Closure of Busselton operating theatres over tourist season 'could be life threatening'

A decision to shut operating theatres at Busselton's hospital during the peak tourist season could put lives at risk, AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller has said.  

Surgery theatres at the $120 million Busselton Health Campus will be shut for two months from late December so construction defects can be repaired.

"Busselton is a very big community and it's going to get a lot bigger over summer," Dr Miller said.

"There's going to be pregnant people who can, on occasion, need emergency caesarean sections in an unpredictable fashion and it's not acceptable that they're going to have to travel up to an extra hour to get to a hospital.

"In many circumstances an extra hour can be life threatening.

"The hospital needs to spend the money to make emergency facilities available."

For more on this report, please click here. 

Industrial Update: St John of God Health Care to reduce doctors’ conditions

The AMA (WA) has prepared an industrial update on doctors conditions at St John of God Midland Hospital. The update discusses the current state of negotiations with SJOG, the offer SJOG has put forward, and the AMA (WA)'s position on the offer. 

A full breakdown of the current state of negotiations is available here. 

WA Health Dept launches mosquito awareness campaign

The WA Department of Health (DoH) has recently launched a community awareness campaign about mosquitoes.

The campaign aims to provide individuals with relevant information on mosquito-borne disease and simple ways to prevent being bitten at home, on holiday in Australia and on holiday overseas.

There will be increased mosquito activity and a greater risk of mosquito-borne disease in Perth and the south-west over the coming months, and in the north of the State once the wet season gets underway.

General practitioners are a vital source of health-related information for patients. Therefore, a variety of resources have been made available to GPs, including brochures, posters and digital content, should you wish to incorporate Fight the Bite into the health information available in your clinic.

For more information, please click here. 

If you would like to request resources for your practice or be kept up to date on mosquito-borne disease in WA, please contact Dr Abbey Potter at medical.entomology@health.wa.gov.au.

AMA (WA) commences membership renewal

2016 has seen some major changes to the healthcare sector in WA, with significant impact on WA doctors. Your support is vital to ensure that we continue to advocate on your behalf. 

Your 2017 membership invoice has now been sent and we invite you to renew at this time. For your convenience online membership renewal can be completed here. 

Choose the convenience of paying by monthly direct debit (at no additional cost) before 31 December 2016 and receive a $50 AMA (WA) Medical Products Voucher (to spend by 30 June 2017).

Thank you for your continued support of the AMA (WA) and we look forward to an exciting year ahead.

Changes in Meningococcal Disease Incidence in WA

Meningococcal disease caused by serogroup W strains is increasing in WA and elsewhere in Australia, although the overall incidence of disease in WA remains at historically low levels, with around 20 cases notified per year.

Compared to serogroup B disease, the emerging serogroup W strains are associated with higher case fatality, have a relatively higher incidence in older adults, and are more likely to have atypical clinical presentations, including septic arthritis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, epiglottitis, and abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

All suspected or confirmed cases of meningococcal disease should be notified immediately to the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (9388 4852 or after hours: 9328 0553) or in regional areas to the local Public Health Unit.
 

For more information, please click here.  

Tougher stance on tobacco welcomed: AMA (WA)

The Australian Medical Association (WA) has congratulated the State Government for taking strong action to further cut smoking rates in WA.

“Last week's announcement is a positive one for health in our great state, especially for the healthy future of young people,” AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller said.

“As Health Minister Day has said, we have seen smoking rates of those under 16 years fall from 16 per cent in 2004 to nine per cent.

"The latest proposals will cut this rate further,” he said.

“While the proposed legislated changes are welcome, we must not forget that these have taken far too long to be considered and announced. In many ways these will only bring us up to the standards of other states.

For more information, please click here. 

AMA Recruit – General Practice Opportunities

AMA Recruit are working with Practices who have opportunities for GPs in WA and nationally, in a wide range of practice settings. If you’re looking to move, contact the team and they’ll work with you to find the role that you’re looking for.

Our relaunched website includes job listing, as well as additional capacities to set up a job alert. 

For more information contact us via email or on (08) 9273 3000.

NUUBO: Wearable Medical Technology Continuous ECG For Up To 60 Days

Patients suffering infrequent cardiac arrhythmia and cryptogenic stroke can now be monitored for 60 days and longer, increasing the probability of an accurate diagnosis thanks to Nuubo, the revolutionary wireless technology. 

Nuubo provides a new perspective on remote and wireless cardiac monitoring. The nECG PLATFORM enables capture of ECG in dynamic environments continuously and non-invasively through an innovative system that is based on next-generation biomedical textiles.

Furthermore, the system can be used simultaneously with one or more patients.

For more information, please click here. 

 

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