WA GPs Present a Plan to Parliament: GPs as the Solution to Hospital Strain
A delegation of seven Western Australian general practitioners (GPs) will brief the WA Parliament with a practical agenda designed to ease pressure on hospitals. Representing the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), the group will outline risk assessments for diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol and advocate for targeted measures to improve access to general practice.
The core argument is simple: stronger primary care can reduce ambulance ramping, lower hospital admissions, and shorten the time patients spend in emergency departments. By shifting some demand from acute care to early, consistent GP management, the health system can operate more efficiently and affordably.
Four Key Measures for a More Responsive Primary Care System
The GPs outlined four concrete policy measures they say could yield measurable improvements in patient outcomes and hospital performance:
- Reduce hospital readmissions: Incentivise a GP consult within a week of hospital discharge. Evidence cited by the RACGP indicates that early primary care follow-up can cut readmissions by up to 32% after an unplanned admission.
- Expand after-hours care: Provide funding to support non-urgent, routine care after hours. If clinics can cover additional staffing costs, more Western Australians would access GP services when they need them, rather than turning to emergency departments for non-urgent issues.
- Free vaccines for at-risk populations: Make lifesaving vaccines for RSV and Meningococcal B universally accessible to reduce disease burden and downstream costs to the system.
- Appoint a Chief GP Advisor: Create a senior role to promote hospital-primary care collaboration, break down silos, improve patient outcomes, and reduce admissions through coordinated care planning.
RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman emphasised that the proposed measures would be a “small investment with large dividends” for the health system. She stressed that ambulance ramping—where ambulances queue to offload patients at crowded emergency departments—has reached alarming levels, with WA hospitals reporting long wait times and heavy saturation in recent months.
Why GPs Are Well-Placed to Help
Dr Raman pointed to data showing better short-term GP follow-up after unplanned hospital discharges lowers the likelihood of readmission within 28 days. She painted a picture of a more efficient system in which patients who know their GP well can navigate care more effectively, leaving hospital resources available for those in greatest need.
The GPs argued that the current split of responsibility—hospitals under the state government and primary care largely funded at the federal level—creates silos that hinder timely, appropriate care. A Chief GP Advisor could help align policies, funding, and service delivery to keep patients healthier and out of the hospital.
Vaccines: Protecting Families and Reducing Costs
The WA delegation also pressed for vaccination funding, noting the ongoing risk of meningococcal B disease and the burden of RSV on older and vulnerable populations. They highlighted that in other jurisdictions, publicly funded MenB vaccination programs significantly reduced illness and hospitalisations among young people. A similar approach in WA would lower medical costs and save lives, according to the GPs.
RSV vaccination, especially for seniors and those with risk factors, was described as a critical shield for vulnerable patients. While vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, the GPs said cost barriers prevent many families from obtaining timely protection and care.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for WA Patients
If adopted, these measures could reshape the patient journey in Western Australia. By prioritising rapid GP follow-up after discharge, boosting after-hours access, funding essential vaccines, and appointing a Chief GP Advisor, the health system could become more proactive, patient-centred, and efficient. The GPs asserted that the goal is not to replace hospital care but to ensure the right care is delivered in the right settings at the right times.
As WA politicians prepare to consider these recommendations, the message from the RACGP delegation is clear: with targeted investments in primary care, WA’s GPs can be a sustainable solution to hospital overcrowding and a healthier future for all Western Australians.
