With severe bushfire conditions predicted this summer, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling for GPs to be better embedded in disaster planning so they can care for impacted communities.
In a response to the Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response Discussion Paper, the RACGP provided recommendations, including:
Including the RACGP as a key national partner of the National Emergency Management Agency
Including GPs in state/territory disaster planning groups or creating a dedicated GP Disaster Management group, so GPs can be engaged in frontline responses
Funding for general practice to prepare, respond to and recover from disasters and remain viable in disaster prone areas
Recognition of general practices as an essential service for access to emergency provisions and resources
Creation of special Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers for disaster affected GPs and patients
Recognition and support for the role of general practice in disaster response and recovery
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said GPs play a critical role in supporting communities impacted by disasters and could do much more if they are better embedded in disaster planning and management.
“As we’ve seen in past bushfires, floods and cyclones, GPs play a key role caring for people and communities when disasters strike, as well as during the aftermath and recovery,” Dr Higgins said.
“But GPs who’ve been on the frontline during bushfires have told us that they’re held back from doing all they can due to lack of consistent communication and coordination from the disaster response team. This is why GPs need to be embedded in disaster planning and management, to ensure the right systems are in place before a crisis strikes.
“With Australia facing what’s predicted to be the most significant bushfire season since Black Summer, this change needs to happen urgently.
“The RACGP is the largest representative body for GPs, and it should be a key partner of the National Emergency Management Agency to ensure general practice is represented at a national level in disaster planning, response, and recovery.
“GPs also need to be more involved in emergency planning and response at state and local level, where much of the ground-level planning takes place.
“People may not know that every practice does disaster planning as part of general practice accreditation. So, we are prepared for disasters individually, yet we’re not included in local, state, and national-level planning, which would enable general practice to do so much more for communities in need.”
Dr Higgins also stressed the importance of access to funding so that GPs can continue to provide care during disasters.
“Currently most GPs working in evacuation centres are volunteers and while this is commendable it is risky to rely solely on a volunteer workforce to deliver specialised healthcare,” she said.
“Additionally, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, practices that are still able to operate feel compelled to bulk-bill patients, which means they risk running into the red.
“Many practices around Australia are facing ongoing challenges to remain viable and there is a real risk that natural disasters could force practices to close at times when communities need them the most.
“That’s why Australia needs to fund GPs to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, and remain viable in disaster prone areas. General practice care is essential for everyone, and no community should be without GPs.”
