Are GPs less likely to refer people with dementia to allied health services?

Across two large Primary Health Networks in Melbourne, researchers have examined the allied health referral patterns of GPs from 537 practices for people with dementia compared to those without dementia. Compared with people with stroke or Parkinson’s disease, researchers found people with dementia were significantly less likely to receive any allied health referral; just under 700,000 patients were identified in the study, including 16,610 patients with dementia.

The study was led by Dr Angel Lee from Monash University’s School of Primary and Allied Health Care, who said that while GPs play an important role coordinating referrals to facilitate access in Australia and in informing patients about allied health services, until now, GP referral patterns have remained under-investigated and poorly understood.

“Despite strong evidence supporting allied health interventions for dementia, referral rates remain comparatively low. Accessing these services can provide therapeutic and diagnostic support for people living with dementia, with a focus on enhancing function, autonomy and quality of life,” Lee said.

“Access to allied health could be improved through greater community awareness, integrated dementia-specific care pathways, implementing supportive policy changes and upskilling health professionals in the role of allied health in dementia care.”

Professor Michele Callisaya from the National Centre for Healthy Ageing and the University of Tasmania was a co-author on the study and has worked alongside researchers and partners to co-design solutions to reduce stigma and to improve knowledge about the role of allied health in dementia care, both broadly within the community, and specifically for health professionals. This has included the creation of resources, including a brochure about the role of allied health in dementia care.

“Allied health professionals have an important role in working with people with dementia and care partners, by supporting them to maximise participation in activities and roles that are meaningful and important to them. However, there are few allied health professionals working in this area,” Callisaya said.

“To improve referrals and access to allied health we need to train more allied health professionals to work in this growing area, and make sure those with expertise are easy to find.”

The study’s researchers were from Monash University’s Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre and the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (a partnership between Monash University and Peninsula Health), with findings being published open access in BMJ Journal Family Medicine and Community Health. You can read the study at doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2025-003470.

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