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President's message
On 1 July 2020, I took on the role as President at the Medical Council of NSW. Now, two years on, as is our customary process, it is time to step down as President to make way for continued change and evolution within the regulation space.
When I took on this role, I recognised the importance of keeping the public safe, and doing so, with a deep respect for our colleagues. This meant open and honest communication. I am incredibly proud of what I have been able to achieve with the support, advice and tireless efforts of Council members and Medical Council staff who took this on board and implemented changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing processes. A big part of this was to increase the transparency of such processes, a move I hope will allow the profession to place the same trust in the Council as a regulator as our patients place in us each day.
A new President will be announced on 1 July following the endorsement of the NSW Health Minister, and I am confident you will be in capable hands.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter which explores the professional implications of social media, mandatory notifications and includes our most recent podcast on informed consent.
Thank you for your support,
Dr John Sammut
President
Medical Council of NSW
New podcast: informed consent
Podcast team (L to R): Professor Ian Kerridge, Matt Summerhill, Professor Cameron Stewart, Dr Martine Walker and Dr Annette Pantle
In our latest podcast, we discuss informed consent: What is it? Why is it such an important part of delivering safe and high-quality health care? And what can you do to make sure the patient has given it to you before starting a treatment, referral or investigation?
You can get this episode and other future episodes delivered to your inbox by subscribing via Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can also catch up on any episodes you’ve missed on our show page.
10 things you must know about mandatory reporting (and they're not necessarily what you think!)
The possibility of being the subject of a mandatory report is one many in the profession fear, but the system is not intended to be intimidating or punitive. This article explains how this fear should never be a barrier to receiving help and why mandatory notification laws exist.
Social media: the ins and outs of maintaining a social presence
What is a doctor to do when their personal and professional reputation are heavily intertwined? How does social media affect this and why does what you post on socials affect the entire profession? We explore this and provide practical advice on how to meet your regulatory obligations.
Spotlight on: Counselling interviews
Exploring what matters most to your patients is crucial to reducing the incidence of complaints and claims. Implementing shared decision-making (SDM) is essential to enabling a patient’s preferences to be incorporated into a consultation – improving patient knowledge, risk perception, accuracy, and patient-clinician communication.
News bites
2022 Rural GPs conference
NSW Rural Doctors Network is excited to announce that registration for the 2022 Rural GPs Conference is now open! This popular event for rural doctors and medical students will be held face-to-face from 24-27 November at the Crowne Plaza Sydney Coogee Beach and online on Rural Health Pro. The conference will include clinical and non-clinical lectures and workshops, a range of social events, and a partner and children's program. It will be accredited with RACGP and ACRRM.
Do you have a passion for rural health?
Rural Health Pro is your link to a network of healthcare professionals across Australia who are passionate about keeping rural communities healthy.
This online community is free to join and offers access to curated news, information, support, career opportunities, training resources, funding opportunities and events on demand.
‘Taking care’ – safe healthcare for our LGBTQIA+ communities podcasts
Ahpra have recently published two podcasts focused on ensuring safe health care and sharing the healthcare experiences of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.
'Practitioners providing safe healthcare for our LGBTQIA+ communities’ features clinical neuropsychologist Dr Judy Tang and clinical psychologist Dr Lee Cubis discussing the changes that are necessary to ensure patient safety and equal access for all.
Two voices from LGBTIQA+ communities’, Jasper and Toby, share their healthcare experiences.
You can send us an email if you have a particular comment or suggestion about this edition or you can have your say via our anonymous survey which is open all year round.
