"The announcement yesterday that GPs will no longer be able to have telephone consultations longer than 20 minutes is just another blow to both GPs and their patients", said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.
"The patients affected are some of the most vulnerable in the country. They can't use Zoom and they clearly have major health issues but this Government is ignoring their needs", said Dr Woodruff. 'Why pick on just that group to limit the funding? Why is it that specialists are still permitted to charge for long consultations but GPs aren't? Why can specialists charge co-payments for telephone consultations while GPs can no longer even charge the bulk billing fee?"
"This is the beginning of the roll-back of items originally intended to address Covid-17 related access issues but then very clearly seen by doctors and patients as a great way to help the most vulnerable access quality healthcare. The policy discriminates against the most needy in our society and against GPs who want to provide the best service to such patients".
"Minister Hunt, why don't you care?"
