Wyndham healthcare workers are pleading with residents to be respectful, amid a blow out in wait times at clinics across the municipality.
Insiders say some patients are waiting up to three hours to see a doctor.
Bulk billing clinics also face additional demand due to some practices transitioning to becoming co-payment clinics, as well as patients presenting with more complex issues, high COVID-19 and flu rates and GP shortages.
The situation is causing frayed tempers and abuse being directed at healthcare workers.
Wyndham Health Care practice manager Leeanne Gregory said she’s asking for people to be a little more understanding, patient and respectful.
“Our medical staff have seen an increase of hostility in patients new and regular due to wait times being blown out,” she said.
“At the end of the day we are all trying our best.”
Ms Gregory said she would like to see medical clinics band together with the support of the government to address the issues leading to surging wait times.
Our Medical Williams Landing general practitioner Dr Darko Sulava said funding for general practice needed to be increased to recognise the essential role it has on the quality of people’s health.
“We are currently experiencing a shortage of GPs in Australia. Forecasted demand for GP services is predicted to outpace supply, particularly where the largest population growth is occurring,” he said.
“In 2020, the Wyndham area’s population grew by 4.7 per cent, which was the largest population increase in Victoria. Our research has identified that the GP shortage has already reached crisis point with a predicted shortfall of 11,392 full-time GPs nationwide by 2032.
“We recommend that any patients concerned about continued access to quality primary healthcare, should talk to their local MP about the difficulties they are experiencing accessing a GP.”
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said practice managers, administrative staff and doctors had worked “tirelessly throughout the pandemic” and the federal government was committed to supporting GP practices with extra funding to upgrade IT systems, upskill staff, purchase new equipment and upgrade practices to be COVID safe.
“We’ll give our doctors the resources to invest in their GP practices with our $220 million Strengthening Medicare GP Grants program,” Mr Butler said.
The government has also appointed a Strengthening Medicare Taskforce to recommend ways of improving Medicare. One of its key tasks will be to recommend ways access to general practice, including after hours, can be improved.
“Our Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will identify the best ways to boost affordability, improve access, and deliver better support for patients with ongoing and chronic illness, backed by the $750 million Strengthening Medicare Fund,” Mr Butler said.
