As we wrap up the year, here are five of our most popular, and in some cases polarising, polls.

Is My Health Record flunking?

Yes, according to seven out of 10 GPs. Seventy percent of more than 1400 GPs reckon My Health Record is failing to meet its objectives – and 35% never use it to access patient information, an October Healthed survey showed. Read the full article here.

Should the English language standard be eased for IMG entry?

Not according to most GPs who responded to a Healthed survey earlier this year. The Kruk report recommended loosening the requirements—but only 6% of GPs agreed, with 41% saying we should actually increase the standards. GPs who received their qualifications overseas were more likely than those trained in Australia to say we should keep the standard the same, 62% compared with 42%, respectively. Read more here.

Should IMGs from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand be fast-tracked to Australia?

An “expedited pathway” for general practitioners from these countries began on the 21st of October – rolling out to anaesthetists and psychiatrists by the end of this month, and obstetricians and gynaecologists by the end of this month. Last Friday Health Ministers from around the country supported the policy at their meeting in Hobart – despite fierce opposition from the RACGP. How do GPs working at the coalface feel about it? Well, 55% side with the Health Ministers in support, while 45% disagree with the move. Read more about the poll results here.

Should doctors aged 70 years or older be subject to mandatory health checks?

In August the Medical Board opened consultation on three options aimed at addressing the disproportionate number of complaints being levelled at doctors aged 70 or older. While the College and many prominent GPs are staunchly opposed, 59% of 2287 GPs in Healthed’s national survey favour some type of assessments, and just 41% say we should maintain the status quo. Younger GPs, particularly those under 60 were far more likely to support the Board’s proposal to require mandatory health checks, while those over 60 were much more likely to say we should maintain the status quo.

What impact are the CPD changes implemented last year having on the GP workforce?

More than 30% of GPs in a national Healthed survey in with more than 2200 respondents in March said they are bringing forward their retirement plans – and older GPs were even more likely to be considering an early exodus. While just 16% of GPs under age 55 said they were bringing forward retirement plans or otherwise planning to leave general practice as a result of the CPD system, that figure rose to 45% of GPs over age 55. Read the original article here.

Curious how your views compare with your colleagues on more hot button issues?

You can find our poll results on everything from urgent care clinics, to pharmacy prescribing to requiring pathology companies to upload results and much more at this link. And if you’re interested in how the views of GPs across Australia compare with the positions the RACGP is taking on major policies, check out this article.