Doctors refusing to treat injured workers say an urgent review of Victoria’s WorkCover scheme is “desperately needed” to cut government bureaucracy.

They say government red tape has left them fighting mountains of paperwork instead of treating patients and getting them back to work.

A recent Australia Medical Association (AMA) Victoria survey of more than 332 doctors shows a number are refusing to treat injured workers and more than half say they will soon be taking a similar approach.

The survey shows 15.5% of doctors no longer see WorkCover patients and 54% say they will also take the same action if nothing is done soon.

A resounding majority (83.2%) say payments offered under the scheme are inadequate for treatment, paperwork and telephone consultations with WorkCover agents.

And 48.7 % believe they should be able to charge the authority for the additional time they are forced to spend on paperwork.

AMA spokesman Gary Speck told insuranceNEWS.com.au that the time he spends on one WorkCover patient is the same as that needed to treat three people.

“This inevitably leads to poorer outcomes and also put psychological pressure on the patient and delays their return to work,” he said.

But WorkSafe spokesman Charlotte Bull told insuranceNEWS.com.au the paperwork was there to protect the public money that is used to treat injured workers.

She says detailed bills are required to ensure the work being paid for by the community is done.

“These bills show the procedures performed – point by point – and where there is an issue these are checked with the surgeon,” Ms Bull said.

Doctors are demanding the Victorian Government take action to review the fees, investigate options for payment for phone consultations and improve return-to-work initiatives.

Ms Bull says WorkSafe fees are 30% higher than the Medicare schedule, but the authority is willing to work with the AMA on a case-by-case basis.

“We have also introduced an $85 fee for doctors to answer a telephone report (filled in by claims agents) to help injured workers return to work, which takes 10 minutes to complete,” she said.

Injured workers having trouble getting treatment are urged to contact their claims agent or WorkSafe.