AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller was supportive of the WA Government’s handling of the border arrangements scheduled to take effect on 8 December.

Speaking at a press conference at the AMA (WA) office yesterday, Dr Miller was responding to news of an infected hotel quarantine worker in Sydney, which has affected the planned relaxation of travel restrictions.

The AMA (WA) President said he trusted the judgement of the WA Chief Health Officer to provide the correct advice and said it was better to get settings right than face the consequences of an outbreak.

However, Dr Miller was very concerned about arrangements for hotel quarantine, particularly the employment arrangements for workers who might be working between different health facilities or in other sectors.

“We don't care how much it costs, we don't care what you have to offer these workers, but please just make it safer than it seems to be,” he said.

The recent announcement by the State Government that Peel Health Campus would be moved to public ownership from 2023 prompted the AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller to remind the Government it was obliged to discuss the transition process with the doctors’ peak body under the terms of the current industrial agreement.

The Government has signalled the 890 Ramsay Health Care staff would have the opportunity to move to the public sector, employed by the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), and retain their prior service, long service leave and paid parental leave entitlements.

“However, the devil is always in the detail and we would need to look very carefully at these arrangements to ensure patients and healthcare workers at Peel are not being disadvantaged in this process.

“Unfortunately, SMHS was one of the worst performers in our 2020 Hospital Health Check survey of junior medical staff, and its cultural problems stand in contrast to privately-operated facilities such as Joondalup, where Ramsay has shown a relatively high regard for its medical staff.

“In every category, our doctors in training indicated SMHS is in crisis. That included morale and culture, teaching and training, rosters, overtime and payslips, wellbeing and leave.”

The AMA (WA) President said the contracts senior doctors would be employed under would need close attention.

The immediacy of the climate emergency has prompted a joint statement by the Australian Medical Association (WA) and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA).

The Climate Health WA Inquiry Final Report, just released by the State Government, represents a significant step towards the health sector addressing its own contributions to the climate crisis and leading steps to reduce its footprint, according to the AMA (WA) and DEA.

“The health sector contributes 7 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions. As the first statutory inquiry anywhere in the world focused on the health impacts of climate change, the Climate Health WA Inquiry Final Report is a powerful call to action; it has strong, actionable recommendations and is a bold move toward net zero emissions in WA,” DEA WA Chair Dr Emma-Leigh Synnott said.

AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller said everyone had a responsibility to act on climate change, including doctors.

“We can’t just call for government action; we have to show what we are prepared to do ourselves,” Dr Miller said.

There is no doubt that 2020 has been a year of uncertainty and disruption for both our community and our profession, which has impacted the way we work, network and continue our professional development.

The Australian Medical Association (WA) is keen to bring the WA medical community together in 2021. We have initiated conversations with all colleges and plan to hold a multi-college conference that will provide WA doctors with unique education and training opportunities.

To ensure that the proposed program meets your needs, we would be grateful if you could complete a brief survey. All completed surveys received by 4pm Friday 11 December 2020 will go into the draw to win a Fitbit Versa 2.

The perception that anyone working in the medical profession is likely to be financially secure is not always true. For this reason, the AMA Benevolent Fund of WA was established many years ago so that members and their families could have the benefit of added financial support in times of need. The fund has come to the aid of several families since being established and provided much-needed financial security during very difficult times.

In many cases, these difficult times come when people least expect it. Recently, a doctor was removing a fish hook from a patient’s hand one minute and then found herself in the emergency department the next - unable to work again for the next six months. It could happen to anyone at any time.

To that end, we are calling on AMA (WA) members to make a contribution toward the AMA Benevolent Fund of WA to ensure that we are in a position to help. Your support is gratefully received and all contributions are tax deductible.

For further details, please click here

AMA Recruit - a medical administration staffing recruitment business owned by the AMA (WA), recently welcomed Ruth Lawless to the team as a recruitment consultant. Ruth brings with her over 15 years of industry experience, having worked extensively with medium to large-scale not-for-profit organisations.

Ruth will play a pivotal role in identifying, sourcing and recruiting the right candidates for your medical practice. Her knowledge and experience in the medical staffing sector and outstanding organisational skills will make the entire recruitment process a seamless and positive one.

Whether you‘re  in need of temp, casual or permanent staff, you can contact Ruth to discuss your requirements on (08) 9273 3000.

The AMA (WA) congratulates Dr Denise Sullivan who has been named this year's winner of the prestigious Dr Bob Elphick Medal.

Dr Sullivan has made an outstanding contribution to tobacco control in Western Australia, having been a critical figure in program and policy development here and nationally, for over 25 years. 

The prestigious honour was awarded at a breakfast held by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) at Matilda Bay Restaurant today.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is the regulator of Life companies in Australia. APRA has determined that the Income Protection polices currently available via financial advisers are too generous in their terms and conditions, with claims paid far exceeding the insurance premiums received over the past decade.

For this reason, the way that policies are offered to clients will change in the future. APRA will force insurers to stop offering these types of policies to new clients after 30 June 2021.

However, Income Protection policies in place before this date will be able to retain their coverage without any changes to the policy wording, until the policies expire (typically when you turn 65), assuming you retain the policy

Applications are now open for the 2021 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship, a program that has supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study medicine since 1994.

Applicants must be currently enrolled at an Australian medical school, have successfully completed their first year of medicine, and be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. Applications will close on 31 January next year.

The 2020 recipient will be announced next month.

Further information and the application form is at www.ama.com.au/about/indigenous-medical-scholarship

The AMA (WA)'s 2020 End of Year Soiree SOLD OUT in record time!

The event will be held at the Old Pickle Factory and will feature the annual AMA (WA) Awards The Dr Camille Michener Legacy Award for Junior Doctor of the Year, The AMA (WA) President’s Award and The AMA (WA) Hippocrates Award.

A friendly reminder that the next Doctors in Training Committee meeting will be held on Monday 14 December 2020 at 6.30pm at the AMA (WA) offices and online via Zoom.

Agenda items received to date are:
- NMHS Mental Health;
- SNAP teams at SCGH;
- Meeting day for 2021;
- PathWest registrar contracts; and 
- Registrar shortages at FSH.

All other items are welcomed. Please email them to dit@amawa.com.au by COB 10 December 2020.