I was interviewed and quoted in the article, “Australia bucked global mortality trend in 2020: AIHW”, written by Mr Jolyon Attwooll, published in newsGP.

Attwooll J. Australia bucked global mortality trend in 2020: AIHW. 2021 September 14. Available from: https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/australia-bucked-global-mortality-trend-in-2020-ai

Quotation

“Dr Michael Tam, a clinical academic specialist GP at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, says the report reflects a ‘difficult time’ for general practice in 2020.

‘It required a massive change in the way general practice operated in terms of how to care for patients,’ he told newsGP.

‘Very substantial changes [were needed] in practice, in expectations, in how staff worked, particularly reception staff – but of course all necessary in the context of a public health emergency.’

…

‘Telehealth really is part of the landscape now – but what that will look like moving forward is a little less clear,’ Dr Tam said.

‘Clearly there are roles for telehealth in certain domains, particularly mental health care provision and chronic disease care on an ongoing basis.’

…

Dr Tam said that while it is difficult to predict how much of an anomaly the year 2020 will prove to be, he believes general practice adapted well and that the impact of the pandemic will continue for some time.

‘I think GPs did rise to the challenge of providing as good care as they could,’ he said. ‘Often in difficult medical circumstances – and difficult business circumstances as well.’