Results from an annual health survey pick out where patients want more from GPs.
The latest edition of the annual Australian healthcare index survey report revealed an “unmistakable shift in behaviour” among young people, who are increasingly delaying or foregoing care.
The release of the report has been pushed as a “pivotal moment in Australia’s healthcare and economic environment”, given how significant healthcare was in this year’s election and following large government reforms.
General practice respondents found issues with alleviating financial pressure for out-of-pocket payments and bulk-billing availability highlighted as an affordability challenge by survey responses.
“This report shines a light on the personal and systemic pressures patients are facing,” the opening statement read.
“These statistics are a call to action for policymakers, health leaders, and industry stakeholders to reimagine how we deliver care in a rapidly changing social and economic landscape.
“We hope the insights shared here spark meaningful dialogue and inform the decisions that will shape the future of Australian healthcare.”
Out-of-pocket costs were listed as the key influence in affecting GP attendance, with just under half of respondents reporting that costs made them less likely to go for a standard consult.
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Only 10% of respondents reporting no increase in costs for a GP consult.
This follows a concerning downward trend; the same question was met with 13% in 2024 and from 21% in 2023.
Reasons for recommending a GP were consistent with previous years, with quality of care topping the list at 69% of respondents.
This was followed by receiving good medical advice (66%), booking convenience (60%) and helpful staff (45%). The proportion of respondents selecting either booking convenience or helpful staff rose by about 5% from 2024.
When it came to what was harming GP recommendations, the majority of respondents listed the inverse of their recommendation reasons.
Affordability barriers such as a lack of bulk billing (38%) and higher out-of-pocket costs (36%) were leading reasons.
“The shift in rankings – particularly the rise in concerns about medical advice and care, and the decline in emphasis on cost – is noteworthy,” the report said.
“Respondents from metropolitan areas were more likely than those in regional areas to cite poor quality of care as a key reason for not recommending their GP.
“In contrast, respondents from regional areas more frequently pointed to the lack of bulk billing and rising out-of-pocket costs as reasons for not recommending their GP, compared to those in metropolitan areas.”
