Development of a General Practice Primary Care Taskforce chaired by the Director-General, with appropriate stakeholder representation, including the AMA (WA).
Effective use of GP-led primary care reduces demand on the tertiary health system, providing preventative care, reducing emergency department presentations and identifying services to prevent the need for tertiary care.
GPs must be recognised as being central to providing continuity of care, and supporting patients before and after hospital admission.
A GP Primary Care Taskforce chaired by the Director-General will have the skills and expertise to guide the genuine integration of General Practice with tertiary care providers, identify work that can be transferred from tertiary care to General Practice, and guide health prevention services.
Recognition of all GPs as specialists, and embedding better supports in the state system, will assist recruitment and retention of skilled practitioners, especially in rural areas.
Reduced need for capital expenditure and associated running costs, better access to specialist services for rural and remote areas, and an in-place system to fall back on during disease outbreaks.