In 2014-2015 there were around 33,000 practising GPs working in approximately 7500 practices across Australia. Of those, 2400 were solo GP practices. One source estimated that in 2012, only 10% of Australian doctors work as sole practitioners. There is no doubt that the number of solo GPs has declined considerably over the past decade but many health professionals believe they will continue to exist in some format.
GPs working as sole practitioners tend to deal with more complex matters. Whereas patients are happy to visit multi-doctor or group practices for simple things like prescription repeats or sick certificates, they prefer to see their family GP for ongoing or personal issues.
Those working as sole general practitioners say they enjoy the feeling of being in control of their own patient load and hours. They also enjoy providing personalised care, often to generations of the same family. Solo GPs work alone in premises which are owned or leased and consequently a downside is that solo practices and running costs may be higher but they usually have minimal staff overheads. Solo GPs are responsible for the practice management which is often seen as a positive as it means that, for example, purchase of equipment can be decided upon without having to arrange a meeting with colleagues or put in a request to the business owner.
Group practice
Group practices typically have additional support staff, including a practice nurse and / or manager and consequently general practitioners working in a group practice can spend more time seeing patients and less time on paperwork. Group practices are also typically more able to cater to walk-in patients, or those without appointments due to the number of doctors available and they are more likely to be able to provide extended hours.
In large corporate group practices in Australia, GPs are typically employed on a contractual basis and retain 50 – 70% of billings. Large group practices tend to be purpose built and co-located with other health services such as a pharmacy or dentistry, and doctors may have access to allied health services and pathology.
GPs working in group practice say they enjoy the benefit of shared clinical experience and a broader scope of practice. They also enjoy knowing that colleagues can step in during emergency situations or last-minute schedule changes. The downside to working in a group practice is occasionally working with colleagues and staff who they may not get along with, and a lack of autonomy. There is also often a requirement to adhere to strict policies and procedures.
Ultimately, choosing to work as a solo GP or in a group practice comes down to personal preference and circumstances. HealthStaff Recruitment has a number of general practitioner jobs available in group practices all around Australia. Check out our job vacancies list to find a position that is right for you.