The “system” by which general practitioners refer patients to specialists is a mystery to most people, myself included, and I worked in the health sector for several years.
How and why do GPs select which specialists to refer people to? Why should you need a referral to see a skin specialist if you have a skin disease?
I heard the other day about a woman who wanted her five-year-old daughter to see a child psychologist. The GP referred them to someone in Adelaide.
Why Adelaide?
I have to suspect that referral choices are based loosely on either a mates’ network or a business relationship.
It could be the doctors went to the same university, ski together or have some other connection.
In most cases patients will never query the choice, but here in Mount Gambier I think we ought to.
Why should someone travel to see a child psychologist in Adelaide for a first appointment if there is a psychologist working here in the town (I believe there is)?
As for other specialties, what if there is a bone specialist who visits Warrnambool, which is two hours closer to Adelaide?
Would the GP even know about the Warrnambool specialist or think to refer a patient there?
In most cases I would prefer to see a specialist in Victoria, ideally Hamilton, Warrnambool, Ballarat or Geelong before going to either Adelaide or Melbourne.
If I needed an overnight stay I would rather go to Melbourne than Adelaide because I have family there.
Mount Gambier is exactly half way between Melbourne and Adelaide; we should have that choice.
