Last week, neurosurgeon Professor Richard Bittar warned of a looming disaster if federal Health Minister Mark Butler forges ahead with plans to crack down on specialists’ fees.

Here, GP Dr Max Mollenkopf shares his concern that specialists are being scapegoated for a failing public health system.

While Mark Butler and Private Healthcare Australia are out railing against private specialist fees, I’ve got patients with red-flag symptoms waiting three years for a public ENT appointment.

I work in the Hunter New England Local Health District in NSW, and my local referral centre is the John Hunter Hospital.

The John, as it’s locally known, is absolutely drowning in work.