The RACGP has released its 2020 General Practice Health of the Nation Report. In the survey, GPs recounted some of their major concerns treating patients during the pandemic. They said the most common patient presentations during COVID-19 were:
- psychological (eg depression, sleep disturbance)
- preventive (eg immunisation/vaccination, diet)
- respiratory (eg cough, asthma, sinusitis, suspected COVID-19)
- musculoskeletal (eg back/neck pain, arthritis)
GPs told the college that they wanted the Australian Government to prioritise primary care funding, mental health and telehealth with action on:
- Medicare rebates
- Mental health Telehealth/ePrescribing
- Creating new funding models for primary healthcare
- Pandemic/disaster preparedness
- Obesity health equity and equality