Psychological issues still our commonest concern

As they have been for several years, psychological issues, including depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, continue to be the leading reasons for seeking GP care, with the RACGP saying Medicare subsidies should be made available for longer mental health consultations, enabling patients to be better supported to talk to their doctors.

This year’s General Practice Health of the Nation report found 64% of GPs reported these as the commonest reasons for patient presentations, exacerbated by a horror year for the healthcare sector. The impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic were immediately apparent in the feedback from GPs.

According to Acting RACGP President, Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda, GPs themselves were also affected, with more than half of those surveyed reporting that the pandemic had a negative impact on their wellbeing, with 27 per cent saying their mental state had actually deteriorated.

The second most common reason for GP presentations – seeking preventive healthcare support – changed dramatically from the 2019 survey, increasing to 56% from the previous 18%. The report attributed this to the greater number of flu vaccinations provided in 2020 compared to other years: “The Australian Government… encouraged all Australians to get vaccinated early to avoid extra stress on the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The online survey for the report was undertaken during May 2020 and engaged 1782 respondents, 62% of them female GPs and 73% in major cities.

The nation’s healthcare challenges are “only set to grow in the wake of the pandemic,” the report noted.

“The long-term effects of the pandemic and the bushfires are going to be severe ... and the recovery phase will take years… Continuity of care is vital to improving patient health outcomes and reducing hospitalisations.”

It added, “Medical experts and policymakers have long called for a voluntary patient-enrolment model to help coordinate access to multidisciplinary care. Such a model would support GPs and practice teams to better manage chronic disease and mental health issues.

‘‘The irony of our health funding is that the majority goes to acute care in hospitals rather than preventing patients going to hospital in the first place,’’ Prof Shenouda said. “This is a recipe for disaster.”

Concluding “There’s no turning back” when it comes to Medicare subsidies for telehealth services, the report noted “patients and GPs have seen how valuable these services are. If Medicare subsidies were available for longer mental health consultations, patients would be better supported to talk to their GP about what they’re experiencing.”

Prof Shenouda said, “GPs are among the heroes of the bushfires and pandemic. They’ve demonstrated a resilience, adaptability, positivity and empathy that’s nothing short of inspiring.”

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