Bed shortage at New Children's Hospital confirmed

An independent review on bed numbers at the new children's hospital has raised fresh concerns about the capacity of the hospital. 

The review found that bed numbers in the new hospital have been based on flawed projections that could underestimate birth numbers by as much as 65 per cent per year.

The review mirrors the findings of the AMA (WA), which has been lobbying the State Government to add an extra floor to the children's hospital over the past 10 months. 

AMA (WA) President Dr Richard Choong has said that it is not too late for the State Government to future-proof the hospital, and that there is still time for an extra floor to be added.

For more on this report, please click here.  

Understanding your conditions of employment – 2013 AMA Industrial Agreements explained

The Australian Medical Association (WA) negotiates a number of industrial agreements for Salaried Medical Practitioners. These agreements prescribe salary and conditions of employment.

The AMA is providing you with an opportunity to know and understand your entitlements in accordance with the relevant Industrial Agreement.

If you have any specific queries or issues you would like discussed at the seminar, please submit these by email to either Clare Francis (Doctors in Training) or Marcia Kuhne (Senior Salaried Practitioners). Please submit these at least 48 hours before the event to allow sufficient time for review.

Attendees will also be provided with information about dealing with Health Corporate Network and making claims to ensure that entitlements are received.

Interaction for questions and answers will be encouraged throughout the presentation.

The FREE seminar is only for members of the AMA. Places are strictly limited.

Please register online through the links below.

Salaried Agreement Overview for Senior Medical Practitioners - Understanding your Conditions of Employment

Salaried Agreement Overview for Doctors in Training - Understanding your Conditions of Employment

Privacy Law Reforms

On 12 March 2014, changes under the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 (Cth), which amends the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), come into effect.

The existing 10 National Privacy Principles (NPPs) will be replaced by 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), designed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals in a fairer and more transparent manner.

To find out more about these changes, including how they may affect you, please click here. 

AMA Q campaign to stop unfair contracts

The Queensland Government is currently trying to force Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) to sign draconian contracts that will strip doctors of their rights, workplace conditions and entitlements.

These contracts are unfair, unbalanced and are causing undue stress, pressure, and anger among our medical colleagues in Queensland.

The Federal AMA is doing everything in its power to help these doctors win back their workplace rights by working with AMA Queensland and other entities on a major campaign to win fair and balanced contracts for Queensland SMOs.

The AMA (WA) endorses the AMAQ position not to sign the proposed individual contracts offered to Senior Medical Officers in Queensland.  We take this position because the contracts offered represent a significant reduction in terms and conditions of employment which have been negotiated and earned over a long period of time.

We encourage members to contact the WA office with any concerns or comments about the Queensland situation.

For more information from the Federal AMA on this matter, please click here. 

AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner - book now!

Bookings are now open for the AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner and Awards Night to be held on Saturday 7 June at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Please join us for a magical night of celebration, entertainment and prizes.

For all queries or to reserve your table at the dinner, contact Liz Gray direct on 9273 3027 or via email.

Doctors face fines over online patient testimonials

From 17 March this year, doctors could face fines of up to $5000 if patients leave a comment on the quality of the clinical care they received on social media or any website once they become aware of them. 

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's (AHPRA) latest advertising guidelines state that unless doctors take steps to delete comments on clinical care left by patients on social media, (or notify a website to take down comments), they could be fined. AHPRA has specified that only online comments  where a patient discusses non-clinical matters will be acceptable.

The guidelines can be found here.

OTDNET applications now open

Are you an overseas trained doctor looking to attain specialist registration as a General Practitioner in Australia?

The OTDNET Sub-program B is designed to help overseas trained doctors (OTDs) with General or Limited Registration, who are working in a general practice environment, prepare to undertake the required assessments of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) or the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Delivered over a twelve month time frame, the program is specifically designed to:

• Enhance your clinical and communication skills
• Prepare you for sitting your Fellowship examination.

Applications for the 2014 intake are now open, closing Sunday 23 March 2014.

