Paramedics given power to send patients to GPs in NSW crackdown trial

Updated

People on the New South Wales central coast calling an ambulance for trivial matters such as tooth aches will be taken to their local doctor instead of hospital in a new trial.

The trial will give paramedics the power to decide whether a case warrants a hospital visit or a trip to a general practitioner (GP).

The move has come out of recommendations from an Auditor-General's report and is designed to relieve pressure on emergency departments.

Ambulance Service deputy commissioner Mike Willis says it will mean less time wasted on more trivial ailments.

"Sadly sometimes people call paramedics to their home for trivial things such as sore teeth, or in fact they've run out of their medication," he said.

"That's not what paramedics are for, that's what taxis are for.

"This trial is designed to take those patients who are not life threatening and have low acuity illnesses direct to their GP where they can be assessed."

The deputy commissioner says safety will not be compromised and people will receive the appropriate care.

"Paramedics handle stressful situations every day, they're well trained to do that," he said.

"If there's any doubt or any concern the paramedic will revert back and just take the patient to the emergency department."

GPs in the state say the crackdown will mean medical resources and staff are better utilised.

Lewis Kaplan from the group General Practice New South Wales says while it may result in GPs being in greater demand, it should benefit the entire health system.

"It's actually more important that we have a joined-up response between hospitals and the Ambulance Service, on the central coast particularly aged care, and general practice," he said.

"That's the piece of the jigsaw that's missing. Better for them to be referred to a general practitioner.

"While he or she may already be busy, it may be the more appropriate level of care for that particular issue."

Topics: health, health-policy, doctors-and-medical-professionals, healthcare-facilities, newcastle-2300, nsw

First posted