On top of complexity, GPs are managing specialist and emergency care

The RACGP’s 2026 Health of the Nation report, based on a nationwide survey of GPs, found almost nine in 10 GPs were managing conditions that non-GP specialists might typically treat, and 76% were managing conditions typically treated in a hospital emergency department or urgent care clinic.

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the findings reflect the breadth and depth of modern general practice.

"We’re managing more chronic disease, more mental health concerns, more multi-morbidity and more conditions that have traditionally been treated elsewhere in hospitals and by non-GP specialists," he said.

“GPs are providing more comprehensive care than ever before and helping patients navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system,” Dr Wright said.

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath said while the findings reflect the breadth and increasing complexity of modern general practice, patients must still be able to access specialist services.

“GPs are trained to diagnose and manage a wide range of conditions, including many presentations that may also be seen in specialist consulting rooms, urgent care clinics or emergency departments,” he said.

“That is not and cannot be a substitute for non-GP specialist care. GPs play an essential role in recognising when specialist assessment or hospital treatment is required, making the appropriate referral and coordinating the patient’s ongoing care.

“Patients must then be able to access those services within a clinically appropriate timeframe.”

He said the findings pointed to a wider issue around whether the whole health system is adequately funded.

“Funding must properly recognise the time, expertise and resources required to deliver both complex general practice and non-GP specialist care, so patients can receive the right care at the right time,” he added.

“Clear public information can help patients distinguish between routine, urgent and emergency care. However, directing patients elsewhere will not solve workforce shortages, long waiting lists or inadequate funding.

“The priority should be a connected and adequately funded health system where patients can see their usual GP, receive specialist care when required, and access urgent or emergency treatment when clinically necessary.”

Complexity of care

Some 72% of GPs surveyed identified the increasing complexity of caring for patients as a key issue, while two-thirds said they were spending longer with patients than in previous years.

The length of consultations have increased again, with GPs now spending an average of 19.8 minutes with patients, up from 19.7 minutes in 2025.

Dr Wright said longer consultations allowed GPs to manage multiple conditions, coordinate care, support prevention and address complex health issues that simply can’t be resolved in a brief appointment.

“The challenge is that the Medicare system has not kept pace with the realities of modern general practice and funding does not adequately support the time required to provide the care patients need," he said.

The RACGP has for some time been calling on the government to increase Medicare patient rebates by 40% for longer consultations.

Dr Wright said as demand continued to grow, funding needed to reflect the complexity of modern patient care and support the long-term sustainability of general practice.

Alongside fairer rebates, the College also called for Health Assessment Medicare Benefits Schedule items to be extended to a broader range of patients and priority groups, and for the establishment of an independent primary care pricing authority to ensure funding decisions were transparent and reflected the true cost of delivering care.

“If we want a healthier Australia, we must continue investing in general practice,” Dr Wright said.

The report also found 99% of patients were able to see a GP when needed in 2024/25 and the proportion of patients able to see their preferred GP when they needed to increased to 67%, up from 64%.