Scope of Practice: How GPs Use Their Expertise in Prescribing
10 Sep 2025
Prescribing safely isn’t just about writing a script it requires familiarity with the patient’s history and a well-established doctor–patient connection, notes Dr Ramya Raman.
From the outside, a repeat prescription might look like a quick administrative task: a patient arrives, a few clicks, a signature, done. But inside the consulting room, it’s very different. Safe prescribing depends on years of training, detailed knowledge of a patient’s medical history, and most importantly, the trust and rapport built over time between a GP, the patient, and their family. This relationship is a key part of Australia’s health system.
Western Australia is now testing a new approach through the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot. Under this program, pharmacists will be trained to identify and treat over 17 conditions, including asthma, ear infections, acne, shingles, reflux, contraception, and weight management. The aim is to make care faster and closer to home.
However, the main question isn’t who can treat what, but what model actually delivers safer care, fewer complications, and genuine relief for the healthcare system. Evidence shows that continuity of care—seeing the same GP over time—is one of the most effective ways to achieve these outcomes.
Australia’s first national patient-reported survey on chronic-condition care, the OECD’s PaRIS survey, found that:
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94% of Australians with chronic conditions reported positive experiences with their GP.
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Patients with the same GP for 3–5 years rated their care even higher at 97%, compared with 79% for those without a regular GP.
The findings show that trust, coordination, and long-term relationships with a GP improve patient outcomes. General practice is cost-effective not because it is cheap, but because it prevents costly problems later.
For Western Australia, the choice is clear: expand roles in ways that could fragment care, or focus on continuity. This means:
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Ensuring the GP is informed of all care and prescriptions.
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Using My Health Record and clear follow-up processes.
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Tracking not just service counts, but patient outcomes, adverse events, and emergency department visits.
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Investing in general practice access, including same-day or next-day appointments and after-hours care.
Pharmacists, nurses, allied health professionals, and GPs already work together daily. The goal isn’t competition—it’s coordination around the patient.
That “five-minute script” is rarely just a script. It represents a trusted relationship that prevents harm, reduces unnecessary duplication, and keeps hospitals a little less busy.
Source: Medical Forum
