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GPs offer ‘very positive’ health check for Perth politicians
An event held at WA Parliament has helped politicians gain ‘a better understanding about what it means to be a grassroots GP’.
The RACGP delegation talked to state representatives across the political spectrum in Perth.
An RACGP delegation descended on the Parliament of Western Australia on Tuesday to give a free health check to WA politicians – and raise the profile of general practice.
The seven-strong group of GPs offered state representatives in Perth risk assessments for diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
They also advocated for measures to improve access to general practice.
RACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman was among the delegation and described the event as ‘very positive’.
‘This was our second time doing this and it was equally successful to the first that we had,’ she told newsGP.
‘We saw state representatives from across the political spectrum.
‘It really just shows the level of engagement that we have been able to establish, but also the importance of having that engagement.’
The advocacy requests the GPs took to State Parliament include:
- Incentivising GP consults within a week of patients leaving hospital to reduce hospital readmissions
- Allowing more West Australians to receive non-urgent, routine care from their GP after hours
- Providing free access to life-saving RSV and meningococcal B vaccines
- Appointing a Chief GP Advisor for the state
As well as those, Dr Raman said the visit to State Parliament provided a welcome opportunity to explain issues more broadly from a GP’s perspective.
‘General practices are federally funded but the impact that we have is at a state level – we are part of that ecosystem,’ she said.
She also said there are great examples of collaboration between general practices and state politicians, with the
ADHD program the most recent example.
Dr Raman believes the event, which began last year, is likely to be an ongoing fixture.
‘It’s certainly enabling stakeholder relationships and a better understanding about what it means to be a grassroots GP,’ she said.
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