Page 59 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 14 February 2012
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number of GPs per capita in Australia and that GPs per capita is declining further. Bulk-billing rates have also declined in the ACT and are well behind elsewhere in Australia. As a result, the ACT has the highest number of people who have deferred visiting a GP. Why does the ACT continue to have the worst statistics for access to GPs in the country?
MS GALLAGHER: I welcome this question from Mr Doszpot, who I think chaired the committee looking into the GP shortage in 2009 or whenever that was. It is true that the ACT has a GP shortage. As a direct result of some of the initiatives that this government has put in place, including the $12 million GP infrastructure funds and a range of other initiatives, I think the worst of the GP shortage is over. We are starting to see, Mr Doszpot, GPs advertising for patients in the paper, which is something that we have not seen for some time.
The bulk-billing rate in the ACT, again, is a bit of a challenge with a GP shortage. But it is important to note that one in two consultations is bulk-billed and those are targeted to people on concessions and children, who often have additional costs allocated to them.
The government has put in place a range of measures, including the very popular walk-in centre, to make sure that people can get access to primary health care out of hours free of charge. I think the latest data I saw was about 25,000 visits to the walk-in centre. So within the capacity of the ACT government to address gaps in primary health care, we are meeting that with our service response. But we are also working with the division of general practice around assistance to them to make sure that not only—
Mr Hanson: It is Medicare local now, minister. Remember? You changed the name.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Mr Hanson. I can see that your extensive break over the summer period has not improved your behaviour in this chamber at all.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
MS GALLAGHER: It is just straight back to the way you behaved all of last year—constant interjections. We are working with the division, or as Mr Hanson points out, the Medicare local, which is the same organisation, to look at other ways to support general practice in the ACT and we will continue that dialogue with them. In addition, I continue to lobby the commonwealth around initiatives that might come to the ACT to support GPs. Indeed, I imagine that an announcement will be made soon about the GP super-clinic, which is something that I went up to the hill and fought for and did not get any support for from you guys opposite.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary question.
MR DOSZPOT: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what impact does the continuing problems with access to GP services have on the ACT having the worst wait times for the emergency department in the country?
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