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AMA enlists patient support to stand up for GPs
THE AMA has come out fighting on general practice issues, launching a campaign in the lead-up to the federal election amid concerns over the profession’s future under planned sweeping health reforms.
As part of the campaign, Family Medicine is running out of time, the association has called on all parties to develop policies which “support and preserve” the vital role of GPs.
And, in a rare move, it is now seeking to enlist the support of patients. A patient petition demanding that the Government cut red tape, ensure patients have the right to choose their GP and better enable GPs to provide quality care has been made available to all doctors.
AMA vice-president Dr Steve Hambleton said the campaign, aimed at attracting as many signatures as possible before the 21 August election, reflected patients’ preference to spend more time with their GP.
“We want patients to be able to support our position… so we can go to both major parties and say this is what we think, this is what our patients think and this is what we are going to judge your policies by,” he said.
The campaign follows the recent presentation of a similar patient petition – with more than 12,000 signatures – to Federal Parliament by GP lobby group Doctors Action (MO online, 2 July 2010).
Newcastle GP Dr Allan Kirkpatrick said he would promote the petition to his patients, as he believed the Government’s controversial pay-for-performance diabetes scheme could compromise patient care and disadvantage practices.
“The AMA has always been criticised for not looking after general practice, and instead focusing on representing specialists. So it is about time they started standing up for general practice – it is definitely a welcome move,” he said.
Doctors Action president Dr Adrian Sheen also threw his support behind the new petition, saying he was glad to see the AMA advocating the importance of the family doctor.
“Every patient needs to be aware that the current Government’s plans will irreversibly alter the relationship they have with their family doctor.”
The petition came as AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce launched a pre-election policy platform at the National Press Club.
Included on the wishlist were GP access to MRIs, MBS item numbers for point-of-care testing, proper indexation of the MBS and funding to boost general practice infrastructure.
Dr Pesce also called on the Federal Government to trial the AMA’s alternative diabetes plan in conjunction with their own, to see which proved more successful.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s office had not responded to queries regarding the AMA’s campaign as MO went to press.
Download printable 'Family medicine' campaign PDFs:
