Regional Qlders waiting more than three weeks to see a GP

Stark new research has found that 11 per cent of regional Queenslanders are waiting more than three weeks to see a doctor due to the “woefully under resourced” sector.

New research has found 11 per cent of regional Queenslanders were waiting more than three weeks to see a doctor.

Queenslanders living in regional areas are waiting more than three weeks to see their general practitioner, new data has revealed.

Research conducted by Insightfully on behalf of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia sampled 3453 Australians and found that 11 per cent of regional Queenslanders were waiting more than three weeks to see a doctor.

It also found in the last three years, one-quarter of Queenslanders were forced to visit the emergency department because they couldn’t see a doctor.

AMA Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said while general practice is the most cost-effective form of healthcare, it has been “woefully under-resourced” by successive governments, state and federal.

“AMA Queensland has published key priorities ahead of the October election to improve our health system. These include investments in our workforce, preventive health and collaborative, evidence-based practice. We urge all parties to commit to them,” Dr Yim said.

AMA Qld president Dr Nick Yim said regional GPs had been under resourced for years. Picture: Josh Woning

“When pharmacists and GPs work collaboratively, we get the best outcomes for patients. As someone who worked as a pharmacist before studying medicine, I know first-hand the capabilities and limitations of both professions.

“Your GP practice will have systems in place to allow appropriate triaging to ensure urgent appointments can be made available. Convenience should never outrank quality, as this risks patient safety and can lead to misdiagnosis and mismanagement.”

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said one of the reasons Australians were dealing with these long wait times was because the “previous federal government completely underfunded Medicare”.

“This has made it harder for Queenslanders to see a GP – especially ones who bulk bill,” the spokeswoman said.

The guild has urged Australians to consider their pharmacist for minor health issues rather than a trip to the GP to help alleviate pressures on general practitioners.

This will enable Australians with more serious conditions to be seen by their GP faster and when they need it. Despite this, Australians are still unaware that pharmacists are providing these increased services, across the country.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey said pharmacists were doing more for their patients than ever before, providing Australians with more choice and more affordable primary health care options.

“Already highly qualified health professionals, pharmacists are upskilling to increase the scope of the services they deliver, including being able to issue prescriptions and advice for minor ailments like earaches, skin conditions and UTIs and administering a range of vaccinations,” Professor Twomey said.

“Pharmacists are part a critical part of a holistic health system. We are putting our hands up to do more, to take the pressure off GPs and, more importantly, to keep Australians out of emergency departments.”

Originally published as Regional Qlders waiting more than three weeks to see a GP