AMA says SA Health plans to boost GP duties to face Covid surge

The Australian Medical Association says boosting GP duties will form the centre of SA Health’s plan to cope with Covid-19 after restrictions lift.

Boosting duties for GPs is set to become the key to South Australia’s plan for managing a predicted surge of 4000 active Covid-19 cases after restrictions are lifted, the Australian Medical Association says.

AMA SA president Dr Michelle Atchison revealed the outcome of a meeting with senior SA Health officials on Thursday afternoon. “(SA Health) spoke to us about modelling that they’ve started to have from interstate,” Dr Atchison said.

AMA SA branch president Dr Michelle Atchison. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“At the height of the surge, we’re looking at something like 4000 (active) cases here in South Australia.

“That is of course a number that would completely overwhelm any health system, so we need to get on and we need to plan for how the health system is going to manage that.”

The Advertiser understands SA Health has requested detailed modelling but early estimates show a Delta outbreak in SA could peak at 4000 active cases.

Dr Atchison said SA Health was developing a plan to use GPs more in treating Covid-19 patients.

The plan would also involve GPs treating people in hotel quarantine.

The exact detail of the plan, which would establish SA’s strategy for surging cases once borders open, is still weeks away.

An ambulance outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We were reassured that SA Health has their plans on track but we are concerned that it’s going to take weeks to a month or so before that plan is properly prepared and able to be put forward to the public,” Dr Atchison said.

In the event of an outbreak before the plan is finalised, Dr Atchison said SA would be “semi-prepared” to cope with patients.

The AMA previously warned an urgent boost to healthcare capacity must be in place before SA borders open to the “inevitable” surge in Covid cases.