It is disappointing, although hardly surprising, to see the medical organisations in July of this year trotting out their opposition to anything other than GP-led primary health care in both Queensland and the ACT; and then (again in a September media release) to see that remarkably (or maybe predictably) the RACGP is restoking its outrage about the ACT clinics.
The objections from the AMA in Queensland argued not only against nurse-led walk-in clinics, but also anything that basically isn’t owned by, dominated by, and remunerated to a GP. Their objections in the July media release included satellite hospitals and pharmacy prescribing as well. Furthermore, they seemed to oppose these clinics in the city, where they claim there are plenty of GPs, but almost suggested they should be in the country. So perhaps Queensland nurses could feel that the opposition from these medical lobby groups is not necessarily as personal as it so often sounds, with language such as “band-aid fixes,” “lower quality care” and “fragmentation of care” flowing freely from the pens of these medical critics. It seems, from the AMAQ critique, they are happy to apply such critiques to, well, anybody really, who isn’t a doctor.
The ACT urgent care centres to be opened up this year are also being opposed, so once again, the message is predictable: do not try to solve the existing problem with any new models of care, unless they are controlled by and remunerated to GPs. This latest media release on 16 September continues with the same arguments: “The ACT’s nurse-led walk-in clinics are bleeding taxpayers’ money – cost-per-service is up to five times more than to see a GP.” It goes on (and on…) “There is no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you, and your history, and cares for you over the years. And general practices have always provided urgent care and kept appointments for people with issues that need to be seen to on the same day.”
Now my complaint is not against general practice per se. I have the best GP anyone could ever have, with excellent continuity of care. But I am fortunate, as I am reasonably comfortably off. I can afford to pay my gap fee and do so willingly. But we know that this is not the case for many people today, whether they live in the inner city or in remote Australia. Access to free healthcare under alternative models is necessary and long overdue,........