GPs are having to see patients for longer appointments to treat more complex medical needs, a snapshot of Australian practice reveals.

The Health of the Nation report also finds a slight increase in the number of people delaying a visit to the doctor due to the cost of treatment.

Launched by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in Canberra on Tuesday, the report finds the average appointment time has increased in 2025 by one minute, to reach 19.7 minutes.

This highest increase since 2022 has been put down to an increasing complexity of consultations.

The nationwide survey of almost 2500 GPs also shows a growing number of practitioners are managing patient conditions typically handled by specialists.

It finds 86 per cent of GPs helped deliver more specialised care, wit

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