An annual spotlight on Australian general practice

Abstract

On Sept 13, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) published an inaugural Gene-ral Practice: Health of the Nation report. Their analysis will become an annual review of Australian general practice: to plan for a future workforce, to track conditions most commonly presented by patients, and to gauge general practitioner (GP) job satisfaction and discontent. The RACGP represents 35 000 members and 17 000 Fellows, treating Australia's population of 24 million. The top two overall concerns of RACGP members are Medicare funding and mental health services. Fees for GP services are paid by patients, subject to a partial or complete reimbursement from Medicare. Continually rising costs of GP services are shouldered by patients, particularly in remote areas, such as the Northern Territory. The report's findings raise concern that patients with a lower socioeconomic status need to visit their GP more often than those with a higher socio-economic status, but are deterred from doing so by the high costs. Mental health issues are the most common reason to visit a GP, followed by respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions. Access to GP services is reported as good, with 99·3% of patients being able to see a GP when required. In remote areas, coverage is relatively well distributed, with 337 GPs per 100 000 population in the most remote areas, compared with 139 GPs per 100 000 in densely populated inner cities. The Rural Doctors Association of Australia has welcomed the report, and emphasised the underlying need for improving mental health support—felt acutely in rural areas. Workplace issues faced by Australian GPs include technological challenges and some limited exposure to occupational violence. Mental health, and increasing obesity and diabetes will be rising concerns for the RACGP in the future. The over-riding budget imbalance is worrisome—as upwards of 85% of Australian citizens are using GP services, while less than 9% of the federal health-care budget is assigned to primary care. This situation is unsustainable without urgent government attention. For the RACGP report see http://www.racgp.org.au/download/Documents/News/Health-of-the-Nation-2017-report.pdf For the RACGP report see http://www.racgp.org.au/download/Documents/News/Health-of-the-Nation-2017-report.pdf