GP and other healthcare consults bounced back quickly from a drop at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with patients giving the profession a healthy approval rating, says a new index. 

The survey of almost 8170 Australians last November shows that more than one in three (37%) reported having more appointments than usual in the preceeding six months.

And some 53% said they maintained their typical level of consults with doctors and other healthcare provider, while just 8% had fewer, according to the first Australian Healthcare Index released on Thursday.

Most patients had either 1-3 (45%) or four or more (49%) consults, said the report that aims to check the pulse of the national system through patient perspectives.