Funding needed to ‘help share the workload’: RACGP

More than half of all GPs say the addition of a psychologist to their practice team would benefit their patients, sparking calls for Federal Government investment into diversifying medical centres.
 
More than half (57%) of all respondents to the latest newsGP poll indicated they want a psychologist embedded in their practice, while 11% said having a pharmacist or diabetes educator on site would be beneficial.
 
Four per cent wanted an occupational therapist on their team, and 15% called for a different allied health professional.
 
Now, the RACGP is calling for the next Federal Budget to include support for practices to grow their teams and employ other healthcare workers.
 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said helping practices to expand teams would improve access to care for all Australians.
 
‘Practice teams with a higher number of GPs and nurses help patients stay well, and out of hospital,’ she said.
 
‘Studies have also shown that having a pharmacist in the practice team improves the quality of prescribing and reduces costs for patients by supporting quality use of medicines and deprescribing initiatives.
 
‘Some practices already employ practice-based pharmacists, and we are recommending dedicated funding in the next Budget to support more practices to do so.’
 
Dr Higgins said it was ‘no surprise’ to see GPs calling for medical centres to include psychologists, as rates of poor mental health continue to skyrocket.
 
According to the latest Health of the Nation report, more GPs than ever are reporting mental health being among the most common reason for a patient consult.
 
This is becoming especially prevalent among younger patients, with a recent study showing Australia is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, fuelling rising rates of psychological distress.
 
Dr Higgins said funding practices to include multidisciplinary teams is a ‘smart and simple way’ to improve the health and wellbeing of Australia’s unique communities.
 
‘With support, practices will be able to grow and employ multidisciplinary care teams to suit their patients and improve access to the care their community needs,’ she said.
 
‘And it improves access to care for people with urgent or complex issues, because other qualified team members have different skillsets and can help share the workload.’
 
The call to have a diabetes educator in general practices has been supported by the diabetes peak body, with around 5% of all Australians currently living with the condition.
 
Australian Diabetes Educators Association President Amanda Bartlett said credentialled diabetes educators (CDEs) are key members of a multidisciplinary care team.
 
‘Collaborating closely with GPs, CDEs provide comprehensive person-centred diabetes education that allows people living with diabetes to live their healthiest lives,’ she said.
 
‘Diabetes is a very complex condition and CDEs and GPs both share a commitment to enhancing the lives of those affected by diabetes through close collaboration.’
 
The RACGP’s calls for funding are in addition to its earlier advocacy, urging for the Federal Government to invest into general practice when it hands down its Budget in May.
 
Its pre-Budget Submission 2024–25 also calls for fully funded universal annual child health checks via MyMedicare registration for the first 2000 days, as well as a 20% increase to all Medicare rebates for Level C and D consultations with an additional increase applied to MMM 3–7.
 
Other requests include funding for patients to see their GP within seven days of an unplanned hospital visit, and paid parental and study leave for general practice registrars.
 
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