Next WA government must boost access to essential GP care

The Royal Australian College of GPs is calling on the next Western Australian government to commit to boosting access to essential GP care across the state, including by making lifesaving vaccines free for those at-risk. 

RACGP WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman said general practice is the solution to improve the state’s health system. 

“Access to affordable general practice care is essential to keep Western Australians healthy, and reduce pressure on our hospitals,” she said. 

“We’re calling for the next government to introduce a funding incentive for GPs who see patients within seven days of an unplanned hospital visit to improve health and reduce pressure on hospitals. Research shows seeing a GP after an unexpected hospital visit results in better health outcomes and reduces readmissions to hospital by 32%. This will free up hospital beds for people who really need them. 

“Another critical area of health to improve for Western Australians is access to vaccines for those at-risk of meningococcal B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Meningococcal is rare but deadly, and RSV is one of the most common causes for children to be hospitalised. Making these vaccines free for those most at-risk will save lives and reduce pressure on the state’s overflowing hospitals. 

“We applauded the WA Government for acting on our calls for reforms to enable specialist GPs to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and prescribe stimulant medication. These proposed reforms will improve access to care and reduce costs for patients, and I urge all political parties to commit to implementing them if elected. Government support is also key to ensure access for all patients in need. 

"Research is essential to advance healthcare and it needs to take place where most people access care, which is in general practice. So, we’re calling for the next WA government to help ensure 2.5% of annual funding allocated by the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund goes to general practice. 

“We also need to ensure all children get the best possible start in life in WA, which requires raising the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years of age. No child should be locked up, all the evidence shows it harms health and wellbeing and robs children of their future. This is a health issue, and it must be treated this way. 

“As RACGP WA Chair, I look forward to working with our next state government to ensure access to essential general practice care for everyone in our state. WA has so much to offer, and it’s time our political leaders stepped up to ensure that our health system is nation leading too.” 

The RACGP’s full WA election platform is available online here. 

~ENDS