GPs employed in outpatient clinics shocked as govt ends their contracts
The pilot program had made 'big gains' on the timeliness of appointments, according to the GPs.
A two-year pilot of GPs working in outpatient clinics that successfully reduced waitlists has stopped for no clear reason, GPs say.Â
The Tasmanian pilot, announced in 2022, employed GPs with special interests on short-term contracts to improve access to care.
The GPs worked in the highest-demand hospital outpatient clinics, including antenatal, breast, cardiology, gastroenterology, youth and paediatrics.
But the successful pilot had stopped suddenly, according to Dr Tim Jones, who was employed in the paediatric neurodevelopment and behaviour clinic for 20 months.
