Better access to doctors for elderly
Aged care providers need to work more closely with doctors to better integrate medical care into the services they offer and improve the treatment of elderly residents, according to Australian Medical Association (AMA) president, Dr Steve Hambleton.
Dr Steve Hambleton calls for action to improve the provision of medical services in residential aged care facilities.
With the number of people requiring aged care set to soar, Dr Hambleton claims it’s now vital that action be taken to improve the provision of medical services in residential aged care facilities.
In a recent opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, Dr Hambleton claimed last year one in 10 aged care residents – 93,400 people – were transferred to hospital for treatment, causing disruption and distress for them and their families and adding to the burden on already busy hospitals, often unnecessarily.
He describes the aged care sector as a “component” of the health system, stating it needs to be supported by government to better integrate medical care into the sector to ensure older Australians receive the care they need in aged care settings.
In particular, Dr Hambleton calls for appropriate support for doctors who visit aged care homes.
Only about 21% of GPs reportedly regularly visit nursing homes, and they often have to deal with significant inconveniences in trying to see their patients, including basic practicalities like finding a car park and getting security access (a particular problem for after hours' visits).
Often, they also encounter problems locating their patient, obtaining their file and finding a staff member who can describe their patient’s symptoms.
When they do get around to treating their patient, it is often in a shared room, compromising privacy, and often without the basic facilities and equipment needed by the doctor.
He warns that as the present group of doctors retire, there is a risk the industry will face a dramatic drop in the medical workforce available to aged care residents.
To help address the problem, Dr Hambleton believes aged care services need to provide dedicated, adequately equipped clinical treatment areas, and ensure there are sufficient registered nurses on site to manage patient care between doctor visits.
