The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed investments in the 2026–27 NSW Budget to support patients transitioning out of hospital into care by GPs in the community, funding for rural patients travelling to access non-GP specialist care, and Indigenous health.
The RACGP also welcomed Thriving Kids funding to support access to support for autism and developmental delay for families, as well as the NSW Government’s ongoing work to support better access to ADHD care by specialist GPs.
But with New South Wales hospitals’ costs surging by more than 60% greater since 2014 and the health system “struggling” to cope with an ageing population and chronic disease, the College reiterated supporting GPs will not just reduce hospital costs, but as outlined in its NSW Pre-Budget Submission 2026-27, will improve patients’ access to care.
Key NSW Government health investments in the 2026–27 Budget include:
- $631.9 million from NSW over five years to 2030–31 for the commencement of Thriving Kids targeted and general supports for children aged eight and under with developmental delay and/or autism (part of a $1.1 billion package co-funded with the Australian Government)
- $184.1 million to increase funding by 50% for six frontline specialist domestic and family violence programs over the next four years
- $154.2 million for Indigenous health and Closing the Gap, after the last NSW Budget’s record investment that included $362.9 million to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in 2024–25
- $71.7 million for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) to support patients who must travel long distances for care
- $35.7 million to improve aged care patient flow, part of a Future of Healthcare package.
RACGP NSW&ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman reiterated how specialist GPs can improve access to care in NSW.
“Over the last decade, New Sout Wales’ hospital costs have grown by more than 60% – it’s not sustainable,” she said.
“GPs can help to cure a healthcare system struggling under the burdens of an ageing population, an epidemic of chronic disease, and a growing need for mental health care.
“We’re already demonstrating that with the support GPs are providing to patients with ADHD. GPs have been continuing scripts for patients’ medication and providing holistic ADHD care for months now, and the first specialist GPs being trained to diagnose ADHD are already making a difference. As they complete their training in the second half of the year, they’ll be a strong demonstration that GPs are a key solution to access issues for patients in their communities.
“There are some welcome measures in the Budget. We’ll be meeting with the Government to discuss the more granular details, but also how initiatives we outlined in out RACGP budget submission can improve patients’ access to care.
“We look forward to working with the NSW government and ministers on the NSW preventive health summit announced earlier this month to prevent further hospital spending.”
She welcomed the additional investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, linking it to investments in ADHD.
“The previous funding to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to access high-quality care through ACCHOs was welcome, and it’s excellent to see the Government continuing to work towards closing the gap,” she said.
“Services like Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service, where several GPs are training to provide ADHD care, provide essential access to care in South Western Sydney and the RACGP welcomes the additional $154 million investment in this budget.”
Dr Hoffman said the Thriving Kids funding in the Budget will help GPs link patients and families with children with developmental delay and autism with low needs to essential supports.
“Families rely on their local GP as a knowledgeable, connected gateway into the supports their child needs,” she said.
“To succeed, GPs and families need Thriving Kids to link them to services that appropriately match their needs, whether those are general supports like peer support and play groups, or more targeted supports for children who need support from allied health and non-GP specialists, with appropriate coordination by their GP.
“I look forward to discussing how the services funded in the Budget will work with and alongside general practice care.”
Dr Hoffman welcomed the patient flow, patient travel, and domestic, sexual and family violence measures, but urged the Government to go further by using GPs to improve access to key medical specialty care and get more patients out of hospital sooner.
“If a patient can’t leave hospital and return to aged care or the community, that’s a hospital bed that another patient can’t use – a needless delay for families and a steep cost for the health budget,” she said
“That means a $35.7 million investment to improve patient flow could have an outsized positive effect, and while we’ll need to see details, investment in GP Liaison Officers should be part of it. These liaison roles both reduce inefficient and unnecessary hospital referrals and support safe and timely discharge, cutting long waits in our hospitals – they’re GPs who make the whole system work better.
“The 50% funding increase for six domestic, sexual, and family violence programs is also excellent news. GPs are often the first person a person speaks to about violence in the home, and GPs often spend time helping patients to find the support they need. No one should struggle to find help when they need it, for themselves or as a GP seeking support for a patient.
“The State Government funding for travel and accommodation is vital for our patients outside big cities who need to travel for care and will be very welcome for our rural and remote GPs and their communities.
“Funding patients to access the care they need from GPs with Special Interests in each Local Health District would also unlock access to care, whilst reducing demand on our hospitals.”
The full RACGP Budget asks from its 2026–27 NSW pre-budget submission are available online.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the voice of general practitioners (GPs) in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, we’ve supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.
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