The UK is ‘scrambling’ to fix its crumbling system, and Australia may be heading in the same direction if we’re not careful, says RACGP.
The RACGP has warned against following in the footsteps of the ever-crumbling NHS with “UK-style reforms” and underfunding of primary care, as the UK redirects billions from hospitals into general practice.
Earlier this week, the UK’s new health secretary Wes Streeting announced that billions of pounds would be diverted from hospitals to GPs in an attempt to “fix the front door to the NHS”.
The health secretary has also ordered a “raw and honest” independent investigation into NHS performance in England, which will be led by NHS surgeon and independent peer Lord Ara Darzi.
According to Mr Streeting, who has been “genuinely stunned” by the NHS’s failings, patients are finding it harder and harder to see a GP.
“Patients can’t get through the front door of the NHS, so they aren’t getting the timely care they need,” he said.
“That’s no surprise, when GPs and primary care have been receiving a smaller proportion of NHS resources.
“I’m committed to reversing that.”
Currently, the NHS, which is so often used by Australian doctors as an example of what not to do in healthcare, uses less than 10% of its budget on primary care, amounting to around AU$314 billion.
According to RACGP president Dr Nicole Higgins, Australia is heading in a similar direction and must take the recent change of tack by the UK as a warning.
“The [UK] government failed to invest in general practice, and now the government is scrambling to save the broken system that they failed to invest in,” she told newsGP.
Australia only spends around 6.7% of its healthcare budget on general practice, said Dr Higgins, saying it must be increased to around 10%.
“We need to flip our system in Australia so that we put money into general practice or primary care versus expensive hospitals,” she said.
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Dr Higgins called on UK GPs who had immigrated to Australia to air their grievances with the UK system and for the government to heed their warnings.
“The Australian government needs to listen to their stories about why they left the NHS,” she told newsGP.
“Their stories serve as a warning, but also for an opportunity for the Australian government to fund general practice first.”
The federal government must learn their lesson and fund the “foundations” of the system – general practice and primary care – to keep the system afloat, she added.
“Keep people out of hospitals in the first place. People who have a family doctor live healthier, happier and longer lives.”
Dr Higgins also warned against “UK-style reforms” expanding scope of practice, as controversy over the role of physician associates in the UK is seen reflected in pushes to expand scope locally.
Australia must avoid UK-style reforms or risk a crisis in our health system like we've seen in the NHS.
— Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President (@RACGPPresident) July 10, 2024
Australians deserve quality care from a GP who knows you and your history. We shouldn't settle for less.
A 🧵on why GP David Carruthers is right. https://t.co/uYbDtMyUIW
I'd say the point is that multiple countries Gov's (Canada, UK) have attempted to 'save primary care' by trying to outsource general practice to less qualified groups. Having watched it fail they are now in the process of back-tracking . Australia is just trailing behind.
— QLDCountry GP (@QLDCountryGP) July 11, 2024
The federal government is currently undertaking a health workforce scope of practice review – a cause of cold sweats for the college – which is due to be completed in October of this year.
