title: Changes to general practice.
abstract: In September 2008, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, announced plans to change delivery of primary health care in Australia. Ms Roxon suggested that general practitioners should 'relinquish some of the work that could be safely done by other health professionals'. The New South Wales Australian Medical Association President immediately responded by saying 'any fragmentation of primary health care to other allied health workers will mean diminution of care for patients'. Any suggestion of change to general practice service provision in Australia seems to be met with scepticism and negativity from the medical profession. Yet if we examine Ms Roxon's proposals in detail, we find they are neither revolutionary nor likely to compromise patient safety.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thistlethwaite
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Topps
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans