Australians face long wait time for GP appointments, pharmacists expand services
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Health naturally becomes a central part of our lives as we age, and regular visits to the general practitioner (GP) are key to maintaining our well-being.
However, securing an appointment with a GP is becoming increasingly difficult for many Australians.
Recent research has highlighted a concerning trend: wait times for GP appointments have blown out to three weeks in some areas, leaving many patients in limbo.
The research, commissioned by Insightfully, paints a stark picture of Australia's current state of primary healthcare access.
Alarmingly, 40 per cent of Australians are waiting what is considered an 'unacceptable' length of time to see their GP, with one in 10 people waiting more than three weeks for an appointment.
The situation is even more dire in regional areas, where one in five patients face waits of over three weeks.
One significant factor is the closure of GP clinics due to financial pressures, including payroll tax burdens.
This has reduced the number of available GPs and, consequently, caused longer wait times for patients seeking medical attention.
In response to this growing issue, pharmacists are stepping up to fill the gap.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's national president, Trent Twomey, has highlighted pharmacists' proactive steps to retrain and increase their scope of practice.
‘The number one potentially preventable hospital presentation in Australia is treatment for an uncomplicated urinary tract infection, which is why women now in every state and territory can ask their pharmacist for a short course of antibiotics to treat an uncomplicated UTI,’ he said.
‘We are now seeing more and more conditions around the federation being added to this list.
‘We're seeing now pharmacists can initiate the supply of hormonal contraption. If you need the pill, you can now go to your local community pharmacy if you can't get in to see your GP.’
They can now also initiate the supply of hormonal contraception, such as the pill, providing a convenient alternative for those unable to secure a timely GP visit.
The Pharmacy Guild estimates that if pharmacists cater to just five appointments daily, they could free up a staggering 1000 GP appointments yearly.
‘Pharmacists are part a critical part of a holistic health system,’ Twomey added.
‘We are putting our hands up to do more, to take the pressure off GPs and, more importantly, to keep Australians out of emergency departments.’
Several states and territories, including New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, have already launched programs allowing pharmacists to expand their healthcare services.
Victoria and South Australia are expected to follow suit soon.
In other news, patients in New South Wales could see GP visit fees rise by as much as $15 due to an upcoming change in payroll tax regulations.
Previously, medical practices were exempt from paying payroll tax for tenant doctors, but a recent tribunal ruling has altered this. You can read more about it here.
Have you taken advantage of a pharmacist's expanded scope of practice? Has it made a difference in your access to timely healthcare? Share your stories in the comments below.
However, securing an appointment with a GP is becoming increasingly difficult for many Australians.
Recent research has highlighted a concerning trend: wait times for GP appointments have blown out to three weeks in some areas, leaving many patients in limbo.
The research, commissioned by Insightfully, paints a stark picture of Australia's current state of primary healthcare access.
Alarmingly, 40 per cent of Australians are waiting what is considered an 'unacceptable' length of time to see their GP, with one in 10 people waiting more than three weeks for an appointment.
The situation is even more dire in regional areas, where one in five patients face waits of over three weeks.
Many Australians face long wait times for GP appointments, with some waiting up to three weeks. Credit: Shutterstock
One significant factor is the closure of GP clinics due to financial pressures, including payroll tax burdens.
This has reduced the number of available GPs and, consequently, caused longer wait times for patients seeking medical attention.
In response to this growing issue, pharmacists are stepping up to fill the gap.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's national president, Trent Twomey, has highlighted pharmacists' proactive steps to retrain and increase their scope of practice.
‘The number one potentially preventable hospital presentation in Australia is treatment for an uncomplicated urinary tract infection, which is why women now in every state and territory can ask their pharmacist for a short course of antibiotics to treat an uncomplicated UTI,’ he said.
‘We are now seeing more and more conditions around the federation being added to this list.
‘We're seeing now pharmacists can initiate the supply of hormonal contraption. If you need the pill, you can now go to your local community pharmacy if you can't get in to see your GP.’
They can now also initiate the supply of hormonal contraception, such as the pill, providing a convenient alternative for those unable to secure a timely GP visit.
The Pharmacy Guild estimates that if pharmacists cater to just five appointments daily, they could free up a staggering 1000 GP appointments yearly.
‘Pharmacists are part a critical part of a holistic health system,’ Twomey added.
‘We are putting our hands up to do more, to take the pressure off GPs and, more importantly, to keep Australians out of emergency departments.’
Several states and territories, including New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, have already launched programs allowing pharmacists to expand their healthcare services.
Victoria and South Australia are expected to follow suit soon.
In other news, patients in New South Wales could see GP visit fees rise by as much as $15 due to an upcoming change in payroll tax regulations.
Previously, medical practices were exempt from paying payroll tax for tenant doctors, but a recent tribunal ruling has altered this. You can read more about it here.
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