Number of patients delaying or cancelling GP visits due to cost doubles: report
Some 7% of Australians put off a medical visit, as the health minister announces a fresh review of workforce 'levers'.
The number of Australians delaying a necessary visit to their doctor has doubled due to the rising cost of living, a new analysis shows.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that 7% of Australians who needed to see a GP in 2022-23 delayed or did not make an appointment because of the price, up from 3.5% the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, one in five patients put off or completely skipped seeing a mental health professional when they needed to.
Delays were most common among Australia’s vulnerable populations: young people and those living in disadvantaged areas.
