Family GPs the panacea to COVID mental health concerns

Queenslanders are relying on their family GP more than ever, with a growing number of patients seeking mental health support as a result of the COVID pandemic.

In the lead up to World Family Doctor Day on May 19, AMA Queensland Council of General Practice chair Dr Maria Boulton said the pandemic showed just how important it was to have a family GP you trust and could rely on.

“We are at the front line during COVID,” Dr Boulton said. “Whether it’s administering vaccines, educating the community or helping them deal with mental health stresses from the continuing uncertainty. All the while we continue on with our usual GP work.

“About three-quarters of people with a mental illness go to their GP first and we’ve experienced a 30 per cent increase in patients reporting with mental health concerns in the past year.

“They can wait up to six months to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so GPs are playing a much bigger role as they care and continue to support patients.”

World Family Doctor Day highlights the role and contribution of family doctors and primary care teams in healthcare around the world.

Dr Boulton said being a GP was a fulfilling career as the work and patients were varied and she was able to form strong connections with her community.

“I had an uncle who graduated from medical school top of his class. Unfortunately, he died in a terrible accident before he could start practicing as a doctor,” Dr Boulton said.

“That really planted a seed for me and I was inspired to pursue a career in medicine. I enjoy all areas of medicine.

“Being a GP, you get to deal with everything and everybody and you are able to build relationships and strong connections with your patients.”

Dr Boulton said a regular family GP knows their patients well and can step in quickly and stop medical issues escalating.

“As a registrar, I had a regular patient who came in complaining of a headache and, because I knew her well, I recognised she wasn’t dressed as well as she normally would be and was not acting as she normally did. That rang alarm bells and we rushed her to hospital, where she had life-saving surgery for a brain bleed,” she said.

“During COVID it has been more important than ever to have a trusted family doctor on your side.”