AMA celebrates World Family Doctor Day and the pivotal role of GPs in healthcare
The Australian Medical Association is marking World Family Doctor Day today with AMA President — and GP — Dr Danielle McMullen reminding Australians of the central role GPs play in caring for their health.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said today is a wonderful reminder that GPs are at the heart of Australia’s healthcare system.
“Australians understand the value of having a family doctor who knows them, their family and their health needs. GPs are skilled and trusted to help patients from pregnancy care to infant checkups and immunisations, the bumps and scrapes of childhood, the many challenges of adulthood, all the way through to aged care. It is true continuity of care that they provide,” Dr McMullen said.
“And a GP is a highly trained specialist who has the expertise and skills to bring together and coordinate all the aspects of a patient's wellbeing, not just episodic care.
“Being able to treat the whole person, not just bits and pieces, is one of the greatest rewards of being a GP.
“An ongoing relationship between a GP and patient is also the most cost-effective way of ensuring people stay healthy, find and treat illnesses early, and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions.”
Dr McMullen said while general practice remains the cornerstone of the healthcare system, our primary care system needs significant reforms.
“We saw the government re-elected this year with a commitment to funding Medicare. We welcome that funding, but we also know our ageing population and increasing rates of chronic disease means GP work has become more complex. Patients, policy experts and doctors are all telling us we need to fund more time for GP visits, so that chronic disease and complex health concerns can be comprehensively managed,” Dr McMullen said.
“Our Modernise Medicare campaign calls for funding and reform to GP Medicare items, so that we can support patients and doctors to take the necessary time to provide the world-leading care. It also calls for funding to support general practice to provide comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, team-based care.
“We will continue to work with the government to ensure they hear our calls, because we know investment in general practice means far greater savings elsewhere in the healthcare system, as well as a healthier, happier community.
“On this World Family Doctor Day, we have an important opportunity to speak up. Whether you are a doctor, a patient or a carer it’s a chance to celebrate the role of the family doctor, but also call for the support, reform and funding we need to ensure future generations have access to the care they need.”
AMA policy brief on Modernising Medicare
Watch Dr Danielle McMullen’s video for World Family Doctor Day
