“In general, patients with both a usual GP and usual place of care reported the best experiences, followed by those with a usual GP only,”
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released the results of a survey of some 35,000 patients aged over 45 designed to show the effect of continuity of care on patients’ perceptions of the care they receive.
General practitioners (GPs) provide most Australians with their primary health care. The GP is often a person’s first contact with the health system—as such, the relationship a patient has with their GP is crucial to the delivery of quality, coordinated care across their life. This relationship, together with the continuity of care a patient receives, is the cornerstone of patient centred care—a model thatinvolves the patient in their care and focuses on their individual needs.
The table below charts the proportion of patients rating their care as very good or excellent based on each primary health network.
| Proportion of patients over 45 rating care from their usual GP/place of practice either “excellent” or “very good”: | |
| Eastern Melbourne (Vic) | 87% |
| Gold Coast (Qld) | 87% |
| Brisbane North (Qld) | |
People were more likely to have a usual GP or place of care if they:
- were aged 75
- lived in Major cities
- spoke English at home
- had higher levels of education
- had private health insurance
Patients reported generally positive experiences of care from their usual GP or place of care. There was an association between longer patient-GP relationships and better experiences of care. People with both a usual GP and place of care reported better experiences of care .
GP and patient
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