Australian Medical Expert Urges Government to Invest in Connected Care

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Australian Medical Expert Urges Government to Invest in Connected Care

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recently released its ninth Health of the Nation report.

It was released at a time when general practitioners (GPs) are under increased pressure. GPs across Australia are working longer hours and treating more patients with complicated conditions.

They are dealing with the mental stress of being the face of a system that is buckling under demand. GPs also have to adapt to a continuously changing medical environment.

However, the latest report offers some hope. It highlights the importance of community, making it clear that healthcare significantly improves when GPs are supported and communication between health professionals is steady and smooth.

General Practice is the Heartbeat of Australian Healthcare

The 2025 Health of the Nation report paints general practice as the heartbeat of Australian healthcare.

GPs are the most accessible point of care across the country, serving millions of Australians regardless of where they are located.

Despite being the ‘front door’ to a system that is struggling to keep up with the demands of patients around the country, GPs are usually not given the high praise they deserve. But it appears things are finally moving in the right direction, and that’s down to connected care.

One of the highlights of the Health of the Nation report is that ‘well-supported GPs deliver better outcomes’, and Dr Morgan Rayner believes it needs to be taken seriously. He believes it could be a game-changer for the Australian healthcare system if it’s accomplished effectively.

Dr Rayner is one of the most respected general practitioners and medical educators in Australia. Two years ago, he was awarded Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

He also received honours from the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a master’s degree, and has a number of published scholarly works.

Dr Rayner has been championing the concept of connected care. He sees it as a viable solution to improve the healthcare sector through shared decision-making via virtual models of collaborative care.

Despite facing immense pressure, GPs are highly rated by patients, and the demand for their services continues to grow across the country. GPs are now spending more time with patients, depending on how complicated their condition is.

Chronic diseases, an ageing population and mental health are issues that have pushed GPs to their limits. Mental health has been particularly challenging for GPs.

It has been named in every Health of the Nation report since 2017, which proves just how deeply connected psychological well-being is with general practice. But the more demands come in, the more GPs are stretched.

The 2025 report made it clear that the complexity of care is the number one challenge facing GPs, and Dr Rayner believes they cannot meet the situation head-on without connected care.

Virtual Collaborative Care is a Practical and Powerful Solution

States across Australia have already started making moves to make things easier for GPs. In Victoria, the Virtual Specialist Consults model unites medical professionals from different specialities, including GPs, with patients in real time.

It is a publicly funded model that includes case-conferencing and co-consulting, offering access to adult and paediatric specialists without having to deal with the burden that usually comes with specialist care.

The model has striking similarities with telehealth, which has become the backbone of the Australian healthcare system. Telehealth providers such as DoctorsOnDemand offer services that allow patients to access medical services quickly from wherever they are in the country.

According to a DoctorsOnDemand review, the platform is one of the best in Australia. It helps to ease the pressure on hospitals and medical professionals, giving practitioners a more flexible way to deliver care and patients a more affordable plan.

Elsewhere, Queensland has adopted a Mater-UQ eConsultant service that uses secure online messaging to allow GPs to seek specialist advice.

Western Australia has a Virtual Immunology Clinic that offers shared decision-making and scheduled follow-ups to make sure that every clinician keeps track of the health of their patients.

General practice is wider than many people may think, which is why the healthcare system needs more coordination, especially in today’s digital era.

A patient could be dealing with diabetes, anxiety, mobility problems and mental health issues, and still have to figure out a way to get through jam-packed waiting lists.

The GP becomes the anchor for all these threads, and they often step in without getting the full picture or even back-up from a team.

The 2025 report noted that hospital funding has increased by one-third over the past decade, yet general practice hardly gets a slice of the pie. That only makes their job far more complicated, especially as the lack of proper funding doesn’t stop or reduce the expectations placed on GPs.

The imbalance affects the very foundation of the entire system, but that’s where virtual collaborative care becomes a game-changer.