RACGP to lead work on ‘nationally consistent’ UCC standards

The RACGP will lead the development of a nationally consistent urgent care standard to ensure the now-permanent primary care providers work cohesively with general practices, the college announced on Wednesday.
 
The move comes after the Federal Government confirmed funded urgent care clinics (UCCs) will become a permanent feature of Australian healthcare.
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said he has ongoing concerns about the model of care’s impact, but the college has an important role to play in ensuring UCC standards have the same rigour as wider general practice.
 
‘This is about making sure that UCCs are held to account to the same level as practices and the link between UCCs and patients’ usual general practices is strengthened,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘GPs are highly trained to deliver urgent care, and their role within multidisciplinary teams will be central to the sustainability and success of the urgent care system.’  
 
Dr Wright said the work is a natural extension of the RACGP’s existing role, noting the college has developed and updated the Standards for general practices for more than three decades.
 
‘We are well placed to lead this work, ensuring UCCs complement patients’ usual care, reduce pressure on emergency departments, and deliver safe, accessible services for communities across Australia,’ he said.
 
Dr Wright also emphasised there should be flexible funding arrangements for urgent care, particularly for rural and remote areas, to ensure equitable access.
 
At an RACGP roundtable on UCCs last year, which included GPs working in the clinics, government representatives and RACGP board members, attendees agreed urgent care clearly sits within the scope of general practice.
 
They also said the college should advocate for establishing clear standards for urgent care.
 
A previous newsGP poll found 61% of respondents supported the establishment of an urgent care standard.
 
The expansion of Medicare UCCs, which were first opened in 2023 as part of an election commitment under the Albanese Government, has created wide debate.
 
While the overall impact on general practices is not yet fully understood, an increasing number of GPs are working in UCCs.
 
The announcement of the ongoing funding, which includes $1.8 billion over five years, took place before a final evaluation has been completed.
 
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a Murrumba Downs UCC in Queensland, where he promoted the investment, saying the clinics are filling a gap between GPs and emergency departments.
 
But interim assessments have acknowledged increasing workforce concerns, as well as highlighting room to improve continuity of care.
 
An initial evaluation highlighted the expense of UCCs compared to a standard GP consult, while the most recent cited ‘reasonably strong evidence’ the clinics had reduced urgent care-style presentations at hospitals by up to 10%.
 
However, it also found only 65% of presentations included a handover back to the patient’s usual GP or practice.
 
There are now 135 UCCs around the country with another two due to open by July. There are also UCCs run by different state governments and private UCCs, which are operating without an overarching national urgent care standard.
 
The development of the standard is set to involve GPs, governments, UCC operators and patients.
 
‘We have important consultation and engagement work to do with external stakeholders first,’ Dr Wright said.
 
‘This is a significant piece of work, and we want to get it right.’
 
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