29 July 2016


Access to equitable healthcare

Socioeconomic disadvantage has a profound impact on people’s health, and GPs are well aware of this phenomenon.

Getting the right balance between accessibility and the actual cost of a consultation is at the very core of our present health debate.

In 2015, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released its Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation, which suggested a complex interplay between patients’ local demographics, our systems and services, and differences between clinicians. Much more work is needed to understand the implications of this research for individual patients and our health system.

More recently, research from the Grattan Institute has reinforced the fact of huge variations in hospital admission rates, which can reflect socioeconomic status and where patients live.

Many of these hospital presentations are preventable, and prevention would reduce health costs. The current debate around health reflects a ‘whole of society’ problem. Where does general practice fit?

Primarily GPs see individual patients, but are increasingly involved at a community health level, advocating for health equality.

Preventive healthcare is embedded in every GP consultation and can help reduce morbidity while diminishing reliance on the necessary, but expensive, hospital system.

The RACGP has published the Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice (the Red Book) for more than 25 years. The latest edition of the Red Book provides practical advice for GPs on how to address prevention as a core activity, and will be launched at GP16.

We see nearly 90% of the Australian population annually: this gives us a unique insight into people’s lives and their health needs.

Equitable access and consistent quality care is critical. Whatever our future funding model looks like, there should never be a financial deterrent, especially for patients from the disadvantaged socioeconomic cohort who already tend to have worse health outcomes.

Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President


Convocation voting and comments open 1 August

The RACGP has received two item submissions from members for Convocation, which will be held during the GP16 Conference in Perth on Friday 30 September.

Convocation is an opportunity for RACGP members to raise matters of importance with other members, and inform Council about issues GPs consider important. Resolutions passed by Convocation are not binding on Council, however, all items passed by Convocation will be considered.

Members have the opportunity to vote and comment on the two submissions from Monday 1 August until 4.00 pm AEST Friday 19 August.


RACGP Oxygen and United Healthcare Group

RACGP Oxygen has announced an agreement to exclusively support Unified Healthcare Group (UHG) in its effort to streamline the exchange of medical information from GPs to third parties.

More than 20 million forms are completed by GPs every year, and UHG recently launched a solution that allows GPs to complete a smart electronic form within existing medical practice software and submit it securely in real-time to a third party. As part of the solution, an electronic copy of the form is stored automatically in the practice management system and a printed copy can be provided to the patient.

UHG introduced this solution to South Australian GPs earlier in the year, enabling them to securely transmit work capacity certificates directly to ReturnToWorkSA (RTWSA).


Member survey – have your say

The RACGP is continually looking for ways to improve member satisfaction. By completing the RACGP annual member survey, you are able to assist us in better meeting your needs.

The best answer to the final survey question: 'Why are you an RACGP member?' will win free registration to GP16 – the RACGP conference for general practice (valued at $1020*).

To complete the survey, refer to the link in the recent email from RACGP Membership. The survey will close 12.00 pm AEST Monday 1 August 2016.

*Terms and conditions apply.


RACGP Councillor (Board Director)

The RACGP is seeking to appoint a new Councillor to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a Director with the organisation. The RACGP is governed by a Council (Board) that, for this particular position, requires an additional person to be co-opted under the RACGP Constitution.

Please make your application directly to Paul Moloney, General Manager Human Resources, RACGPvia email at paul.moloney@racgp.org.au or directly via phone to (03) 8699 0460. All applications will be treated in strictest confidence. 


Clinical Pearl – Oral hygiene and a healthy diet for dental health

Dental Health Week (1–7 August) is a timely reminder of GPs’ role in identifying the risk of dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease in patients. Children and adults should be encouraged to brush their teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars should be consumed. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends reducing the intake of free sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) to less than 10% of total energy intake in adults and children. Good oral hygiene, a healthy diet and access to fluoridated drinking water all contribute to improving dental health. 

Visit the RACGP Red book ‘Guidelines for oral hygiene’ or the WHO’s recommendation on sugar intake for adults and children for more information.


In Practice poll results

Would an RACGP-developed medical assisting course for your practice staff be of interest to you?

The RACGP is identifying opportunities for practices to maximise existing resources without increasing business costs, and have polled members on their interest in an RACGP-developed medical assisting course for non‑clinical staff.

Poll results indicate a strong interest in this course, with 42% of respondents indicating they would benefit from practice staff expanding their role, and a further 36% showing potential interest, pending more information about the role and its implementation.

Respondents who had no interest in the course numbered 22%, and indicated their non-clinical practice staff would continue to have a solely administrative role.

Comments received suggest that practices will need to assess how the work of medical assistants can be supported, given there are no Medical Benefits Schedule rebates available for their clinical role.

The RACGP thanks all poll respondents for their feedback. We will use this feedback to inform decisions about the possible development of a medical assisting course.


Media enquiries

Journalists and media outlets seeking comment and information from the RACGP should contact:

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor