Hearing on health coming to region
A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into primary and allied health care, aged and NDIS care and the private health system will hold a hearing in Townsville in February.
The parliamentary health committee will also explore bulk-billing policies, the federal government Medicare rebate freeze, and the availability of medical training places.
Chairman Aaron Harper said the committee wanted to hear from the public at its February 10 hearing if they had had delays accessing GPS, getting GP access at an aged care facility, and the impact on the public health system if GP services cannot be accessed.
“With an increasing population ... and an ageing population, it is timely to address these issues of our primary and allied health care system, and seek information that when delays are experienced this ultimately places pressure on our public hospital system,” Mr Harper said.
“Data provided to the Health Committee is that approximately 70 per cent of people presenting to a public emergency department are walk-ins seeking various levels of treatment, of which many have not been able to access a GP.”
Mr Harper said he was also aware of issues with attracting and retaining health practitioners in rural and remote Indigenous communities.
“It has been generally recognised that people living in these regional outlying communities face increasing challenges and/or delays when trying accessing primary health care, often resulting in poorer health outcomes.”
More information is on the Queensland parliament website.