Mackay Dr Nicole Higgins elected RACGP president

A doctor chosen to represent 45,000 GPs in a new national health role says general practice is in “crisis”. Here’s what she’ll push for to improve services.

Dr Nicole Higgins states bluntly general practice is in “crisis” and there is no silver bullet to the multifaceted problem.

“They (GPs) are tired, they feel undervalued, we have had a Medicare freeze,” she said.

“Not only do we need to grow our own and increase the number of doctors wanting to do general practice, but also look after those who are already in the profession.”

The Mackay doctor, recently elected president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said increasing the Medicare rebate could make general practice more attractive.

“Most general practices operate as small businesses, especially in Mackay,” she said.

“And Medicare just has not kept up with the cost of keeping our doors open.

Mackay’s Dr Nicole Higgins has been elected president of the RACGP. She will represent doctors across Australia for a two-year term. Picture: Madeleine Graham

“Now the Medicare rebate is actually between the patient and the government and GPs can no longer afford to continue to bulk bill patients.”

At present, the rebate is set at $39 for a standard consult under 20 minutes and the RACGP is calling for a 10 per cent increase.

Dr Higgins said change would likely come from patients putting pressure on the government.

“It actually needs to be the patients pressuring the government,” she said.

“Until the universal bulk billing rate drops, the government has no drive to make change.

“Until patients push back and say they can’t afford to see their GP anymore, that is what is going to drive the government decision.”

Dr Higgins also said longer consultations needed to be properly rewarded, particularly for complex consultations related to mental health.

She will also address the ongoing burnout and shortages crippling GPs in regional Queensland.

Dr Sarah McLay

In a Facebook post from August 30, Dr Sarah McLay from Clermont Country Practice wrote candidly about the strains shortages had placed on her and her staff and said the tension could push her to close the practice.

“For three years now, I have done my best to attract and retain doctors to service this community,” she writes.

“In this time the shortage of doctors willing to work rural has gone from problematic to crisis.

“The reduction of doctors available for face-to-face consults has a massive impact on the clinics viability and ultimately my personal workload and mental health.”

Dr Higgins said training more doctors in the regions, a policy advocated by James Cook University, could help address the crisis, noting she started as a sole GP and now had 10 on the books.

“The majority of those are GPs who have trained in the practice and who stayed,” she said.

“So it works.”

Dr Higgins will officially take on the role on November 24, when current president Adj. Professor Karen Price’s two-year term comes to an end.

Dr Higgins will remain in Mackay during her stint as president and said she was “humbled and honoured” to take on the new responsibility.

“It is quite surreal,” she said.

Dr Higgins met with Health Minister Mark Butler last week and will travel to Canberra regularly to advocate for GPs during her two-year term.

“Having a GP from outside a capital city makes this quite different,” she said.

“I will be able to advocate for rural and regional doctors and communities.”