MEMBER for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon has urged patients riled by bottlenecks in the local health care system not to take out their frustrations on doctors or their staff.
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Last week, the Lakes Mail reported that patients had spat at and abused receptionists at the Morisset Super GP Clinic.
The outbursts have been in response to the doctor shortage in the Southlakes district.
GP surgeries in the area have closed their books to new patients.
And existing patients can face waits of up to four weeks for an appointment with their doctor.
Mr Fitzgibbon said lower Medicare rebates were at the heart of the doctor shortage.
"The Coalition Government has made reductions to the rural bulk billing incentives, around Cessnock and Lake Macquarie," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"The problems originate from government policy in Canberra.
"I call on my local constituents to refrain from being abusive or argumentative with your doctors.
"It's not their fault and they are also struggling with the changes."
The changes to Medicare bulk billing incentives began this year when the federal Department of Health used a new data system to classify 'rural', 'remote' and 'regional' areas.
Under the changes, parts of the Hunter and Central Coast were reclassified from 'regional' to 'metropolitan' which meant the incentive for doctors to bulk bill children and concession patients fell from $9.65 per visit to $6.40, Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The change meant some doctors had chosen to work elsewhere.
"I have spoken with and written to the Minister for Health, the Shadow Minister for Health and the owner of the Waratah Medical Services practice in Morisset," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"The changes are hurting vulnerable members of our community who rely on bulk billing, especially children, pensioners and health card holders.
"The medical profession has also had to adapt to the Medicare changes that can make bulk billing unprofitable.
"Labor is asking the government to revisit these changes and ensure that the Medicare system can service the entire community, regardless of their socio-economic status or the postcode they live in."
In a letter to Waratah Medical Services, Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton said the government was working to improve the equitable distribution of the medical workforce by requiring overseas-trained doctors to work in Distribution Priority Areas (DPAs).
"Morisset is not currently located within a DPA, as current service levels in this area exceed the national benchmark".
Mr Fitzgibbon has launched an online petition calling on the government to revisit the changes.
- To access the petition and view video of Mr Fitzgibbon's speech to parliament about the local doctor shortage, visit joelfitzgibbon.com.
