GPs bear the brunt of long COVID without proper support

General practitioners throughout Australia are urging lawmakers to not neglect about sufferers affected by lengthy COVID, as ongoing therapy continues so as to add stress to the well being system.

Following the discharge of an points paper by the House of Representative Health Committee, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has made a submission welcoming extra consideration on the plight of docs treating lengthy COVID.

The committee anticipates the burden of care for lengthy COVID sufferers and repeated COVID infections will fall closely on GPs, nonetheless, they can’t assist their sufferers with out the right assist.

GPs will bear the brunt of lengthy COVID therapy with out correct assist (Getty)

“This is welcome recognition of what GPs across Australia know: we are the first port of call for patients with long COVID, and we are seeing more cases every day,” RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins mentioned.

The points paper seeks to cement an agreed definition of a protracted COVID analysis, so GPs can correctly handle affected person care.

Patients affected by lengthy COVID expertise a variety of signs together with fatigue, breathlessness, nervousness and despair, chest ache and “brain fog”.

They can even expertise adjustments to their style and odor which may final for weeks or months after the preliminary sickness.

“Currently, Australia doesn’t have an agreed definition of long COVID, which is essential to support GPs in diagnosing patients and managing their ongoing care,” Higgins mentioned.

“It is essential to ensure we get the most accurate snapshot of this condition and how to help those affected.”

COVID-19 seen under the microscope. — Patients with lengthy covid undergo from various signs. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Higgins mentioned that Medicare reform is a key consider supporting sufferers with lengthy COVID.

“We know people across the country are missing out on the care they need because Medicare does not adequately support patients with long COVID,” she mentioned.

“These patients require complex care, and this takes time.

“But the present affected person rebate construction disincentivises GPs to spend extra time with sufferers with a number of, complicated circumstances, together with these with lengthy COVID.”

The report also calls for increased research funding for GPs, increased medical access for rural and regional areas, dedicated long COVID clinics and a long-term plan for treating COVID-19.