GP Consult: Your regular news from CGP

It’s a great honour to take on the role of Chair of the AMA SA Committee of General Practice (CGP).

As a long-time member of the CGP, it was extremely satisfying as President of AMA SA to ensure the issues and challenges confronting general practice are front of mind when national and local AMA policy and commentary are debated.

Now, with my term complete, I can turn my focus back to ‘GP land’ – honed by a much deeper understanding of the health system and a more extensive network of colleagues and contacts to call on when we need them.

In taking on the role, I must thank Dr Bridget Sawyer, who held this role for seven years. Bridget’s commitment to her GP colleagues was only one of the reasons I bestowed upon her the AMA SA President’s Award at the AMA SA Gala on 28 June. But it exemplifies her dedication to our profession and her patients.

_{Dr Bridget Sawyer, recipient of the President’s Award, with Dr John Williams at the AMA SA Reimagine Gala in 28 June.}

I’m pleased to say Bridget is remaining on the CGP. In doing so, she is among a group of GPs who bring to our regular meetings strong knowledge and everyday experience of what it means to be a GP in South Australia right now. We are also a group of medical professionals with individual interests and passions that guarantee our meetings feature evidence-based and often robust debate – and are never boring.

As an update, our members are:

• Dr Bridget Sawyer 
• Dr Alex Main
• Dr Adam Overweel
• Dr Andrew Kellie
• Dr Chris Bollen
• Dr Johanna Kilmartin
• Dr John Williams (Chair)
• Dr Mark Ralfe
• Dr Seshu Boda
• Mr Syme Aftab 
• Dr Jessica Donaghue 
• Dr Lara Franklin 
• Dr Geeta Trehan.

Our President, A/Prof Peter Subramaniam, and CEO Nicole Sykes also attend CGP meetings as ex-officio members.

One of our priorities in the first half of 2025 has been CGP input into the AMA SA Access to Care Round Table. As explained by our Councillor and Board member Dr Emily Kirkpatrick in medicSA, this event illuminated the role of general practice in caring for our patients in their homes and communities and minimising their need for hospital care. Our initial recommendations are now with Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton and SA Health, but they are only the first step in developing systems and practices that we believe will bring real change.

Other topics the CGP is looking at include the impacts of frailty in the ageing and improving public communication about playing sport in extreme heat.

This is the first of what will be regular e-newsletters to our GP members from the CGP in the coming months. We’re hoping to provide updates on our projects and issues that confront us in our practices. If you have thoughts about topics for this newsletter, or concerns you wish us to address in our meetings, please contact me. Our voice is amplified when you join us.

Yours in good health
John

Contact John