In Practice newsletter

The good GP never stops learning

The RACGP will launch the second phase of its ‘The good GP’ community awareness campaign next week.

The campaign will reflect the diversity of our profession and the amazing range of consultations that happen every day in Australia, highlighting and reinforcing how GPs are fundamental in the provision of quality patient-centred healthcare.

The RACGP has committed to this long-term campaign because members have told us, time and again, of their expectation for the RACGP to play a greater and more visible role in advocating for the profession. 

The campaign helps patients and the community understand the skills of a GP in the 21st century, and the RACGP’s role in supporting that skills base.

While the RACGP remains active in discussions with the Federal Government about matters related to general practice, many of those conversations happen behind closed doors.

Empowering our patients, communities and other critical stakeholders to better understand the work we do is vital to developing the effectiveness of the RACGP's advocacy efforts.

Member feedback from the first stage of the campaign was overwhelmingly positive and your constructive feedback has been taken into account in the development of this next phase. Independent research has also shown an increase in positive sentiment towards GPs from the public, as well as early signs of an improved understanding of the RACGP's role.

Thank you for your support so far. 

The RACGP will continue to do everything possible to improve recognition of the vital work GPs do day-in, day-out, and to ensure the voice of general practice is clearly heard across our communities and by decision makers.

Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President

RACGP Expert Committee chairs come together in Melbourne

The RACGP Expert Committee (REC) chairs met on Wednesday to discuss a range of issues and challenges currently facing the general practice profession, the health system, and patients.

Issues discussed included telehealth consultations, the role of pharmacists in general practice, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Atlas of Healthcare Variation, the RACGP Governance Review, the medical home (including voluntary patient enrolment and innovation in chronic disease management), and current Federal Government reviews, including the Primary Healthcare Advisory Group.

Actions and recommendations regarding the issues discussed will be considered and progressed by Council and the respective RECs at upcoming meetings. The first REC chairs meeting for 2016 will be on held Thursday 17 March.

No Jab, No Pay information for vaccination providers

The No Jab, No Pay legislation was passed on 23 November. As of 1 January 2016, only families that fully immunise their children, are on a recognised vaccination catch-up schedule, or have an approved medical exemption can receive family assistance payments such as the Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate, and the Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement. 

Vaccination objection will no longer be a valid exemption. Parents will maintain their right to choose whether or not to vaccinate their children.

The Department of Health Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, has written to vaccine providers detailing the catch-up vaccination arrangements and providing links to five new fact sheets to support conversations with vaccine-hesitant parents. 

From 1 January 2016, free vaccines will be available for children aged 10–19 who require catch-up under this policy. Vaccines for children younger than 10 are free under the National Immunisation Program.

Parents will be notified by Centrelink in the coming weeks if their child/children does not meet the immunisation requirements for family assistance payments. Parents will be advised to speak with their vaccination provider if their child requires catch-up vaccines.  

The fact sheets and further information are expected to be available on the Immunise Australia website by next week.

RACGP feedback poll – In Practice in 2016

The RACGP works hard to ensure In Practice delivers informative, relevant and timely RACGP and health news to your inbox each week. As we near the end of 2015, the RACGP is reviewing the newsletter’s format and would like your feedback. Have your say: please complete the below poll to inform the content and frequency of In Practice in 2016.

Read more RACGP national news.