Calling On Our Members Of Parliament: Face The Challenges Of Working In General Practice, Australia

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Many general practitioners believe that members of the Australian Parliament are not aware of the pressures and challenges of working in our over stretched and under resourced general practice profession, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said today.

"GPs specialise in patients not diseases and we care for our patients from cradle to grave. We experience each sector of the healthcare system in the same way that our patients do. We know what our patients experience in trying to access care in every corner of Australia; in remote communities, regional centres and major cities," said Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President and GP in northern New South Wales.

"We believe that, much in the same way Prime Minister Kevin Rudd instructed his MPs and Senators to visit schools, all Members of Parliament should visit general practices in their electorates.

"As we try to access timely care for our patients in our fragmented health care system, we function as the 'canaries in the coal mine'. We know what is and is not working in each sector, in every community. If you want to improve our health system, start with general practice. Get general practice right and the rest will fall into place.

"Investments have just not been made in the infrastructure needed to support excellent general practice services. At the point where patients experience the health care system, we have not supported health care providers to deliver high quality care.

"GPs all over Australia would welcome their local member into their practice and show them around. At a time when the Australian Government is considering major health reform, all members of parliament should be out in their communities speaking with GPs, members of our teams, with our patients about the day to day workings of general practice and about the resources our health system needs to ensure all people in Australia can access the best quality care.

"Parliamentarians need to see the whole picture - GPs do more than consult with patients in their practice. Members of parliament should join their local GPs for visits to our patient's homes, to hospitals, residential aged care facilities, to outreach services that provide care to people who are homeless and to Aboriginal medical services.

"Providing a high quality health care system is the responsibility of every member of the Australian Government, not only the Health Minister. The RACGP would also like to see the government's key decision makers including Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister; Wayne Swan, Treasurer and Lindsay Tanner, Finance Minister out there getting to know what it takes to work in general practice," said Dr Mitchell.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia and represents the majority of Australia's general practitioners.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners