Supporting GPs to work at the top of their scope and growing the GP workforce is key to closing the health and wellbeing gap in regional Australia, says the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The Westfund Regional Health Gap Report released today shows significant differences in disease prevalence and healthcare access across regions, including notable gaps to healthcare services. It found significant gaps in access to allied health services, as well as mental health providers, particularly adolescent mental health.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said it’s more evidence of the need for reforms and investment so regional Australians can access essential care.
“As a regional GP in Mackay, I know all too well that regional Australians don’t have the same access to health services as people in the big cities,” she said.
“Patients in rural and regional Australia often have to travel large distances to access the care they need. And this leads to rural and regional Australians living shorter lives, with more illness.
“Everyone deserves access to high quality general practice care irrespective of their postcode or income.
“Australia could be better utilising its specialist GP workforce to improve access to care – this means supporting GPs to work at the top of their scope, so we can provide more services to patients.
“A big problem in regional Australia is lack of access to non-GP specialists, like psychiatrists, dermatologists, and cardiologists.
“GPs do the same eight years of medical training as every specialist, yet they cannot initiate treatment or prescribe medication for many conditions, such as ADHD, acne, and dementia. If GPs were allowed to work at the top of their scope, and provide more specialist services for patients, it would improve access for people in regional Australia, and be much more cost efficient.
“Another example is treatment for joint disorders – one of the largest health issues identified in the Westfund report. GPs could provide early interventions and treatments like joint injections and aspiration, if patients’ Medicare rebates supported GPs to work to the top of their scope. This would also reduce the need for joint replacement surgeries down the track.
“Closing the health and wellbeing gap in regional Australia also requires a strong and sustainable primary care workforce, with the right reforms to ensure that GPs are supported to work in teams with other specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, and pharmacists. Regional Australians deserve the same access to high-quality care as those in the big cities, and we shouldn’t settle for anything else.”
