Health Minister vows to solve FNQ’s GP shortage

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she is working to find solutions to the shortage of general practitioners in FNQ.

WHILE the Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath spoke about the recent state budget which will direct a record $23.6 billion when she was in Cairns on Tuesday, she also promised to investigate solutions to plug the regions massive GP gap.

Ms D’Ath was in FNQ to meet Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service about how the state government plans to invest $250 million for a major expansion of the city’s hospital capacity.

She said this will be part of the largest investment in new hospitals and new beds in Queensland’s history and will deliver an extra 45 beds in the second half of next year, and a further 96 beds by the first half of 2026.

“The State Budget also invests $250 million for a new surgical centre with around 32 beds,” she said.

“As well as a refurbishment of the Cairns Hospital that will deliver around 64 extra beds.”

Ms D’Ath said the increased funding would assist in meeting CHHHS demands caused by people unable to see a GP, but confirmed she was liaising with key medical stakeholders to find practical solutions to attract and retain more general practitioners to FNQ.

“I understand that seven GPs ceased work in this area which makes a huge difference to people,” she said.

“We know people who cannot get to see GPs, where do those people go if they need healthcare, they turn up at the hospital.

“Up to 30 per cent of presentations to ED on any given day are admitted to hospital.”

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath (centre) with L-R CHHHS interim ceo Dr Jeremy Wellwood, MP Craig Crawford, CHHHS Board chair Clive Skarott and outgoing CHHHS ceo Tina Chinery Picture: Alison Paterson

However, Ms D’Ath said the current GP shortage was not confined to FNQ.

“We don’t control the GP sector, this has to be a national as well as a state conversation,” she said.

“Medicare is not financial or sustainable for GPs to go into practice on their own anymore, the days of having a family doctor are long gone you cannot get continuity of care; it’s harder to attract GPs and keep them in the regions.

“We need to make sure GPs can be financially stable to set up a practice and have the time they need to manage their patients, it is a really important conversation with the Australian Medical Association Queensland and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP).”

RACGP Queensland chair Dr Bruce Willett said discussions with the Health Minister, “are in a preliminary stage.”

“People are not getting the treatment they need and we have seen ED issues get worse,” he said.

“The way to keep people out of hospitals is for them have a regular GP.”

Dr Willett agreed with Ms D’Ath who said the federal government’s $1b commitment to review Medicare was a crucial step to solving the GP crisis.

“I do welcome the announcement of the new Albanese government who said they will put nurses into aged care,” she said.

“Between 2018 and 2019 and now, we had a 55 per cent of aged care residents being transported to hospital.”

Private Hospital patients face costly decision as Ramsay Health duels with Bupa over contract

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath (left) with the interim chief executive of CHHHS, Dr Jeremy Wellwood with outgoing boss Tina Chinery in Cairns. Picture: Alison Paterson

Mr Crawford said last week’s announcement of the state budget contribution to the Cairns region was a great news.

“As Cairns comes out of Covid, we will see more tourists in the town and more demand for our health services,” he said.

“This includes the Cairns Hospital Mental Health Unit, the Cairns Emergency Department Expansion, and the Mossman Hospital Emergency Department Upgrade.”

Also at the meeting was incoming CHHHS interim chief executive Dr Jeremy Wellwood who takes up his caretaker role on July 4.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Health Minister vows to solve FNQ’s GP shortage