THERE has never been a better time to get to know your local GP thanks to a new campaign encouraging people to visit their local doctors more often.
The Western Australian Primary Health Alliance’s (WAPHA) ‘Choose Well, When You’re Worried Sick’ campaign aims to educate the public about medical services available to them at their local practitioners.
A 2017 WAPHA and the Department of Health report showed Armadale Hospital was a hotspot for potentially preventable hospital admissions linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes complications.
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READ NOWHealth Sense Medical Centre GP Zachary Nathan said doctors’ jobs were made easier if they regularly saw their patients.
“It’s nice to get to know patients, it helps build a bit of rapport so they’re not just coming in saying ‘doc, I’m unwell,’ and we’ve got nothing to work off,” he said.
The Gosnells-based doctor said it was important people with minor ailments visited their local GP first before heading to a hospital.
“Sometimes when you go into a hospital not knowing anything, you end up doing a whole lot of stuff you don’t need to do,” Dr Nathan said.
“If they come to see us, we know a bit more background, we can often avoid unnecessary tests and time in hospital.”
For more information about how to choose whether to go to an emergency department or a GP, visit myhealthcareoptions.com.au.