GPs Raise Concerns Over Long Public Specialist Wait Times
17 Jul 2026
A new report by Avant found that two in three GPs are dissatisfied with the way public referral pathways are working. Many doctors say patients are forced to choose between long public waiting times or paying significant out-of-pocket costs for private specialist care.
Newcastle GP Dr Max Mollenkopf shared the story of one of his patients, who has been waiting four years for an initial public specialist appointment for hip arthritis. During that time, the patient's condition has continued to worsen while living with chronic pain.
Dr Mollenkopf said GPs often have difficult conversations with patients about whether they have private health insurance, as private care usually offers faster access to treatment. However, many patients cannot afford the additional costs.
The Avant survey, based on responses from 357 practising GPs, found that:
- Almost half of GPs often manage conditions themselves because specialist access is limited.
- 59% reported their patients had experienced at least one access-related barrier.
- Financial costs, specialist availability and clinical needs all influence referral decisions.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said GPs are taking on more complex care while patients wait for specialist appointments. He said improving access to public specialists and increasing Medicare support for longer GP consultations would help reduce pressure on both doctors and patients.
Dr Mollenkopf said improving public outpatient services should be the priority instead of relying on short-term fixes. He said patients need timely access to specialist care through the public health system to avoid unnecessary delays in treatment.
GPs Raise Concerns Over Long Public Specialist Wait Times
Source: newsGP