We take a look at multiple polls on single issues – how opinions have changed (or not).
Accreditation
Is some benchmark (such as accreditation) needed to set community standards in general practice?
August 1996
Will government use accreditation to control GPs in a way that is not necessarily in our best interests?
August 1996
From what you have heard about accreditation so far, would you pay $1,200 to have your practice accredited?
August 1997
Will your practice be paying $1,200 per full-time GP to have your practice accredited so that it qualifies for extra income under the PIP (amount yet to be determined by government)?
July 1998
Is it appropriate to link any government payment to accreditation?
July 1998
Would you prefer that accreditation is marketed to the public as an initiative likely to lead to private billing rather than link it to the government’s Practice Incentives Payment?
September 1998
Accreditation is now established. From your assessment, is it a marketable entity for consumers?
January 2000
The PIP and BPP and blended payments for general practitioners
Are blended payments a desirable change for general practice?
June 1996
Are you in favour of increased blended payments for general practice, like BPP (ie. less from fee-for-service)?
June 1997
Divisions – their performance, funding and politics
Are you getting all that you want from your local division?
October 1996
Can you recall an instance where a WA division has, either directly or through you, improved the delivery of some aspect of health care to the community?
March 1999
Divisions and funding: Do you believe divisions should be involved with budget holding?
June 1996
Divisions and politics: Should divisions be actively involved in medical politics?
June 1996
Should divisions in WA play a greater role in medical politics involving GPs?
November 1999
The AMA
Is the AMA, given its resources, doing enough to support GPs?
June 1996
Around half of your AMA subscription goes to the federal office for national activities. Is this appropriate, or would you like to see more go to local AMA activities?
November 1998
In terms of your WA experience, how would you rate the relevance of the actions of the AMA WA Branch to your working life in general practice?
May 1999
How would you rate the performance of AMA WA in representing the interests of WA general practitioners over the last 12 months?
November 1999
The RACGP
Is the RACGP, given its resources, doing enough to support GPs?
June 1996
Do you believe the only route to VR should be the FRACGP?
December 1996
Is the RACGP’s intentions to establish a ‘specialty’ of general practice what general practice needs?
December 1996
Should the RACGP play a greater role in medical politics involving GPs?
November 1999
How would you rate the performance of the RACGP WA Faculty in representing the interests of WA general practitioners over the last 12 months?
November 1999
GPs and Specialists
Do specialists care about the difficulties GPs are under?
June 1996
Should specialists have time-tiered consultation fees under Medicare, similar to GPs?
August 1997
Is the written clinical feedback you get on abnormal pathology test results adequate in terms of explanation and suggested course of action?
July 1998
How often do specialists you refer to, repeat tests you have done, rather than check with your practice first?
July 1998
For non-urgent referrals to specialists, what do you consider to be the maximum acceptable response delay by way of specialist letter or phone call after the day of consultation?
January 1999
GPs admit to writing, at times, specialist referrals with inadequate detail. Specialists privately complain about the standard of some referrals. In your honest opinion, what factors explain inadequate referrals?
July 1999
In the last few years have you been given information by a patient that seriously calls into question the competence of a specialist, perhaps to the extent of medical negligence?
November 1999
Bulk Billing
Are you thinking about decreasing your practice’s bulk billing?
June 1996
Are you taking steps to decrease your practice’s bulk billing?
October 1996
In the last two months have you taken steps to decrease your practice’s bulk billing?
April 1997
Has your practice reduced its level of bulk-billing in the last six months?
March 1998
Please respond to this statement. “Consumer pressure is now so great, it is economically or politically impossible for the majority of general practices to abandon bulk billing for non-concession card holders.“
January 1999
If GPs continue to deliver most services “free” at the point of sale, do you believe the Australian community will truly come to value general practice, even if GPs pursue or meet quality standards?
March 1999
For every dollar the average GP earns in providing services under Medicare, a further 1.3 dollars of flow-on costs are generated in diagnostic imaging, pathology, PBS scripts and the consultation costs of specialist referral. Did you expect the 1.3 figure to be:
February 1997
Have you changed your style of patient care (eg. test ordering, prescribing, repeat consultations) out of fear of reprisal from the HIC?
June 1997