RACGP Clinical Update conference highlights the importance of GP care

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) annual Clinical Update conference has highlighted many of the opportunities and challenges facing GPs and practice teams in the years ahead. 

Held recently on the Gold Coast, the conference featured GPs from across Australia. 

RACGP President, Dr Michael Wright, described the conference as a tremendous learning opportunity. 

“As a GP, there is always something new to learn,” he said. 

“The theme of this year’s conference was a timely one - building a healthier future. There was a focus on four key areas - intergenerational care, the future of general practice care, the diversity of general practice, and basic life support.  

“The conference zeroed in on key issues becoming increasingly relevant to GPs, our practice teams, and our patients. This included a panel discussion on the future of artificial intelligence in general practice. We must stay up to date with developments with this technology and how this will impact patient care. 

“There were also several sessions focussing on topical issues which are front and centre in the news. This included a presentation from Dr Chris Soo, a GP with lived experience of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, an educator, and strong advocate, on ADHD in adolescents and young adults. This is particularly timely, as the RACGP is currently pushing for GPs to take on a greater role in managing and supporting people living with ADHD. Australians are waiting several months to see psychiatrists for an initial ADHD assessment, with some clinics unable to take on new patients. So, we’re calling for GPs who are skilled in managing ADHD to be able to initiate and prescribe ADHD medications and to help address the crisis. 

“There was also a panel discussion featuring several expert speakers discussing end-of-life care, advanced care planning, and voluntary assisted dying. This is a sensitive topic which our members have multiple views on, but one that must be freely and openly discussed. GPs are often the first point of contact for patients seeking to access voluntary assisted dying. It’s vital that all GPs feel they have the support and resources they need.” 

Dr Wright also used the conference as an opportunity to highlight why securing the future of general practice care is so important. 

“Now, more than ever before, communities need their GPs,” he said. 

“Patients know the value of seeing a GP they know and trust. More than 22 million people visited a GP in 2023, and more than 169 million health services were delivered. There are also some positive workforce trends, with the RACGP exceeding training number expectations recently and our latest ‘Health of the Nation’ report showing that GPs' job satisfaction has improved for the first time in some years.  

“However, I also highlighted at the conference that there are challenges ahead. We must ensure that general practice care is a priority for all governments, and that patients can access the care they need, when they need it, from a GP who knows them and their history. When patients delay or avoid care, their condition can rapidly worsen, and they can end up in hospital.  

“Recently, the Government released an $8.5 billion funding and workforce plan for general practice. We convened a impromptu forum at the conference the very same day to discuss the announcement and hear the thoughts from our members. The Government’s workforce commitment to train 2,000 new GPs every year by 2028 and incentivise more junior doctors to become GPs is definitely welcome. However, the funding proposals received a range of member responses, ranging from broad support, to indifference, to frustration at the focus on expanding bulk billing incentives rather than increasing Medicare rebates. While acknowledging the potential benefit of additional funding to assist patients and practices, the College is clear that extending bulk billing incentives to everyone won't necessarily mean everyone gets bulk billed. That’s because patient rebates are still too low to cover the cost of care.  

“I am also concerned about the narrative promoting ‘free care’ for 90 per cent of GP visits, as this could mislead patients or put pressure on GPs where bulk billing remains unviable for their practice. I have had a range of feedback about the potential impacts of the package. So, as I said to attendees at the conference, we need more information about how this program will work and all practices will need to understand the full picture if they want to participate.” 

This Clinical Update conference has been a significant event on the Queensland calendar since 1957 when the first Gold Coast Post-Graduate Education Weekend was hosted by the Queensland Faculty of the newly established Australian College of General Practitioners. 

The aim of the first conference was to devote a weekend to post-graduate education of GPs and peer networking. That foundation idea of the event holds strong today, with a program developed by GPs for GPs. 

~ENDS 

RACGP spokespeople are available for interviews: 03 8699 0992 / [email protected]