GPs are the cornerstone of primary health care and your care team.

GPs monitor your overall health and wellbeing. They can help refer you to allied health professionals for your care team.

What do GPs do?

A General Practitioner (GP) can play a crucial role in the management of Parkinson’s, especially in coordination with other specialists such as neurologists and geriatricians.  GPs are valuable members of the care team for managing Parkinson’s, particularly in providing primary care, monitoring overall health, and facilitating coordinated care with specialists to optimise patient outcomes and quality of life.

What is primary care?

Primary health care is often the first contact a person has with the health system and can be delivered in various settings, by a range of providers. It may be provided by general practitioners (GPs) within general practice or in an aged care or community setting, by public or private service providers.

What Your GP Can Do for Parkinson’s: Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Services

If you have Parkinson’s, your GP can provide Chronic Disease Management (CDM) services to help manage your condition. There are two types of plans that can be prepared by a General Practitioner (GP) for Chronic Disease Management (CDM): GP Management Plan (GPMP); and Team Care Arrangements (TCAs).

  • GP Management Plan (GPMP): This plan helps you and your GP identify your health needs, set goals, and outline the care you’ll receive. It’s a personalised approach to managing your Parkinson’s.
  • Team Care Arrangements (TCAs): Because your care requires multiple healthcare professionals, TCAs coordinate the services you need from specialists like physiotherapists, dietitians, and mental health providers. Your GP will work with at least two other healthcare providers to create a comprehensive care plan.
  • Regular Reviews: Your GP will regularly review your GPMP and TCA to ensure they continue to meet your needs and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Allied Health Services: Through TCAs, you can access Medicare-subsidised services from a range of allied health professionals, including diabetes educators, physiotherapists, dietitians, and more.

CDM services aim to provide an organised, team-based approach to help you live well with Parkinson’s by addressing your physical, mental, and social health needs.

For more detailed information, see your GP or visit the:

Department of Health Chronic Disease Management page: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/chronic-disease-management

Use of chronic disease management and allied health Medicare services, AIHW https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-disease/medicare-chronic-disease-allied-health-items/contents/chapter1

Key Statistics

  • More than 3.8 million Australians had at least one Chronic Disease Management (CDM) service in 2019. (1)
  • Parkinson’s disease was the 14th most frequently used supplementary code in hospitalisations in 2019-2020, with 189 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in Australia. (2)
  • A study that evaluated the knowledge and confidence of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia when diagnosing and managing Parkinson’s found that many GPs lacked sufficient training, scoring only 50% on a baseline assessment. After attending an educational seminar, their scores improved significantly to 71.5%. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing education for GPs to ensure they can effectively diagnose and manage Parkinson’s, which is why Parkinson’s Australia is creating a GP & AHP Education Program. (3)

How do I access a GP?

Accessing GP services can make a significant difference in managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s, improving quality of life and maintaining independence.

It’s advisable to explore all available pathways to find the support that best suits your individual needs. Look to:

  • getting a GP that can provide referrals to allied health professionals with Parkinson‘s experience
  • your state-based Parkinson’s organisation for advice on OTs to access
  • private health to see what is covered in relation to OT consultations and expenses
  • NDIS or My Aged Care plan supports.

Infosheet kindly reviewed by

RACGP

References:

(1) Weise, D., Claus, I., Dresel, C. et al. Multidisciplinary care in Parkinson’s disease. J Neural Transm 131, 1217–1227 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-024-02807-w

(2) Appendix A23 accompanies the main report titled Supplementary codes for chronic conditions: evaluation report for population health monitoring and provides additional results related to the supplementary code Parkinson's disease (U80.1).https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/0e3ecb08-661c-4e57-8778-b60ba86acceb/aihw-phc-11-appendix-a23-parkinson-s-disease.pdf.aspx

(3) Abbott, L. M., Naismith, S. L., & Lewis, S. J. G. (2011). Parkinson's disease in general practice: Assessing knowledge, confidence and the potential role of education. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 18(8), 1044-1047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2010.12.041

(4) Williams et al. (2022) An approach to acute clinical deterioration in patients with late-stage Parkinson’s disease. AJGP Vol. 51, No. 8.

(5) Waller et al. (2021) The initial diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease. AJGP Vol. 50, Issue 11. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-07-21-6087

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Parkinson’s Australia National Conference

6-8 April 2025, National Convention Centre Canberra, ACT