Council communiqué - May 2023

Dear Members

The AMA Queensland Council met on 11 May 2023.  I would like to thank all Councillors for volunteering their time to represent the membership and support the advocacy work of AMA Queensland.

Metro North Virtual Emergency Department

Dr Kim Hansen provided history on the Virtual Emergency Department (VED). Funding for Metro North was approved in November 2019 and the Director commenced in January 2022.  Initially set up for Metro North only, it was identified that the service needed to extend to patients beyond Metro North postcodes.  The service is now seeing patients from all over Queensland.  In 2023 the Virtual Emergency Department has expanded to take police watchhouse calls and 13health patient referrals. Staffing is very lean and they are operating seven days per week 8am-10pm.

Patients can make bookings through the Virtual Emergency Department (ED) - Metro North Health website. Clinicians can use the website to communicate with the emergency physician.

IMG Working Group 

The IMG Working Group portrayed three major concerns - orientation, workplace and training issues.  Council approved approaching and writing to Queensland Health to advocate for the implementation of its recommendations for IMGs in training. 

The letter recommends to Queensland Health's Director General to support IMGs in training.  The survey feedback is included to support the letter with the message that IMGs are a critical solution for workplace shortages, recruitment and retention.  The letter encourages a focus on streamlining process, awareness of visa processing and orientating IMGs to the health system.  It is recognised that training issues are more complex and that processes for approval are lengthy.  Material needs to be developed to support IMGs.

Read a copy of the AMA Queensland letter to Queensland Health.

Implementation of Health and Wellbeing measures for junior doctors 

The Committee of Doctors in Training (CDT) identified the need to provide awareness and to encourage change for doctors in training who are particularly susceptible to psychosocial hazards, in order to help mitigate a number of factors impacting their wellbeing.  

Council approved to write to all Hospital and Health Services regarding the implementation of measures of the Hospital and Health Board Act of 2011 to support the wellbeing of DITs.

This included communicating short-term, practical goals as well as some long-term aspirational goals in the letter to encourage implementing and coordinating changes.  The long-term focus is on recruitment and retention to keep DITs in their chosen craft.  

Read a copy of the AMA Queensland letter to Health and Hospital Services.

President's report

President Dr Maria Boulton highlighted in her report continued issues facing the profession, including:

• Voluntary patient enrolment (VPE) - Medicare announcement suggests that this will allow for a better patient and usual GP link.
• Payroll tax – AMA Queensland continues to meet with Queensland Revenue for clarification of what is considered payroll exempt. Whilst the amnesty expires in 2025, we will continue to lobby for exemption. Maternity services - a taskforce has been set up to improve recruitment of obstetricians in central and rural Queensland.
• Digital Accreditation Passport is going to proceed.
• Workforce plan will go to parliament soon but needs to cover both public and private practice.
• Premier has announced incentives to come and work in Queensland.
• Vaping- announcement by federal Health Minister to ban the retail sale of vapes.

Chief Executive Officer's report

CEO Brett Dale highlighted areas that AMA Queensland has supported, promoted and advocated for, on behalf of the medical profession in Queensland.

We welcome the new Chief Medical Officer, A/Prof Catherine McDougall, and we look forward to working with her.

Advocacy has been centred on:

• general practice payroll tax
• the NQ Pharmacy Pilot
• hospital logjam
• HHS accountability
• workforce
• drug law reform
• eHealth.

For more information, please head to our website to access AMA Queensland news, member updates, submissions and position statements. 

The AMA Queensland Q1 Scorecard is a quick guide to AMA Queensland's activities, achievements and advocacy efforts on behalf of Queensland members.  

Councillor reports 

Thank you to the following Councillors who provided reports:

• Dr Stephanie Dawson-Smith, Greater Brisbane Area Representative.
• Dr Kees Nydam, North Coast Area Representative.
• Dr Lisa Fraser, General Practice Representative.

On Friday 26 May 2023, AMA Queensland held its Annual General Meeting.  I would like to thank those Councillors who have completed their terms for their tireless efforts.  I would like to welcome our newly elected Councillors.

Our AMA Queensland Council for 2023-2024:

• Dr Hash Abdeen, Doctors in Training Representative 2022-24.
• Dr James Allen, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Antony Attokaran,   Specialist Representative 2022-24.
• Dr Sanjeev Bandi, Capricornia Area Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Venu Bhamidi, Gold Coast Area Representative 2022-24.
• Dr Sharmila Biswas, Part-time Medical Practitioner Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Kimberley Bondeson, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Maria Boulton, President 2023-24.
• Dr Emilia Dauway, IMG Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Stephanie Dawson-Smith, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2022-24.
• Dr Lisa Fraser, Far North Area Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Erica Gannon, Specialist Representative 2023-25.
• A/P Geoffrey Hawson, Senior Doctors Representative 2022-24.
• A/P Alka Kothari, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2022-24.
• Mr Lachlan McMillan, Medical Student Representative 2023-25.
• A/P Ewen McPhee, General Practice Representative 2023-25.
• A/P Cornelius (Kees) Nydam, North Coast Area Representative 2022-24.
• Dr Rachael O'Rourke, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2022-24.
• Dr Kathryn Panaretto, Specialist Representative 2023-25.
• Prof Chris Perry, Immediate Past President 2023-24.
• Dr Fiona Raciti, General Practice Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Sally Sojan, Downs & West Area Representative 2023-25.
• Dr Nicholas Yim (Chair), Vice President 2023-24.
• Dr Ben Wakefield, Greater Brisbane Area Representative 2023-25.

AMA Queensland Council is your representative body. Please feel free to contact me or any of your representative Councillors on any issues that you would like raised at Council. 

Read more information about our council members. 

Regards 

Dr Nicholas Yim

Chair, AMA Queensland Council