Doctor shortage concerns over age health check push

A push to roll out mandatory health checks for older doctors must strike a balance between protecting patient safety while also keeping medics in the shrinking workforce, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says. Doctors would be required to undergo a health check every three years from their 70th birthday and every year after turning 80, under a Medical Board proposal. In the past eight years official complaints and concerns about doctors aged 70-80 rose 130 per cent and soared 180 per cent for those aged over 80, the regulator said. Overall complaints about doctors grew during that time but increased by 63 per cent for those aged under 70. "Notifications for doctors in the 70-74 year age bracket have jumped disturbingly," the Medical Board said in a statement. "There is an increased incidence of health impairment as individuals age, and this affects medical practitioners in the same way as the rest of the community." The proposed health checks would be kept confidential and the board only told of any concerns if an older doctor refused to manage a health issue that caused a risk to patients. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Nicole Higgins said it was essential patients know they can trust the health system but also pointed out the nation is in the grips of a healthcare workforce shortage. There is already a shortfall of almost 2500 general practitioners and that's expected to more than double by 2033, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care's GP workforce report released this week. Dr Higgins said any heath checks must support GPs and not create additional regulatory or compliance burdens, which is one of the biggest reasons workers leave the profession. "There must be a balance," Dr Higgins said. "The proposed focus on early detection of potential health issues is welcome in that it implies an approach that supports doctors' heath, but it is absolutely essential any process is straightforward, not time consuming and focused on the health and wellbeing of doctors." Doctors, other health professionals and patients have been encouraged to take part in the consultation on the issue, which also includes an option to roll out a different form of assessment for doctors over 70 or for no action to be taken at all. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency data revealed health-related notifications for those over 70 were were 81 per cent more likely to have any complaint against them than their younger colleagues. Notifications linked to cognitive decline or physical illness were more than 15 times higher for older doctors than those aged 36-60. Medical Board chair Anne Tonkin said the checks were needed to prevent "avoidable risks". "Doctors are often reluctant patients, and we are concerned they don't always seek the care they need," Dr Tonkin said. "We're looking for a way to keep late career doctors in charge of their career. "By having regular general health checks from age 70, late career doctors and their treating practitioners will be able to make informed decisions about how they practise, and when they retire." Consumers Health Forum of Australia chief executive Elizabeth Deveny urged authorities to listen to the voices of patients in the discussion. "We all obviously want to ensure that every doctor is safe to remain practicing, but we also believe the measures to keep them safely practicing shouldn't be discriminatory either," Dr Deveny said. "At the end of the day, the safety of the community must come first and be the priority. I think all interested parties here have that as a common goal."