Latest wins: President and CEO update - February 2025
They say time flies when you’re having fun, and February is certainly racing by. This month, we have already secured several wins including payroll tax certainty for all practices, the launch of the Open Hospitals portal and a funding boost for Surgery Connect.
This month, AMA Queensland has secured several wins for Queensland doctors, patients and the community. Most notably, our continued advocacy against payroll tax saw the QRO issue updated guidance for non-GP specialists, providing businesses with clarity and assurance.
We also welcomed the launch of the Open Hospitals portal and funding boost for Surgery Connect and continue to seek to work with the government to ensure these initiatives are effective in the long-term.
RECENT WINS
Payroll tax certainty for all medical practices
On Thursday 23 January, AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim appeared before a parliamentary committee inquiry into the Revenue Legislation Bill 2024 and spoke to the need to extend payroll tax exemption certainty to non-GP specialists.
The parliamentary committee recommended the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) issue clear and updated guidance about existing exemptions that may apply to non-GP specialists.
It also recommended the QRO confirm whether GP practices need to complete the onerous disclosure obligations currently required under the amnesty.
Less than three weeks after the inquiry, the QRO wrote to AMA Queensland with updated guidance on the amnesty and links to information about existing exemptions that may apply to non-GP specialists.
Doctors and practice owners have been struggling to clarify what they must do under payroll tax laws and the QRO’s amnesty, and this updated guidance will help these businesses know where they stand.
We are disappointed the committee did not simplify payroll tax for all medical practices and will continue to advocate for inclusion of non-GP specialists.
Surgery Connect funding boost
On Tuesday 11 February, the state government announced a $100 million investment in Surgery Connect.
We commend the government for taking a step towards stabilising Queensland’s growing elective surgery wait lists in line with the recommendations in our Surgical Wait List Roundtable Action Plan.
However, fundamental reform of how hospitals are run and funded remains crucial to ensure all Queenslanders have equitable access.
One of our short-term recommendations was to clear the elective surgery backlog by increasing outpatient surgical activity through programs like Surgery Connect, but this must be implemented with our long-term recommendations to ensure wait lists are not only stabilised but reduced.
We continue to urge the government to implement the rest of our recommendations to reduce wait times and ensure no Queenslander is suffering from inequitable access to essential care.
Satellite hospital name change and consultation
Following AMA Queensland advocacy, the Queensland Government conducted a survey seeking more appropriate name alternatives for satellite hospitals, aiming to reduce confusion around their services offered.
The clinical advisory group established to consider the survey results supported the survey’s overwhelming recommendation to call the facilities Satellite Health Centres.
This decision is one step towards ensuring all Queenslanders can access timely, essential health care services. We hope it will reduce some of the confusion surrounding their services and minimise fragmentation of care.
However, we must continue with a public education campaign to eliminate the risk of people with life threatening conditions presenting to these health centres.
In addition to the name change, AMA Queensland will be working with Queensland Health to provide input to their evaluation of the facilities.
If the government does not work with local practitioners, the facilities will continue to risk confusing patients, poaching staff and duplicating existing services.
We will use the evaluation to share our members’ perspectives on satellite hospitals with the goal of mitigating these risks.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Real time emergency department data
The state government’s launch of its Open Hospitals portal is a welcome first step in modernising our health system.
AMA Queensland has urged the government to introduce such a model for years, including in our Ambulance Ramping Roundtable and Surgical Wait List Roundtable Action Plans.
We cannot improve hospital performance and patients cannot make informed decisions about when and where to seek treatment without transparent and up-to-date information.
Real-time data also has the potential to allow clinicians to better manage hospital resources, diverting them where they are needed most.
However, the portal still has a long way to go if it is going to provide a full picture of the situation in our hospitals at any given moment in time.
Our members have advised us of some frustrations faced by emergency department doctors and patients, including that the capturing of data currently does not reflect the patient's journey.
Patients are presenting to EDs expecting wait times to accord with that on the website and are getting increasingly agitated with ED staff when they wait longer.
This is why we need real-time bed availability data that is integrated with the relevant systems and other key metrics like the number of patient presentations and discharges.
We look forward to working with the government to expand the metrics and other information available in the portal so it can truly help transform our health system for the future.
Nurse-led clinics inadequately funded
Queensland Health has advised that a rapid review of its nurse-led walk-in clinics revealed they are not adequately funded to operate during the hours and with the staff announced by the former government.
Nurses are an integral part of general practice multidisciplinary teams which are proven to provide the highest quality, best practice care for patients.
However, AMA Queensland has always been concerned that these clinics risk fragmenting patient care and robbing existing primary care services of their essential staff.
The department advised it will now undertake relevant industrial processes, including consultation on business cases for change, to help the clinics operate within the approved funding envelope.
AMA Queensland will update members as more details are provided by Queensland Health.
FOUNDATION
Medical Student Scholarships
The AMA Queensland Foundation offers its annual Medical Student Scholarships to financially disadvantaged students studying an MBBS course or equivalent at a university in Queensland.
Applications are open for 2025, and we encourage all students seeking support to continue studying and achieve their dream of becoming a doctor to apply.
Scholarships of $10,000 paid in two equal instalments will be awarded to up to three students this year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AMA Queensland has a range of upcoming events this year for every doctor at every stage of their career.
If you're looking for a career change, new opportunities or advice, come along to our 2025 Medical Careers Expo. Meet with a selection of colleges, hospitals and private operators regarding medical career pathways and get your questions answered.
Junior doctors! Join us on the Fraser Coast for this year’s Junior Doctor Conference and discover the professional and lifestyle opportunities awaiting you! Hear from inspiring doctors who have walked in your shoes, make friends and meet important contacts.
Join AMA Queensland and the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association (ASADA) for our engaging and inspiring one-day Senior Doctor Conference tailored to senior active and retired doctors this August.
We invite all members to the biggest black-tie gala for doctors this year - our Dinner for the Profession. Join us in your coolest attire at Brisbane's hottest new venue, The Star Brisbane, nestled at the heart of the multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct.
Are you thinking about travelling overseas this year? Join us for our Annual Conference 2025 in Vancouver, Canada to earn CPD points and learn key issues facing the profession while immersed in a unique tourism destination.
We can't wait to see you at one of our 2025 events!
