GPs have received a morale boost from a group of hospital specialists who have rushed to their defence in response to ‘clickbait’ Medicare rort claims.

In a letter to the editor of the Townsville Bulletin, they said GPs have been failed by policy makers for decades, and have become the “punching bag” for mainstream media and social media posters “who feel they know more”. 

Led by Townsville neurologist Dr Craig Costello, more than two dozen hospital specialists said GPs could no longer absorb the costs of declining Medicare rebates despite being routinely asked by their patients to bulk-bill.

“When was the last time you asked your hairdresser to throw in the foils, your cafe to give you your coffee at cost, your tradie to throw in the materials, or your lawyer, not to bill you? Never?” they wrote on Saturday.