News

AMA calls medical chiefs together to discuss safety and quality of medicalpractice in Australia

AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, will tomorrow host a meeting of the heads of the most senior and influential medical groups in the country to discuss the way forward in improving the safety and quality of medical practice in Australia.

Dr Glasson said today that the standard of health and medical care in Australia is already the safest and best in the world.

"Australians can be proud of the standard of health care in this country and the skills and expertise of our doctors and other health professionals," Dr Glasson said.

"But we can always do better.

"The AMA has called this meeting to ensure that everyone in the profession is united in our commitment to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

"This involves quality control and auditing of every step in a patient's diagnosis, care, procedure, and recovery, and ensuring that our clinical and hospital processes are world's best practice.

"The outcomes of our meeting will complement the work of Health Minister Tony Abbott's medical indemnity review committee.

"It is our duty to do whatever is possible to reduce the number of medical incidents by improving training, standards, monitoring and related activities," Dr Glasson said.

Dr Glasson will be available to talk to the media immediately following the meeting at 1.00pm outside the Ballroom, Stamford Sydney Airport Hotel.  A list of attendees is attached.

Participants

 AMA

Dr Bill Glasson, President, Federal AMA

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, Vice President (Chair of Meeting), Federal AMA

Dr Andrew Pesce, Chair, AMA Medical Professional Indemnity Task Force, Federal AMA

Dr Martin Nothling, Psychiatrist Nominee on AMA Federal Council

Dr Robert Bain, Secretary General, Federal AMA

Mr Laurie Pincott, Executive Director, AMA(NSW)

Medical Colleges

Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC)

        Dr Jonathon Phillips, Chairperson

        Mr Les Apolony, CEO

Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

        Prof Hugh Dickson

        Prof Jim Hyde, Director, RACP Health Policy Unit

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)

        Dr Raymond Chan, College Councillor

        Dr Lawrence Bott, Honorary Secretary

Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)

        Dr Andrew Child, President

        Dr Tony Frumar, Chairperson, NSW Committee

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

        Professor Michael Kidd, President

        Mr Ian Watts

Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)

        Dr Julian Freidin, President Elect

        Dr Yvonne White

Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (RANZCA)

        Dr Richard Willis, President

        Dr Mike Martyn, Treasurer and Chairman of Executive

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

        Mr Russell Stitz

Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM)

        Dr Peter Roberts

Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)

        Mr Donald Swinbourne, CEO

Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)

        Dr Stephen Lee, Honorary Secretary

Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)

        Dr Alex Hunyor (Jnr)

Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)

 

Medical Societies/Associations

Australian Society of Anaesthetists

        Dr Jim Bradley

        Dr Peter Lawrence

        Dr Nigel Symon

Australian Association of Consultant Physicians

Australian Society of Ophthalmologists

National Association of Specialist Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

        Dr David Molloy

Council of Procedural Specialists

        Prof Don Sheldon tbc

Australian Association of Pathology Practices

Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association

MDOs

Mr Mike McLeod, CEO, UMP

Dr Robert Walters, MPIS(Tas)

Dr Peter Simpson, CEO, MIPS NSW

Other

Dr Rohan Hammett, Director of Healthcare Improvement Projects, NSW Institute for Clinical Excellence

Mr Peter Somerville, CEO, ASMOF

Dr John Vinen, Emergency Physician, Royal North Shore Hospital

Australian Doctors Fund (ADF) representative

**List current as at 10.00am, Friday 31 October 2003

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