GPs are too expensive: Here’s where Australians are going instead
Key takeaways
- 1 in 5 Australians have visited an emergency department for a non-life threatening matter because they couldn't access an affordable GP appointment.
- Gen Z are the most affected, with 27% admitting to doing this at least once, compared to just 6% of baby boomers.
- There are alternative options for Aussies seeking non-urgent healthcare.
Australia's emergency departments were built to handle genuine medical crises. But recent findings has revealed they're handling something else entirely.
New data from Finder's Health Report has found 1 in 5 Australians (20%) say they've visited an ED for a non-life threatening health matter because they couldn't get into an affordable GP appointment.
That works out to an estimated 4.2 million people using emergency rooms as a substitute for primary care.
Of those, around 8% have done it once personally, while 5% admit to making the trip more than once.
And it's not just personal visits, 2% of Australians have taken a family member to hospital for the same reason, with 5% having done this on multiple occasions.
Gen Z were reportedly more likely to swap the GP for the emergency room, with 27% saying they've done this at least once, compared to just 6% of baby boomers.
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A clogged system with little relief
Choosing the ED over the GP might feel like a practical solution, but it comes with real consequences for those seeking emergency healthcare.
Australia's EDs are already handling record demand. There were 9 million presentations in 2023–24 alone. That combined with non-urgent visits may be potentially adding to a system that has very little wiggle room to absorb them.
Avoiding the doctor because of cost is understandable, but there are ways to reduce what you pay for primary care without ending up in an emergency waiting room.
Visiting a bulk billing GP in your area covers the full cost of the visit, leaving you with nothing to pay out of pocket. Alternatively, telehealth can often be cheaper than in-person visits.
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