The May Budget
The Federal Government’s announcement of a Tuesday 3 May Budget almost certainly indicates that an early election is on the cards.
The Budget is the Turnbull Government’s opportunity to come out on the front foot and show it cares about the health of Australians and protecting our world-class healthcare system.
The RACGP seeks government funding for direct services in general practice, to support trainees through training and academic research into primary care. Investment in health futures also includes additional general practice funding for chronic disease, early intervention for chronic disease and disease prevention services to build a healthier Australia.
Next week, members will be invited to participate in a quick, three-question survey to identify the top priorities for RACGP advocacy during the election campaign from a list of ten issues. The survey will be sent to you on Wednesday 30 March.
The RACGP is serious about its advocacy work to create a better healthcare system for all. I urge you to complete the survey when it arrives to ensure the RACGP’s election advocacy efforts are representative of members’ views.
Dr Tim Koh
RACGP Chair of Council
RACGP awards opening soon
The RACGP recognises and celebrates the achievements of its members through the annual RACGP awards. RACGP members across Australia are encouraged to nominate their peers in recognition of their dedication to primary healthcare in the community.
A tiered model has recently been introduced for the RACGP awards. The following awards now operate at two levels, faculty and national:
- General Practice of the Year
- General Practitioner of the Year
- General Practice Supervisor of the Year
- General Practice Registrar of the Year.
The faculty winners in each category will receive the state accolade (eg Victorian General Practitioner of the Year). Each faculty winner will subsequently be put forward as a finalist for the national award in that category.
Nominations open 1 April and close 16 May. Further details will be available via In Practice and the RACGP website in the coming weeks.
Have your say on the draft 5th edition RACGP Standards for general practices
Time is running out to have your say on the first draft of the 5th edition RACGP Standards for general practices (the Standards), which is open for consultation until 1 April 2016. The Standards are undergoing revision to ensure they remain relevant and reflect contemporary general practice. The final version will be launched in October 2017.
The draft Standards are a work in progress and there will be further revisions to successive drafts before finalisation. Member feedback is vital during this process. In addition, the RACGP will be engaging extensively with stakeholders to seek feedback to inform the second draft, which will be released for public consultation in June 2016.
To review the draft Standards and have your say, please visit the RACGP website.
Seeking expressions of interest: check authors and reviewers
check is an educational program and quality improvement and continuing professional development (QI&CPD) activity produced monthly by the RACGP. It is one of the RACGP’s most popular activities, and is highly valued among GPs and registrars as a source of guidance on the diagnosis, treatment and management of common presentations in general practice.
We are currently commissioning authors and peer reviewers for sports medicine, men’s health, and cardiology; and peer reviewers only for women’s health and mental health. Authors and peer reviewers receive no honorarium but can self-claim QI&CPD points for their voluntary participation in the program.
We are also looking for expressions of interest from authors and peer reviewers for a wide range of topics in 2017. Please send a copy of your CV, including publication experience and areas of specific interest, to sharmini.rajanayagam@racgp.org.au.
RACGP Clinical Pearl
Prevention of atopic dermatitis in infants
In newborns with a high risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD), daily application of moisturiser for the first six to eight months of life may prevent AD or delay its onset. High risk occurs in children with a family history of atopy such as a parent or sibling with a history of AD, asthma or allergic rhinitis.
Moisturisers should have low water content and high oil content. Products such as Sorbolene typically have a high water content and should be avoided as they can worsen xerosis (dry skin). Prescription moisturisers are not necessary.
Daily application of moisturiser is a simple, safe and low-cost approach to prevention of AD in infants. For more information including examples of appropriate moisturisers, refer to the RACGP’s Handbook of Non-drug Intervention (HANDI).
In Practice poll
Local GP advocacy networks
Australia’s healthcare sector has seen significant transformation over recent years, including changes to locally-based general practice and the establishment of Primary Health Networks (PHNs). Government funding was originally provided to the Divisions of General Practice, which then shifted to Medicare Locals and now PHNs. This period has seen a significant change in the focus of these organisations as directed by successive governments.
RACGP member feedback suggests that these reforms have led to a decrease in opportunities for GPs to engage with other local GPs and discuss areas of mutual interest or concerns. As the peak body for general practice, the RACGP is seeking to support members and ensure that the local GP voice is not lost within the forever changing health landscape.
In response to member feedback, the RACGP Expert Committee – General Practice Advocacy and Funding (REC–GPAF) will be conducting a pilot project that aims to understand GPs’ interest and potential participation in improving advocacy and engagement at a local level.
The proposed model will provide GPs with a unique platform to discuss a range of local and national issues. For example, partnerships with local services, or the impacts of commonwealth and state or territory political measures on general practice.
The RACGP is canvassing the views of the broader membership in order to inform the development of the pilot project and implementation of the local GP advocacy networks.