$3b bill for treating minor ailments

Patients with minor ailments who seek treatment at hospital emergency departments are costing taxpayers $3 billion a year.

Health Minister Sussan Ley cited as examples of "unnecessary presentations" people who were not managing their asthma well or someone with diabetes who had let their blood sugar levels get out of hand.

They represented 7 per cent of hospital workloads, but more importantly, they were not being looked after adequately, she told reporters in Brisbane on Friday after addressing the annual conference of the Australian Medical Association.