A push to roll out mandatory health checks for older doctors must strike a balance between protecting patient safety while also keeping medics in the shrinking workforce, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says. or signup to continue reading Doctors would be required to undergo a health check every three years from their 70th birthday and every year after turning 80, . In the past eight years official complaints and concerns about doctors aged 70-40 rose 130 per cent and soared 180 per cent for those aged over 80, the regulator said.
Overall complaints about doctors grew during that time but increased by 63 per cent for those aged under 70. "Notifications for doctors in the 70-74 year age bracket have jumped disturbingly," the Medical Board said in a statement. "There is an increased incidence of health impairment as individuals age, and this affects medical practitioners in the same way as the rest of the community.
" The proposed health checks would be kept confidential and the board only told of any concerns if an older doctor refused to manage a health issue that caused a risk to patients. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Nicole Higgins said it was essential patients know they can trust the health system but also pointed out the nation is in the grips of a healthcare workforce shortage. There is already a shortfall of almost 2500 general practitioners and that's expected to more than double by 2033, according to the released th.