What are the disadvantages of GP diversification and fragmentation?
Possible risks of fragmentation to GPs include losing some of their generalist skills and expertise, and becoming bored after several years of working in a narrow field. Potential disadvantages to patients include lack of communication between practitioners, a reduced pool of expert GPs in the community and, if standards of quality care are not maintained, the possibility of suboptimal care. It is worth noting that general practices providing only specialised services are not able to gain accreditation, because they are not delivering general practice as defined by the RACGP. Furthermore, if more doctors move into these fragmented services, there might be fewer GPs available to provide the less attractive and less well-remunerated services, such as nursing home visits, and fewer working in socially deprived areas.
