Campaign Alliance for 2004 federal election

Press release

4 October 2004

Bulk billing rates set for further decline

Survey of GPs in four marginal federal seats

uncovers extent of the pressure on general practice

What have Tony Abbott and Ingrid Tall got to say about this?

A survey of general practitioners in four marginal federal electorates has uncovered the extent of the problems facing general practice and how seriously Howard Government policies, including its so-called safety net, are eroding bulk-billing rates.

An alliance of progressive doctors and nurses released the findings this afternoon. The Alliance, was formed at the Doctors Reform Society (DRS) National Conference in Sydney on Saturday. It involves the DRS, the NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) and the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF). It was formed to campaign in defence of Medicare throughout the last week of the 2004 federal election campaign.

The mail survey was conducted in the last few weeks in the electorates of Brisbane in Queensland, Warringah in NSW and Corangamite and Deakin in Victoria. The Liberal candidate in Warringah is Health Minister, Tony Abbott, and in Brisbane it is the former AMA Queensland president, Ingrid Tall.

It was sent to every GP in each electorate and a strong 30 per cent response rate was achieved. Its findings are as follows:

	Warringah	Deakin	Brisbane	Corangamite	Total	Per cent of total
Number of GPs surveyed	100	151	162	112	535
Number responded	31	51	45	35	157	30
Number who do not offer bulk billing at all	9	5	4	2	20	12
Number who expect to bulk bill less patients next 12 months	13	19	16	8	56	38
Number who expect to increase bulk billing	1	1	3	8	13	8
Number who have stopped bulk billing non-card holders and pensioners	7	19	19	9	54	35
Number of GP practices closed or intending to close their books to new patients in next six months	Not asked	10	10	5	25	10

Alliance spokesperson and DRS national president, Dr Tim Woodruff, said the findings of this survey are very disturbing.

“They indicate the amount of pressure GPs are under and the extent to which Medicare has deteriorated and will continue to deteriorate under the policies of the Howard Government. These electorates are fairly typical of Australian society and there is every reason to believe these findings represent trends across the nation.

“The fact that 10 per cent of respondents have closed or intend to close their books to new patients should send a shudder through the community.

“And more than a third (35 per cent) have stopped bulk billing patients who do not qualify for the targeted increased rebate – that is, those who don’t have a pension or health care card. With 38 per cent saying they expect to bulk-bill less patients in the next 12 months this situation is expected to get worse unless there is a policy change.

“The patients now missing out on bulk-billing can be on as little as $20,000 per year and struggling with their weekly budget. For them vital GP services are now a luxury, Dr Woodruff said.

DRS

Dr Tim Woodruff (DRS national president)

Dr Con Costa (DRS national vice-president)

NSWNA

Judith Kiejda (NSWNA Acting General Secretary)

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