National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 [Provisions]

Submission 124

Hon Senators,

I am a practising GP over the last 25 years and a Fellow of the RACGP.The following are my personal and professional opinions:

• GP’s are the only health professionals who provide holistic care, in some cases from cradle to grave.
• The NDIS is too focused on single eligibility conditions whilst bypassing the individual patients GP and not recognising that their ‘clients’ may also have associated comorbidities.
• It is widely recognised that the prevalence of complex comorbidities is increasing, especially amongst patients with disabilities. The outcome is much better if diagnosed and managed earlier.
• I recently saw an NDIS patient who presented with a life threatening unrecognised underling co-mordity,and had to be sent to Hospital via ambulance.
• The AHP’s who are contracted by the NDIS to look after their ‘clients’ are focused on providing care in their speciality. They presumably provide reports to NDIS, which we do not have access at all. On the other hand, we regularly receive progress reports from AHP’s when we directly refer (via EPC). All AHP services are important in patient care, only if we communicate with each other.
• In conclusion, I do believe that GP’s should become central in the disability care system and the NDIS needs to recognise this. Only then we can offer the same level of care to the disability sector that other members of the community receive.

Many thanks for allowing my humble submission.

Dr Kiran Amin, FRACGP