For more information and to apply click here, or contact WAGPET.

Nominations for 2014 AMA (WA) Awards now open

The AMA (WA) is calling for nominations of medical professionals who have made a significant contribution to medicine.

The award will be judged by an independent panel, with the winner being presented with the prestigious 'Hippo' prize at the AMA (WA) Awards Dinner, to be held on Saturday 7 June 2014.

Nominations are invited from all sectors of the medical profession. It is expected that nominees will have demonstrated a tireless dedication to either the service of others, their chosen fields, or be a pioneer in the health and medical research sector.

Past winners include Prof Alex Cohen, Dr Michael McCall, Prof Bryant Stokes and Prof Fiona Wood.

Nominations close Monday 28 April 2014.

To nominate an individual for this award, please send the completed nomination form with a summary of your nominee's achievements and contributions to Liz Gray.

Junior Doctor of the Year 2014

Nominations for this prestigious annual award will open Monday 31 March 2014.

The AMA (WA) Junior Doctor of the Year (Dr Camille Michener Legacy Award) recognises the significant and outstanding contributions of our Doctors in Training to the medical profession and the community in areas such as teaching and education; leadership and advocacy; and doctor’s wellbeing and community service. The Award establishes a fitting legacy to the memory of Dr Camille Michener who is remembered as a staunch advocate and benevolent friend, well-liked and respected by all who knew her.

Nominations will close effective Friday 2 May 2014 and the winner will be announced at the AMA (WA) Awards and Charity Dinner on Saturday 7 June 2014.

So start thinking about who you will nominate for this Award to ensure that we continue to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our Doctors in Training to the medical profession and the community. For further information please contact Clare Francis.

Rural Australia anxiously awaits urgent fix for flawed classification system

The AMA and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have jointly called on the Federal Government to urgently replace the Australian Standard Geographic Classification - Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system, saying it continues to make it extremely difficult for many small rural towns to recruit and retain much-needed doctors.

For more on this report, please click here. 

First AMA Council of General Practice meeting for 2014 held

The AMA Council of General Practice held its first meeting for 2014 over the 22-23 February weekend. The Council considered the AMA’s position on a number of significant GP issues including:

Proposal for a co-payment for GP visits and GP financing more generally;

• Medical deputising services and the existing AMA position statement;
• The future role of primary health care organisations in Australia;
• Teaching in general practice and how it can be better supported; and
• The benefits of integrating pharmacists into general practice.

Protect your biggest financial asset: your income

Can you afford NOT to have Income Protection? Although most people think it won’t happen to them, sickness and accidents do happen, and affect almost all of us.

The good news is that there are solutions available that can cover you when an adverse event prevents you from working.

Most Income Protection policies will allow you to choose the waiting period – i.e. the time after which your benefits start being paid to you. This varies from two weeks to five years, depending on how long you estimate you can support yourself without an income. 

You can also choose the benefit period – i.e. the duration of time for which you are paid the benefit e.g. up to age 65. That means if you were unable to work from today due to sickness or injury, your policy would cover you up until the age of 65, if the same illness or injury persisted. 

You can opt for either an Agreed Value policy (by proving your current income) or an Indemnity policy (by proving the average of your income over the past 1-3 years).
Don’t leave yourself and your family financially vulnerable. Speak with Annette Hough at AMA Financial Services about the benefits and cost along with which policy is best for you.

More advice from AMA (WA)'s Financial Services team can be found in the upcoming edition of Medicus.

AMA (WA) Footy Tipping Competition

The AMA (WA) would like to invite you to join our AMA (WA) Members Footy Tipping Competition!

Joining is simple, just e-mail Joshua Hummerston to receive your official invite with a link to AMA WA Members Footy Tipping Competition.

Great Prizes including 2015 AMA (WA) Membership free of charge donated by AMA Financial Services.

Show your tipping skills and join today!

Any queries contact Josh Hummerston on 08 9273 3087 or via email.

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