The National Health Performance Authority report showed big differences in GP waiting times across Australia, with people living in some primary health networks (PHNs) such as Western NSW more than twice as likely to report waiting too long for a GP appointment as in others.

Western NSW had the highest proportion of residents (38 per cent) who felt they waited a longer than acceptable time to see a GP.

Rates were as low as 15 to 17 per cent in some areas (Gold Coast, Brisbane North and Northern Sydney).

The long wait for Western NSW residents was despite 55 per cent of them reporting they had a long-term health condition, and more than one-in-five adults (21 per cent) having gone to a hospital emergency department in the previous 12 months.

The figure of 21 per cent was among the highest in Australia, second only to Country WA (22 per cent).

The report compared PHN areas in 2013-2014 surveying a range of factors including whether respondents had a long-term health condition, had seen a GP, been admitted to hospital or visited a medical specialist in the previous year and whether cost had been a factor in delaying access to healthcare.

The percentage of Western NSW residents who reported they needed to see a GP in the previous 12 months, but did not, was 24 per cent, the second-highest in Australia after Western Queensland (25 per cent).

The report showed in the previous year, 6 per cent of Western NSW residents did not see or delayed seeing a GP due to the cost, and the same percentage delayed or avoided filling a prescription due to the cost.

Public Health Association of Australia CEO Michael Moore said hospitals and primary healthcare outlets tended to be concentrated in areas where one tended to find the "worried well" rather than those in greatest need.

"What we know ... about the social determinants of health is that wealthier people tend to be healthier," he said.

"The more socially disadvantaged you are, the less healthy you can expect to be, yet they are the people who tend to face the most challenges in getting healthcare. We've got it round back to front."

Mr Moore said health planners and politicians should be concerned to see shortages of preventative healthcare, which meant people ended up receiving emergency hospital care.