A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has revealed the crucial role GPs play in Australia’s current aged care system.
Data from the 2016-17 shows 92% of residents saw a GP while in care, compared to 89% in 2012-13, and the majority saw each resident an average of two times a month.
AIHW says the report, as part of a broader project to understand how aged care residents use health services, shows GPs are an important part of the “healthcare team”.
“Regular access to GPs – either through the GPs visiting an aged care facility or through the resident leaving the facility to visit a GP – is a critical part of quality through residential aged care,” the report states.
GP visits aren’t always pleasant experiences, but they remain a crucial cog in the aged care system.
