Research from an ongoing DHCRC project has found pathology testing rates dropped substantially during the first wave of COVID-19 in both Victorian and NSW Primary Health Networks. While testing volumes then increased, much of it was testing for acute respiratory illness (ARI), for conditions such as influenza and/or COVID-19. Non-ARI testing volumes remained lower than in previous years even after the first wave.
These results show lower rates of many essential pathology tests for screening, diagnosis and monitoring care in general practice, sparking concerns that there may be lower detection of some early-stage disease. The decline in non-ARI testing was greater in patients who were older, female, and socioeconomically advantaged.
The third ‘GP snapshot’ report from this project has explored pathology use in general practice in NSW and Victoria between January 2017 and September 2020.
The project uses data from approximately 800 general practices (454 from Victoria and 346 from NSW) in both urban and rural/remote regions which account for around 30 per cent of Australia’s population, and is a collaboration between the Digital Health CRC, Macquarie University, Outcome Health, Gippsland, Eastern Melbourne and South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Networks (PHNs), and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs, with participation from Central and Eastern Sydney and South Western Sydney PHNs.
Read the full report here
