General Practice: Health of the Nation 2023

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General Practice
Health of the Nation
2023

An annual insight into the state of Australian general practice

Download the full report DOWNLOAD THE AT A GLANCE SUMMARY

General Practice
Health of the Nation
2023

An annual insight into the state of Australian general practice

Download the full report DOWNLOAD THE AT A GLANCE SUMMARY

A strong and sustainable general practice sector is vital for
the health of Australia.

The General Practice: Health of the Nation report is the only annual report that provides insights into the state of general practice in Australia. Incorporating data from a nationwide survey of GPs across Australia, the report examines current and emerging health issues and patient access to care, as well as profiling the workforce, job satisfaction and business of general practice.

9/10

Each year, almost nine in 10 Australians visit a GP. In 2022, more than 22 million Australians visited their GP.

<1%

Less than 1% of people reported they were unable to see a GP when they needed to in 2021–22.

7/10

More than seven in 10 GPs (71%) reported feelings of burnout in 2023.

66%

GPs report their overall job satisfaction has decreased from 70% in 2022 to 66% in 2023.

4/10

In 2023, just under four in 10 practising GPs indicated they would recommend their profession to their junior colleagues.

The seventh annual General Practice: Health of the Nation report highlights a number of issues regarding the state of general practice.

Each year, RACGP members select a topic of interest.

The seventh annual General Practice: Health of the Nation report topic is the ‘attraction and retention of the general practice workforce’.

The report found:

GPs remain highly accessible medical professionals, delivering 179 million services in the last year
fewer than 1% of people reported they were unable to see a GP when they needed to
GPs are spending more time with their patients than ever
patients accessing primary care services are facing increasing costs for their care
the profession as a whole has concerns about workload, burnout, and fragmentation of care
there is waning interest in the profession among both medical students and working GPs
workforce issues are worsening, with increasing numbers of GPs intending to retire or cease practicing over the next 10 years.