This report focuses on the implications of the increase in the number of doctors and changes in workforce composition for several key areas: the extent and nature of competition in the medical sector; doctors’ earnings; the role of the private sector; and technological change, data and information.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt claims that GP bulk-billing rates have risen nearly four percentage points, up from 82.2 per cent under Labor to a record 86.1 per cent under the Coalition Government.

A tweet by Labor Senator Kristina Keneally claims that, under the Morrison government, out-of-pocket costs to visit a GP are up by 25 per cent and out-of-pocket costs to visit a specialist are up by 40 per cent due to the Medicare freeze.

The capacity of governments can be constrained by low levels of public trust. This stands in contrast to ‘medical scientists’ who are generally highly trusted by the public. This article tests to what extent trusted sources can alter attitudes towards a policy proposal to regulate the use of antibiotics.

This is the third annual NHS workforce trends report published by the Health Foundation. Analysis of the NHS staff profile and trends in England in 2018 largely confirms the trends identified in our 2016 and 2017 reports, and shows an ongoing deterioration for some key staff groups.