GP SUPER CLINICS – REFORM MUST BE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
The AMA recently responded to a Department of Health and Ageing’s request for comment on the draft program overview on the Government’s “GP Super Clinics” initiative. The Association has sought to provide constructive advice on how the Super Clinic model and money could best complement existing services.
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said it is vital that existing GP services are not undermined or made non-viable by the introduction of a Super Clinic.
“The Government needs to work with the profession and the community to ensure GP Super Clinics are located where they are most needed,” Dr Capolingua said.
“The Government must engage with local GPs in areas where Super Clinics are planned and give them every opportunity to have input into the GP Super Clinics model.”
“Local solutions to local problems will be the key to success of the new Clinics,“ Dr Capolingua said.
“In many instances it would be more beneficial to invest in existing GP practices to assist in improving their services, better coordinating patient care with other specialist services and allied health providers, rather than build a new GP Super Clinic.”
“GP Super Clinics must provide a full range of high-quality health services including home and aged care facility visits and longer, more complex consultations and training for future GPs.”
“GP Super must be built on a sustainable business model, and should not be compelled to bulk bill all patients.”
The AMA submission focuses on:
• ensuring patients have access to high quality primary care services,
• ensuring patients have access to a regular GP, which promotes long term continuous care,
• ensuring that GPs play a key role in the management of GP Super Clinics - so that decisions about the operation of clinics are based on clinical need and the best interests of patients,
• ensuring that GP Super Clinics are properly integrated with local health services and that they do not displace local GPs who have been serving their local communities,
• improving team based care arrangements, with the GP taking the leadership role in coordinating the work of other health professionals, and
• ensuring that GP Super Clinics play their part in training the future GP workforce.
Click here to read the AMA press release and the AMA Submission on GP Super Clinics.
NATIONAL REGISTRATION & ACCREDITATION
On 26 March 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to implement a National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. The AMA has been vocal about the implications of the COAG scheme. The AMA supports a National system of registration, but does not support the COAG scheme.
This scheme has an underlying agenda. It moves decisions about control of registration, the scope of practice of medical practitioners, competency, accreditation of training and standards away from profession dominated or independent processes into a government controlled bureaucratic environment with specific workforce reform/task substitution objectives.
The AMA has prepared a document to inform all doctors about the COAG scheme and outline AMA concerns in detail. Click here to read more.