With an election coming up, the AMA (WA) is calling on the next Government to commit to changes in the health system to make WA safer and stronger. The health system has been struggling for some time, and that’s without a large COVID outbreak. Ambulance ramping is at an all-time high with patients spending more than 4,000 hours waiting for emergency care in January – a record likely to be smashed this month. Emergency departments are ill prepared to handle the normal influx of patients. Hospitals need more beds and more nurses, and we need a permanent medical workforce. Every other doctor in Australia has the opportunity to obtain permanent employment in the public system except WA.

The AMA (WA) is advocating and campaigning for the Government to fulfill a checklist of basic requirements to improve our health system. We need:
• to open 440 more public hospital beds
• permanent jobs for doctors
• to employ 500 more nurses
• the highest standard of PPE
• dedicated quarantine facilities
• a workable COVID response plan for aged care
• upgraded health workplace safety.

Register your support for our checklist, and at the election choose a political party that is committed to a safe, strong health system.

If you missed it, catch the AMA (WA) webinar on COVID vaccines on YouTube. Professor Paul Effler, Senior Medical Advisor at WA Health's Communicable Disease Control Directorate gives a thorough rundown on the two main vaccines, the design of the vaccines and other related issues. He explains the way the Pfizer vaccine works, how this probably represents the new age of vaccines, and how this differs from AstraZeneca, a non-replicating viral vector.

There are no additional safety concerns around administering the vaccine to people with anaphylaxis; however doctors need to watch people for 30 minutes if they have an allergy to one of the vaccine components.

The webinar explores efficacy of the vaccines, clinical trials and real-world data, using the example of Israel, the country that’s done the most vaccinations per capita. COVID vaccines is clearly a hot topic. The AMA (WA) received over 50 questions before the webinar and more during the webinar.

Members are invited to our International Women’s Day sundowner on Thursday 11 March. Enjoy drinks, nibbles and networking at Ambrose Estate with sweeping views of the gardens and golf course. Listen to speakers including Dr Carol Kaplanian, whose areas of expertise include gender-based violence, family violence in the migrant community, forced marriage, honour killing and child trafficking.

The AMA (WA) Foundation Charity Golf Day is on again and you’re invited – Friday 26 March at the Royal Perth Golf Club. Come along for a day of golf, networking and fundraising for the Dr YES program.

Our forums help interns and RMOs understand some of the nitty gritty issues around working at a hospital – pay slips, leave entitlements and managing workplace relationships. Open to members and non-members. One session remains:

17 March – Fiona Stanley Hospital Education Building, ground floor, G.1 lecture theatre.

The AMA (WA) and RACGP are seeking your input on the proposed St John Urgent Care centre in Mandurah – Thursday 4 March 2021, 6.30pm–8.00pm at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club. This is your chance to hear more about the planned centre, ask questions and provide feedback. More urgent care centres are planned for Cannington, Midland and Osborne Park.

Email lisette.jones@amawa.com.au for more information and to register.

Do you know how financially fit you are? In just 15 minutes, you can gain valuable insights by creating your own personalised Wealth Report and see how your finances stack up.

For more information, email advice@amafp.com.au or call AMA on 1800 262 346.

The WA Toxicology Service is seeing an increasing prevalence of nitrous oxide use in young people. This can result in significant morbidity including neurological impairment. There has been very little data on presentations, risk factors and management in such patients. To help raise awareness, they have produced a poster thats lists the clinical features to help alert clinicians.

The Cancer Council has launched five new episodes of its podcast, The Thing About Advanced Cancer, focused on supporting carers and families of people who are in their last months of life. The new set of episodes is hosted by well-known broadcaster and cancer survivor Julie McCrossin. Podcasts feature interviews with respected cancer experts covering the practical and emotional aspects of caring for people who are in their last months of life and have been designed to support the carers and families of these people. The episodes provide trustworthy information on important issues and are a valuable resource for health care professionals.