AMA CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE REFORM
The Australian Government announced on 11 June 2008 that it will develop a national primary health care strategy and review the Medicare Benefits Schedule of primary care items. The Government has indicated that it will consider a greater role for nurses and allied health professionals in diagnosis and prescribing. The AMA has responded by voicing its concerns over the Government’s lack of transparency on how it intends to maintain high-quality patient care while diverting patients from seeing doctors. AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the Government must put patient care at the centre of any health reform.
“The Government’s proposed solution for patients needing to see a doctor is to falsely reassure them that seeing someone other than a doctor is the same thing,” she said. “Nurses and other health providers are skilled and respected in their role in assisting patient care but in terms of comprehensive primary care, they are most effective for patients while under medical supervision.”
Dr Capolingua believes that it would be a backwards step to remove doctors’ medical competency and skills from the first point of call in the health system. “The AMA is keen to work on solutions for patients to get access to the best medical care, not short change patients with a quick fix that lowers safety and quality.” She said that medical practitioners have the comprehensive training to treat the patient holistically, not just as an ailment or disease.
Dr Capolingua said GP practice nurses and other allied health providers are already used as part of a primary health care team led by a GP. The AMA is keen to make the system work better, not actually put patients at risk. The AMA is concerned that not only will patient safety be undermined but also delays in diagnosis will do harm and ultimately, cost the health system more.
An External Reference Group has been created to assist the Government to develop the strategy. Dr Rod Pearce, Chairman of the AMA’s Council of General Practice is a member of the reference group. Click here for more details.
Members can e-mail us with their concerns about these proposals to generalpractice@ama.com.au
GENERAL PRACTICE WEEK: 15-21 JUNE 2008
General Practice Week is celebrating and showcasing the role of GPs in our community. It will be launched this Sunday by Dr Capolingua. AMA Victoria is hosting a GP Forum on 17 June and a GP Liaison Breakfast on 19 June 2008. All GPs are welcome to attend. For more details click here or contact Belinda Cousins on (03) 9280 8722 or via email on belindac@amavic.com.au.
REMINDER – RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITIES SURVEY ENDS 20 JUNE 2008
The AMA is conducting a web-based survey of GPs across the country to help us develop policy to improve GP services to residential aged care facilities.
Participation in this survey by those GPs who do not regularly visit patients in aged care facilities is just as important as those who do. Broad GP feedback is essential if the AMA is to get a better understanding of the reasons why GPs may or may not be visiting residential aged care facilities. The survey should take about five minutes to complete. Please click here to complete the survey.
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2008
Our congratulations to the GPs who received honours last weekend:
· Member of the Order (AM): Dr Timothy James Cooper (South Australia).
· Medal of the Order (OAM): Dr Robert Martin Anderson (New South Wales), Dr Michael Wallace Birrell (Victoria) and Dr Elizabeth Anne Carew-Reid (Victoria).
THE BALINT SOCIETY – HELPING DOCTORS
The Balint Society of Australia has been operating for nearly three years. Through its Balint groups, the society allows doctors to explore the human side of medicine, help doctors to deal with their most challenging patients and prevent burn-out by focussing on the psychological aspects of general practice, and particularly the doctor-patient relationship. Click here to find out more.