Community needs clarity on health care services
In response to recent confusion around the difference in services provided by GPs, Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs), satellite hospitals, and emergency departments, AMA Queensland calls for a government public education campaign.
AMA Queensland is calling for Queensland Health to implement a public education campaign providing clarity around the difference in services provided by GPs, Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs), satellite hospitals, and emergency departments (EDs).
“We welcome any investment into healthcare, but the community must know what services they can access in what location,” AMA Queensland President Dr Maria Boulton said.
“The State Government’s satellite hospitals have recently been under fire over long wait times and under-pressure staff, however the root of the issue here is that patients are turning up to the wrong service providers for help.
“Despite the name, these satellite hospitals don’t provide the services that hospitals provide, and patients are turning up only to be turned away or made to wait for hours.
"People are confused about some of these new facilities and what they offer. I’m a GP and I don’t know what services each of the satellite hospitals offers.
“There’s also confusion around the new federally-funded UCCs. These are supposed to be fully bulk billing GP practices that operate after-hours and on weekends when other GP practices are closed.
“However, GPs and other health professionals are reporting to us that many UCCs are only open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday – not early mornings, late at night, on weekends or on public holidays.
“At the same time, the federal Department of Health has developed communications materials to distribute to patients that inadvertently imply GPs can’t provide the services offered by UCCs.
“This is having the unintended consequence of diverting patients from their regular GP, fragmenting their care, impacting the viability of existing practices and failing to reduce emergency department presentations.
“We need Queensland Health to have a public education campaign so people know where they should go when they fall ill or in an emergency.
“Without proper transparency, we will see people presenting at emergency departments or UCCs who could be treated by their usual GP, and people presenting to a satellite hospital when they need urgent care.
“GPs, UCCs, satellite hospitals, and EDs offer a different range of services, but it is only GPs and public hospitals that, together, can provide the full spectrum of health treatments patients need no matter their condition.
“The purpose of each service needs to be properly communicated to patients to prevent inadequate health care, missed diagnosis and further strain on the health system.”
