Does access to a GP help prevent hospitalisations?

A new five-year research study is set to look at how effective our primary health care system is.

The Health Research Council has granted a team of Victoria University-led researchers $4.78 million to look into the current models of delivering health care through primary services such as through GPs, nursing clinics and pharmacies.

Lead researcher Professor Jacqueline Cumming told Mike Hosking they need to find out how these services are changing, and how well they're working for the population.

"We are a very good service, both in primary care and the broader health care system, but all health systems are facing the challenge of ageing populations and the growing burden of long-term conditions."

Cumming says part of the aim is to look in depth at what is working well so that those systems can be replicated elsewhere

"Our health system is kind of set up built around hospitals and we need to strengthen our primary health care system to better take care of people with those day to day long term conditions"

LISTEN ABOVE AS JACQUELINE CUMMING TALKS TO MIKE HOSKING