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Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:07:22 AM
Coast GP's solution to hospital crisis
Alan Lander6th September 2008
Dr Lockwood Wilson from the Lake Kawana Medical Centre says GPs
could be working at public hospitals taking the non-surgical jobs and
relieving the hospital workloads. Photo: Brett Wortman/178075
A Coast general practitioner says public hospitals should contract
GPs to take the weight off accident and emergency waiting lists.
Lake Kawana Medical Centre GP Lockwood Wilson said the state government
needed to be more flexible and pay GPs more to help counter bed shortages.
“I approached Queensland Health having worked in Central Queensland, in Moura and Mount Morgan,” he said.
“I was prepared to fly or drive from the Coast for a day or two at a time, do blood checks.
“But Queensland Health could not get their heads around it.
“But for the need of one clerical staff or a nurse, a doctor could come in and service GP needs.”
He acknowledged it would not improve after-hours coverage, but “it would be better than nothing”.
Dr Wilson said he had watched reader response to recent Daily stories
on the pressure points at Nambour Hospital and some of their ideas.
RELATED STORIES:
> Coast medicos save meningococcal boy
> Paramedic takes taxi to treat patient
> No roads to new Kawana hospital?
> Mum slams seven-hour hospital wait
> Emergency in hospital system
> Qld minister denies hospitals in crisis
> Bed shortage is critical on the Coast
“People have weird perceptions about what GPs do,” he said.
“It would be great to have GPs in outpatients.
“I (did that) at Alice Springs – it took the weight off the hospital
staff, but Queensland Health doesn’t seem to have that capacity.”
Dr Wilson said one reader had suggested bulk-billing, “but doctors can’t make enough”.
“The rebate for bulk billing is $32, but the recommended rate by the AMA is $60,” he said.
“I am at the end of my career, but young blokes starting out
(in medicine) can’t afford to be giving that kind of discount.”
Dr Wilson also said less people would be attending hospitals
for minor ailments if medical centres opened longer.
“GPs need to be more available later in the day,” he said.
“But the rebate is the same as during the day, so it doesn’t attract doctors to stay open.
“The rebate is the same at six or seven at night.”
Dr Wilson said the notorious “gap” between Medicare rebates
and payments was also a problem which could be alleviated.
“People can’t come in and pay it here,” he said.
“The government is vehemently against that, but it would make it easier to see private GPs.
“And the Medicare claims online system won’t work for credit cards, only debit cards.”
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/sep/06/coast-gps-solution-hospital-crisis/
Alan Lander6th September 2008
Dr Lockwood Wilson from the Lake Kawana Medical Centre says GPs
could be working at public hospitals taking the non-surgical jobs and
relieving the hospital workloads. Photo: Brett Wortman/178075
A Coast general practitioner says public hospitals should contract
GPs to take the weight off accident and emergency waiting lists.
Lake Kawana Medical Centre GP Lockwood Wilson said the state government
needed to be more flexible and pay GPs more to help counter bed shortages.
“I approached Queensland Health having worked in Central Queensland, in Moura and Mount Morgan,” he said.
“I was prepared to fly or drive from the Coast for a day or two at a time, do blood checks.
“But Queensland Health could not get their heads around it.
“But for the need of one clerical staff or a nurse, a doctor could come in and service GP needs.”
He acknowledged it would not improve after-hours coverage, but “it would be better than nothing”.
Dr Wilson said he had watched reader response to recent Daily stories
on the pressure points at Nambour Hospital and some of their ideas.
RELATED STORIES:
> Coast medicos save meningococcal boy
> Paramedic takes taxi to treat patient
> No roads to new Kawana hospital?
> Mum slams seven-hour hospital wait
> Emergency in hospital system
> Qld minister denies hospitals in crisis
> Bed shortage is critical on the Coast
“People have weird perceptions about what GPs do,” he said.
“It would be great to have GPs in outpatients.
“I (did that) at Alice Springs – it took the weight off the hospital
staff, but Queensland Health doesn’t seem to have that capacity.”
Dr Wilson said one reader had suggested bulk-billing, “but doctors can’t make enough”.
“The rebate for bulk billing is $32, but the recommended rate by the AMA is $60,” he said.
“I am at the end of my career, but young blokes starting out
(in medicine) can’t afford to be giving that kind of discount.”
Dr Wilson also said less people would be attending hospitals
for minor ailments if medical centres opened longer.
“GPs need to be more available later in the day,” he said.
“But the rebate is the same as during the day, so it doesn’t attract doctors to stay open.
“The rebate is the same at six or seven at night.”
Dr Wilson said the notorious “gap” between Medicare rebates
and payments was also a problem which could be alleviated.
“People can’t come in and pay it here,” he said.
“The government is vehemently against that, but it would make it easier to see private GPs.
“And the Medicare claims online system won’t work for credit cards, only debit cards.”
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/sep/06/coast-gps-solution-hospital-crisis/
"No eyes that have seen beauty ever lose their sight." Jean Toomer
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