dr Glasson said.

The poll of 1001 people was conducted for the AMA by international market information company, TNS, over the weekend of 3-4 July 2004.  The respondents were evenly split between male (500) and female (501), and proportionally representative of capital city (691) and rest of state (310) populations.

 

 

TNS POLL ANALYSIS

 

TNS is a leading global provider of market information.  They collect, analyse, and interpret information to help their clients better understand the needs and wants of their customers.

From their global network, which spans 70 countries, they provide local expertise and knowledge, together with internationally consistent information and analysis.

For this AMA poll, TNS interviewed 1001 respondents, evenly split between male (500) and female (501) and proportionally representative of capital city (691) and rest of state (310) populations.

Breakdowns are also available based on the respondents State, socio-economic status, age and marital status.

Question 1: What is most important:

                        To be able to see a doctor when I need to        72%

            Or        Being bulk billed by a doctor                            21%

                        Not sure/Don't know/Can't say                          7%

NB: Those in areas outside of capital cities actually polled at 77% for being able to see a doctor when they need.

Question 2: Importance of health policy when voting:

                        The most important issue                                  20% (29% for over 65s)

                        In the top 3 most important issues                     49%

                        Important but not in the top 3                           17%

                        Not important                                                    9%

                        Don't know                                                       5%

Question 3: How should the budget surplus be spent:

As per the tax cuts proposed                           14%

To improve health services                               47%

To improve services in other areas                   31%

Don't know                                                       7%

NB: Men were more supportive of tax cuts (18%) than women (10%) and less supportive of using the surplus for health (men 42%, women 53%).

Question 4: On a scale of 1 to 5, how would the loss of the following impact on your community:

                        Lawyer 1                                   6%

                                                2                      12%

                                                3                      20%

                                                4                      16%

                                                5                      46%

                        GP                   1                      59% (women 68%, men 51%)

                                                2                      20%

                                                3                      10%

                                                4                      4%

                                                5                      6%

NB In areas outside of capital cities the loss of a GP was rated as a significant impact by 68% of respondents. 67% of blue collar workers also ranked this as a significant impact.

                        Teacher            1                      40%

                                                2                      24%

                                                3                      18%

                                                4                      7%

                                                5                      10%

NB more of a concern outside of capital cities (45%) than in capital cities (38%).

                        Pharmacist        1                      34% (40% women, 29% men)

                                                2                      23%

                                                3                      19%

                                                4                      12%

                                                5                      11%

NB Again more concern outside of capital cities (42%) than in capital cities (31%).

                        Church             1                      17%

                                                2                      14%

                                                3                      23%

                                                4                      15%

                                                5                      32%

                        Bank                1                      36% (women 42%, men 29%)

                                                2                      21%

                                                3                      20%

                                                4                      10%

                                                5                      13%