More time with your doctor

National surveys show patients want more time with their doctor.

Doctors also want more time with patients. Quality care demands that doctors have the opportunity to develop relationships with their patients, and take the time to understand not just their symptoms, but the whole person.

Yet the system is designed to discourage longer consultations. The AMA proposes as two-step solution:

Cut red tape – the average GP spends 9 hours a week on red tape that has nothing do with caring for patients, and
Introduce a more rational MBS structure that gives patients better support to spend more time with their family doctor.

“Patients want more time with their doctor, and they want their choice of doctor. The Government thinks this needs dozens of new agencies and thousands of new bureaucrats. The AMA thinks this simply needs a rejig of the current Medicare schedule to encourage doctors to spend more time with their patients, and the support of a practice nurse.”