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Call to action: Help shape the future of general practice
GPs are being urged to add their ideas to a new Scope of Practice submission, as the RACGP fights against a ‘broken’ healthcare future.
With consultation closing on 26 May, GPs are being urged to make their views known.
From major cities to remote towns, and everywhere in between, GPs from across Australia are being urged to speak up and tell their stories in a bid to create generational healthcare change.
Time is running out for the RACGP to add its voice once again to the landmark Scope of Practice review and the college is calling on GPs to submit their ideas to be added to its submission.
The college is eager to hear the stories of frontline, grassroots GPs from across Australia, to paint the most accurate picture of what needs to change, and what must be avoided.
Already, members have spoken out about their belief that GPs can increase their scope of practice for the benefit of patients.
They have also expressed very clearly that they are unhappy with the current trend moving towards task substitution.
With consultation closing on 26 May, GPs are being urged to make their views known.
The RACGP is also running a member consultation webinar on 22 May to present the feedback received from members so far, and provide an opportunity for people to share their experiences and knowledge.
The review is focusing on several key areas of the healthcare system, including workforce design, development and planning, legislation and regulation, and funding and payment policy.
Now onto its third round of consultation, the Commonwealth review is asking stakeholders to consider reform options and their potential to meet the needs of all Australian communities.
The RACGP has lamented the review’s direction so far, saying it is leading general practice, and the healthcare system overall, in a dire direction.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins told newsGP the college is ‘very concerned’ about the review and the shape it appears to be taking.
‘Politicians must recognise the crucial role of GPs and support us as the heart of our primary care system,’ she said.
‘The Scope of Practice review has the capacity to create landmark reforms in Australia and it’s critical the Government hears GPs and gets it right.
‘This review must recognise that supporting Australia’s GPs and general practice teams to do more can improve access to care and reduce costs.’
The review’s second issues paper, released last month, identified several challenges faced by GPs, including poorly recognised skills, a lack of exposure to primary care for medical students, and legislation impeding doctors working to their full scope.
However, it continuously mentions primary care teams, without defining whether they include GPs, raising fears Australia’s health system is heading in the direction of the UK, where lesser-trained health professionals have missed life-threatening diagnoses.
Dr Higgins said the release of the review’s second issues paper left her feeling ‘angry and devalued’.
‘The review so far is confirming our worst fears, that task substitution and oversimplified general practice could be on the way,’ she said.
‘What they’ve done is reduce healthcare to tasks and activities, rather than focusing on the outcomes we all want to achieve – it is being fractured, broken, and is ultimately going to cost our patients.
‘It takes 11 years of training to be a GP, and while every profession has important skills, general practice can’t stand by and watch as our health system is reduced.’
Dr Higgins is now urging her fellow GPs to share their views and help the RACGP stand up for the future of general practice.
‘We cannot trade off quality for convenience, that is simply bad for peoples’ health,’ she said.
Dr Higgins will be sharing her views on the scope of practice review during her Practice Owners Conference session, ‘Brave New World: Scope of Practice and MDTs. Will this rejuvenate general practice or is it a nail in the coffin?’ on 25 May.
A survey on multidisciplinary teams in general practice also remains open for GPs to share their views.
The Scope of Practice review was a priority recommendation of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report, aimed at allowing health professionals to work to their full potential, while emphasising the need for multidisciplinary teams.
A final report is set to be submitted to the Commonwealth in October.
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general practice reform scope of practice Strengthening Medicare task substitution
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