General practitioners would be crucial in avoiding large numbers of deaths in Australia as a result of a pandemic influenza outbreak, researchers at The Australian National University have shown.
The findings come as Australia's health and emergency services converge on Brisbane tomorrow to stage the largest health crisis simulation in the nation's history - Exercise Cumpston - which will test systems designed to cope with a pandemic flu outbreak.
Research team member Professor Marjan Kljakovic from the ANU Medical School said GPs would play a key role in containing pandemics, which might otherwise spread rapidly, crossing continents in days. He also said GPs would be doing this while providing ongoing care to patients with severe illnesses that are not flu related.
But Professor Kljakovic said the research funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council has shown some barriers for GPs participating in what needs to be a whole of health community approach to an outbreak. "There are roadblocks for GPs. Some of these are to do with regulations. How accountable will GPs be for patient care in the altered environment of a pandemic- Will they be able to delegate some of their work to others?" Professor Kljakovic said.
The researchers also called for new funding models to support different clinical practice in a pandemic situation. Doctor numbers would be depleted as a result of contact with influenza patients, resulting in a stretched medical workforce dealing with increasingly ill patients.