Hospital Health Check 2019 survey open

The Hospital Health Check (HHC) is the annual survey of issues affecting Doctors in Training (DiTs) in WA from working conditions and wellbeing, to career path and education. It is designed for all levels of DiTs – from Interns to Fellows with improved questions from previous years, catered to each level to find out what you want and need for your medical career and life.

Now a nationwide initiative, the HHC started in WA in 2015 developed by the Co-Chairs of the Doctors in Training Committee. Previous years Hospital Health Checks have been the turning points for DiTs on a number of issues including increasing transparency and access to Annual Leave, increasing access to Professional Development Leave, increasing access to Flexible Working hours, Highlighting the poor morale at PMH which triggered the CAHS review.

Have your voice heard today: complete the survey online now.

Promised health investment not good enough

The recent Labor Party announcement on health infrastructure is a very disappointing start to the election campaign.

“A billion dollars across the whole of Australia through to 2025 is little more than a drop in the ocean,” AMA (WA) President Dr Omar Khorshid said.

“Despite $8 billion in infrastructure spending over recent years, WA still has the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the country and many of those hospital facilities are well past their use-by dates.”

To continue reading, please visit the AMA (WA) website. 

State Government to fund adult measles vaccination program

Earlier this week, the State Government announced the funding for an adult measles vaccination program at a cost of almost $100,000 a year. 

The measles vaccine will be offered free to people aged between 20 and their early 50s – or those born after 1965 – who may have lost their immunity. AMA (WA) President, Dr Omar Khorshid, spoke on 6PR urging people to take up the offer of the free vaccination. 

Medicus feature – calling on all doctors to share their stories

The upcoming April edition of Medicus will focus on the important issue of a fragmented health system and training regime and its impact on doctors in training.

Under the Health Services Act 2016, there are now eight separate employers in the WA Health System. This means that the issues faced by DiTs as they move between employers in the private sector/interstate are now being encountered by those moving within the WA public sector itself. Issues faced include loss of industrial entitlements and access to leave (annual, long-service, PDL), amongst others.
 

The WA Health System is NOT supportive of recognising industrial entitlements and prior service – DiTs lose prior service and accrued entitlements, or have entitlements paid out, often for very short breaks in service that are either necessary for their training, or at least are critical to their development as a doctor.
 

We are therefore looking for doctors who have been affected in such a way – have you lost any entitlements, been unable to access PDL or retain your sick leave?
 

We would like to share your experiences as part of our cover story for Medicus - even anonymously if you so wish.
 

Please contact Janine Martin if you would like to share your experiences.

Health & Medical Research & Innovation Delegation to Israel

Monday 27 May to Sunday 2 June 2019

The Australian-Israel Chamber of Commerce as well as leaders from Western Australia’s health and medical organisations invite you to join them to experience first-hand how and why the tiny country of Israel has become a global leader in Health and Medical research and innovation. Being led by the Hon. Roger Cook MLA, The Director General, Health Dr David Russell-Weisz and The Chief Scientist of WA, Professor Peter Klinken, this is an exciting opportunity for professionals working within the health and medical sectors interested in learning from the innovative start-up nation of Israel.

Meet some of the key players and thought leaders in government policy development, venture capital, technology transfer organisations, hospital administration, start-ups and medical researchers, amongst others.

For further information to express your interest in attending, please visit the AMA (WA) website. 

Don't forget to nominate a Junior Doctor of the Year

The Junior Doctor of the Year Award was inaugurated in 2010 and acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Junior Doctors in areas such as:

• Teaching and Education
• Leadership and Advocacy
• Doctors' Wellbeing
• Community Service

The Award has been developed in recognition of the significant contribution to the Medical Profession and the Community that was made by Dr Camille Michener. Camille was an exceptional practitioner and achieved more in her 30 short years than many would in a life much longer. Camille will be remembered as an outstanding doctor, a staunch advocate, dedicated AMA (WA) member and benevolent friend, well-liked and respected by all who knew her.

Find out more about the criteria for the Award, the nomination process and online nomination form at http://camille.amawa.com.au/ alternatively download the entry/nomination form.

Nominations close at 4:30pm, Monday 15 April 2019.

General Practitioner Job | Bunbury

AMA Recruit are currently seeking a General Practitioner to join a successful, GP-led Practice in Bunbury. 

• The practice has excellent facilities, especially treatment and procedure rooms;
• This is a WAGPET practice with a strong, ongoing passion for GP training;
• The practice inputs significant, ongoing investment in high quality staff and facilities. 

For further information or to apply, please visit the AMA Recruit website. 

Alternatively, for more information on this or upcoming work opportunities, please contact Dave Bell at AMA Recruit on 9273 3096 or dave.bell@amawa.com.au. 

Clinical Governance in WA’s Mental Health System

The 2018 Review of Safety and Quality in the WA health system recommended that there was an urgent need to simplify and clarify organisational arrangements supporting effective clinical governance of mental health services.  Consequently, WA Health is conducting an independent review into the clinical governance of public mental health services in Westerns Australia.  The Clinical Governance Review will focus on:

• Defining the current clinical governance structures
• Lack of clarity / gaps / duplication
• Fragmentation / Interface
• Effectiveness
• Support for quality improvement and innovation
• Learning culture
• Opportunities for clinical governance improvement / reform

The AMA (WA) encourages clinicians to provide feedback to the Review by completing the Review survey online now. 

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