Date: March 2024
The RACGP has provided feedback to Issues Paper 1 in the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce (Scope of Practice Review). Issues paper 1 collated the key findings, themes and observations arising from the literature review, submissions, conversations, surveys and forums throughout late 2023 and signalled the start of the second phase of consultation. Additionally, RACGP attended face-to-face roundtable sessions that were a part of the consultation process.
The RACGP re-iterated its position that the Scope of Practice Review must be about more than role or task substitution. There is a disproportionate emphasis on convenience and an oversimplification of general practice and the role of the generalist. There is a serious likelihood of wasted financial resources and recommendations that will have very costly outcomes for patients, the health system and the health budget. More specifically for GPs, the perceived devaluing of the specialised training required for general practice will impact GP workforce attraction and retention.
Read the submission
Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 1 (2nd consultation) (PDF).