Fewer GPs in Tasmania means less access for patients

Tasmanian GPs are facing growing workloads and diminishing numbers — with patients waiting longer to see their doctor. And the rollout of the COVID vaccine is set to make things much worse >>

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TASMANIAN GPs are facing growing workloads and diminishing numbers — with patients waiting longer to see their doctor.

Dr Tim Jackson, chair of the Tasmanian faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said a shortage of GPs was made worse by the state’s ageing population and patients with chronic disease.

He said with the rollout of the COVID vaccine, a “massive undertaking” and the flu vaccine, doctors would be further stretched.

“People are being serviced more and it is difficult to keep up with the demand for services,” he said.

“Patients are having to book a couple of weeks in advance but GPs usually try to save some appointments for urgent and emergency cases.”

Doctors Tim Jackson and John Saul. Picture: Roger Lovell.

Legislative councillor Ruth Forrest, who is chairing an inquiry into rural health, says patients can get sicker if they cannot see a GP.

“If patients cannot get into a GP they are likely to delay care and health care advice until their condition gets more serious and thus takes more time and resources (and increased costs to the patient) to effectively treat the patient’s condition,” Ms Forrest said.

“People moving to a new location can find it very difficult to get any appointments as many doctors have ‘closed their books’ thus delaying timely care or having to travel long distances to access care – or they present to the emergency department with more serious health conditions.

Independent MLC Ruth Forrest during parliament. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It is difficult to attract and retain GPs in our regions often because of the need to be on call so often, limited time off for professional development and lack of collegiate support.

“The heavy reliance on locum GPs adds to the costs of running a practice and many practices find it extremely difficult to engage locums – this was exacerbated during COVID lockdowns.”

A survey of 400 doctors by the General Practices Registrars showed almost one third of GP registrars had taken second jobs to supplement their incomes which in their first year has a base annual salary of $76,533.

Dr Jackson said fewer medical graduates were becoming GPs because it was one of the lowest paid.

“So with less GPs comes less access for patients,” he said.

Dr John Saul said there were fewer GPs per head of population in Tasmania and the GP workforce was older than the national average with almost 40 per cent aged over 55.

“General practice in Tasmania is under enormous pressure and greater demand than in any other state as a result of having the oldest, sickest, and least health literate population of anywhere in Australia,” Dr Saul said.

“Our below-average shortages leave patients waiting longer or delaying appointments, and can lead to delays for diagnosis or impact emergency departments.”

Dr Saul said GPs often under charged for their services and the average duration for consultations had “significantly” increased in recent years.

“Non-billable time has been associated with 12.1 per cent of patient encounters,” he said.

Labor MLC Dr Bastian Seidel said GPs could not be expected to work any harder.

“I’m worried that GPs burn out, pack up and leave the state altogether. My concerns are not new,’’ he said.

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Originally published as Fewer GPs in Tasmania means less access for patients