Published in Medical Observer: "THE RACGP is looking into the boom in after-hours and deputising services after complaints from concerned members. GPs have complained that new players are using aggressive marketing strategies to attract patients but may not have the infrastructure to provide quality care. They have also expressed concerns about fragmentation of care and potential exploitation of after-hours patient rebates and urgent after-hours items.
One concerned GP told Medical Observer that he had audited four months of faxes from a local after-hours service and found that just one in 12 required urgent clinical intervention. Nearly half were simple upper-respiratory tract infections.
In a January letter to the college seen by Medical Observer, he said the corporate enterprises are “in conflict with the principles of sustainable health”, and called for the college to “speak out”.
In a new statement on its website, the RACGP says its expert committee on GP advocacy and funding is “considering the impacts of after-hours services on the provision of quality primary health care” and calls on members to submit feedback...The college is accepting feedback until March 18."
One concerned GP told Medical Observer that he had audited four months of faxes from a local after-hours service and found that just one in 12 required urgent clinical intervention. Nearly half were simple upper-respiratory tract infections.
In a January letter to the college seen by Medical Observer, he said the corporate enterprises are “in conflict with the principles of sustainable health”, and called for the college to “speak out”.
In a new statement on its website, the RACGP says its expert committee on GP advocacy and funding is “considering the impacts of after-hours services on the provision of quality primary health care” and calls on members to submit feedback...The college is accepting feedback until March 18."
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