PATIENTS with type 2 diabetes spend an extra hour a year with their GP compared to other patients, according to new data which has prompted renewed calls for an improved approach to funding for management of the condition.

The findings, from the latest Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study, published this week, showed the average patient spent 1.6 hours a year with their GP, while those with diabetes spent an average of 2.6 hours.

The report, General practice activity in Australia 2012–13,  noted those with diabetes also spent time with a range of allied health professionals as well as practice nurses.

With the management rate of the condition increasing by 33% over the past decade, the authors said type 2 diabetes was “very resource intensive” and was “bound to increase in future”.

BEACH director Associate Professor Helena Britt said type 2 diabetes now accounted for 8% of GPs’ workload and that patients with the condition visited their doctor an average of eight times a year compared to the national average of 5.6 annual visits.

Patients with diabetes had their condition managed at half of their GP consultations, according to the report.?

Brisbane GP Dr Gary Deed said the data confirmed the need to improve funding models for the management of diabetes in general practice.

Dr Deed, who is a director of Diabetes Australia’s Queensland arm and chairs the RACGP’s National Faculty of Special Interests Diabetes Network, said he hoped the Coalition government would undertake a consultation with GPs “at the coalface” as part of efforts to develop a long-term approach to diabetes management. ?

With the majority of patients also having at least two other comorbidities, he said a block funded model, such as the one being trialled under the Diabetes Care Project, created problems with regard to funding of the patient’s whole care.?

Meanwhile, the report found GPs made 7.6 million more referrals in 2012–13 than they did a decade ago with the increase split almost evenly between referrals to medical specialists and allied health services. A total of 126.7 million GP services were claimed through Medicare in 2012-13.?

The report also stated that despite spending on average three hours less per week providing direct clinical care than a decade ago, GPs were dealing with an increasing number of health problems during each consultation.