Increasing complexity of care is the biggest issue facing GPs, while mental health is the most common reason Australians visit their GP.
These were two of the findings highlighted in the 2025 Health of the Nation report put together by the RACGP.
This year’s report was informed by a survey of more than 2400 GPs.
The College’s President Dr Michael Wright highlighted that increasing complexity of care was the “number one challenge identified by GPs” in the report.
More than two thirds of GPs surveyed raised complexity of consultations as an issue.
Dr Wright said the workforce was witnessing growing rates of chronic disease, high rates of mental health presentations and an ageing growing population.
The report found average consult lengths have risen to almost 20 minutes, reflecting a long-term trend of increasing complexity in consultations.
The average GP consultation now lasts 19.7 minutes, one minute longer than GPs reported in 2024 and an 11% increase from 2022.
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Dr Wright said the report showed Medicare must change to adequately fund preventive and complex care in long consults.
“Rates of chronic disease and mental health presentations are on the rise, our population is ageing, and 68% of GPs pinpointed the increasing complexity of patient presentations as the greatest challenge facing the profession,” he said.
“It also highlighted a significant missed opportunity when it comes to preventive care; 84% of GPs want to provide more preventive care, but only one in three have the time to provide it to their patients.”
The survey confirmed that many GPs already worked within multidisciplinary care teams and were enthusiastic to participate in more of these models of care, Dr Wright added.
However, workforce shortages and gaps in funding and infrastructure remain a challenge.
Despite increasing complexity of care, and factors such as a lack of work-life balance and burnout, the report showed that job satisfaction sat at 71%.
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Mental health was the patient health issue mentioned most often by GPs when asked about emerging issues causing concern for the future.
Some 57% of respondents identified mental health as a concern. Of those GPs, this year for the first time they were asked to identify the conditions driving mental health presentations in general practice.
Anxiety and depression were mentioned by a high proportion, followed by adjustment disorders.
GPs reported patients often presented with multiple mental health concerns in a single general practice consult, reflecting the complex health needs for this patient cohort.
RACGP registrar Dr Naomi Rutten said mental health reasons represented 71% of GP presentations.
“This is an increase of 10% since the survey began in 2017, and the report also highlights that female GPs see more patients for mental health concerns,” she said.
“With 44% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition in their lifetime, it is essential that general practitioners are available to support them.
“The statistics from this report show that GPs are the foundation of Australia’s mental health care, their role is critical and crucial in supporting patients experiencing mental health conditions.
“The report reinforces that GPs are experts in longitudinal and relational care, qualities that are a requirement for mental health care.”
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