AMA call for Australian government to stop playing politics with health

The first limited after hours GP clinic will open at Royal Perth Hospital this weekend spelling the end for suburban after hours clinics and increasing pressure on hospital emergency departments.

The Federal Health Minister signed off on the deal to allow cost shifting from the State to the Federal Government this week.

"These clinics are pure politics and have nothing to do with relieving pressure on emergency departments or providing better services," AMA General Practice spokesman Dr Richard Choong said.

"At a meeting of more than 80 GPs last Saturday only one showed any support for the concept and a fax survey of doctors by the AMA showed a massive rejection."

"Those who expressed some support for the idea qualified their response by saying the clinics should be open at times community general practice is not providing services, such as 10.00 pm to 6.00 am, not when services are already being provided."

"It sounds good to say there will be bulk billing clinics open after hours but the reality is they will damage existing services, suck demand into emergency departments and cost the taxpayers of WA millions of dollars."

"Estimates put the cost of a visit to the clinics at around $135 with less than $26 coming from the Medicare rebate – the WA taxpayer picks up the difference."

"These massively subsidised clinics will destroy existing after hours community practise," Dr Choong said.

"It is a limited political experiment which is doomed to failure."

Contact: Dr Richard Choong 0419 525 351, Stewart Richmond 0407 577 585