Budget Lacks Recognition Of The Role Of Primary Care, Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners, Australia

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 13 May 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recognises that the Australian Government has had to frame this budget in difficult economic circumstances. We are disappointed that, in a budget focused on economic stimulus measures, there is not sufficient investment in the sector of the health system that has the closest contact with patients; general practice.

"In the lead up to this budget, the Australian Government raised expectations that its health reform process would deliver significant investment in general practice and primary care. This investment has not been delivered tonight," said Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President and GP in northern New South Wales.

"This budget does contain a number of initiatives that will contribute to investments in workforce and general practice teams. We remain committed to working with the Australian Government to progress initiatives outlined tonight, as well as future policy outcomes that will continue to flow from the health reform process."

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Reform

"The current MBS structure and rebates are failing our patients and do not provide for them to access the high quality care that they deserve from Australian general practice," said Dr Mitchell.

"In the last Australian Budget, the government committed to establishing a review of the MBS and we need to see real funds flowing into rebates for patients from this review, not just a commitment of $9.3 million over two years into a review of services listed on the MBS.

"There are key elements of our community, the most vulnerable including patients in residential aged care, who can not wait any longer for real reform that will support GPs in providing the care these patients need."

Support For Nurses And Teams In General Practice

"The RACGP supports the role of practice nurses in our practice teams. We need more support for practice nurses in all general practices. The budget's provision for $59.7 million to support the expansion of the role of specialist nurse practitioners does not meet the workforce needs of Australian general practice. We need a clear commitment to building teams within our general practices to support patient care. This budget has missed this opportunity," said Dr Mitchell.

General Practice Workforce And Training

"The RACGP congratulates the Australian Government for their investment in the future of Australian general practice through providing $41.2 million over 4 years to support the expansion of places in the Prevocational General Practice Placement Program," said Dr Mitchell.

"The RACGP and United General Practice Australia (see http://www.racgp.org.au/ugpa), have called for 1000 3-month Prevocational General Practice Placement Program places each year by 2011. This budget has progressed towards these targets, but more work is needed including a clear commitment that these increases will be ongoing.

"This vital program provides junior doctors and medical students with exposure to the diversity and complexity of care provided in Australian general practice and has delivered a three-fold increase in recruitment to general practice training. This is a welcome investment in the future of Australia's general practice workforce, but more work is needed.

"The government has announced the consolidation of a number of regional training providers; this is intended to deliver savings of $10.4 million over four years. Forced amalgamations of Regional Training Providers are not supported by the RACGP, nor is it consistent with the vision for a regionalised program.

"Australia needs a minimum of 100 additional full-time equivalent general practice-training places each year to reach 1500 places by 2015. The budget commitment falls well short of this," said Dr Mitchell.

Infrastructure

"General practice has not seen the investment in infrastructure it needs. The Australian Government has placed a lot of faith in infrastructure spending to boost economic activity, but this budget has not delivered the investment in infrastructure that general practice needs," said Dr Mitchell.

"We need infrastructure funding to deliver improved patient access to comprehensive, integrated multidisciplinary care and funding to teach the next generation of primary care professionals to ensure a robust health workforce into the future.

"The RACGP will continue to work with the Australian Government to ensure investment in general practice meets the needs of our communities," said Dr Mitchell.

Source
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

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