The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging communities to acknowledge and celebrate the important role of family doctors in providing quality healthcare in the lead up to World Family Doctor Day on 19 May.
RACGP President Professor Claire Jackson highlighted the significance of general practitioners (GPs) in providing comprehensive and coordinated healthcare and the importance of a 'medical home' for all Australians.
"GPs are often the initial point-of-contact in the health system and they play a key role in the overall health of the community.
"World Family Doctor Day is a timely reminder that all Australians should have access to a 'medical home', especially people with complex healthcare needs, such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases.
"An ongoing relationship with a GP that is built on trust is crucial in maintaining wellbeing. Even if you feel healthy at present, you need a GP to keep you well – to support you in establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular check-ups and being up-to-date with preventive health checks and by early treatment and management of disease.
"It is important to have your own regular GP who knows you, and who you feel comfortable with. Your GP will have access to your complete medical history and can ensure you receive the best care possible. World Family Doctor Day is a great opportunity to celebrate our hardworking and devoted GPs," Professor Jackson concluded.
To mark the second anniversary of World Family Doctor Day, the RACGP Foundation will launch the exciting new Support GPs initiative. The RACGP Foundation supports GPs by enabling them to deliver the highest level of quality healthcare through the provision of funding for key projects, offering research grants, awards and scholarships.
The College's Support GPs campaign enables the Australian community to become further engaged in the importance of general practice research and invites individuals to invest in this important cause. Support GPs also encourages patients to publically thank their GP for their care, advice and support through an online 'GP Wall of Inspiration'.
World Family Doctor Day is an initiative of the World Organisation of Family Doctors (Wonca) and was officially launched on 19 May 2010.
For more information on the Support GPs campaign, visit www.racgp.org.au/foundation/supportgps.
The College has recently launched a 'Why you need your own GP' brochure, outlining the importance and benefits of patients having an ongoing relationship with a GP.
Did you know?
- There are over 100 million GP consultations taking place in Australia annually
- 83 percent of the Australian population consults a GP at least once a year.
The RACGP Foundation's Support GPs initiative is proudly partnered with the General Practice Registrars Australia's (GPRA) i heart my GP campaign, which calls for the public to share positive GP stories.