Less than two weeks until GP17 – have you registered?
There is still time to register for four days of education, networking, fellowship and collegiality at GP17 in Sydney.
GP17 attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leaders of Australia’s major political parties. The following politicians will be attending GP17:
- Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt MP
- Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Richard Di Natale
- Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare, Catherine King MP
This year’s keynote presentations will be delivered by:
- Dr Jay Parkinson
- Sir Harry Burns
- Professor Julie Bernhardt
- Professor Jane Gunn
- Steve van Aperen
GP17 will deliver an extraordinary range of topics and issues that sit at the heart of general practice.
GP17 attendees will also have the exciting opportunity to join 12-times Tour de France competitor Robbie McEwen for a picturesque coastal ride along Sydney’s iconic northern beaches.
Visit the GP17 website for more information.
Introducing recruitGP
RACGP members can now search for their next general practice challenge or advertise job opportunities in their practice on the RACGP’s new platform for general practice employment, recruitGP.
recruitGP shares employment advertisments from stakeholders across metropolitan, rural, regional and remote Australia.
Visit recruitGP to view opportunities or post an advertisement.
RACGP submissions – MBS Review Taskforce
The MBS Review Taskforce (the Taskforce) released four reports for consultation on 22 August 2017. The RACGP has made submissions to the Taskforce’s Clinical Committees for Pathology, Cardiac Services, and Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, responding to recommendations affecting general practice. RACGP members and committees informed the submissions to the Taskforce.
Visit the RACGP website to read the submissions.
National Cancer Screening Register Rules 2017 consultation
RACGP members are invited to submit feedback on the Department of Health (DoH) National Cancer Screening Register Rules 2017 (the Rules) exposure draft and communication package before close-of-business (COB) Tuesday 24 October 2017.
Colposcopists will be required to notify prescribed information to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) through the National Cancer Screening Register (the Register) from 1 December 2017. This date coincides with the renewed National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP).
Log in to shareGP to read a letter from the DoH and access the Rules exposure draft and the communication package.
Feedback can be provided via email to NCSRProject@health.gov.au by COB Tuesday 24 October 2017.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Accreditation Committee applications close soon
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is calling for applications for appointment to the NMBA Accreditation Committee the committee.
The role of the committee is to provide oversight on the outcomes-based assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of internationally qualified nurses and midwives who are seeking registration in Australia.
Ideal applicants will have a background in nursing and/or midwifery. The NMBA is also interested in applications from appropriately qualified and experienced people from other related professions or disciplines.
Applications close on Friday 27 October 2017.
Visit the NMBA website for more information.
Clinical Pearl: Oral probiotics for atopic ezcema
Oral probiotics containing Lactobacillus species taken by women during pregnancy and/or women and infants during the postpartum period can help prevent or reduce the incidence of atopic eczema by almost 80%.
Probiotics have several actions in the gut, including actively competing with pathogens for nutrition, making gut contents acidic, secreting local antimicrobial agents and enhancing specific and non-specific immune responses.
Oral probiotics are recommended for infants at higher risk of atopic eczema, which is determined by a family history of allergic disease. If both parents have a history of eczema, the child risk is 60–80%.
Probiotics are available from supermarkets, pharmacies and health food stores. They are safe in pregnant women and infants and are not associated with serious adverse effects. However, some people may experience bloating and diarrhoea.
For more information, visit the RACGP’s Handbook of non-drug interventions (HANDI).
In Practice poll results: RACGP advocacy on public policy issues
The RACGP has traditionally focused advocacy efforts on issues that directly relate to support of and recognition for the provision of quality general practice care, with the aim of improving support for GPs and achieving better patient health outcomes. However, members sometimes ask the RACGP to advocate on public policy issues (for example, illicit drug use, climate change, refugees, sugar tax, and alcohol consumption and sale). We have polled members on whether you think the RACGP should advocate on a wider range of public policy issues.
Almost two thirds of respondents (66%) indicated they think this should be a role for the RACGP, while one-third (34%) did not. Feedback received stressed that any advocacy around public policy issues should focus on the health implications and underpinning evidence for a position.
The RACGP thanks all poll respondents for their feedback and encourages all members who are passionate about a specific area of healthcare to explore RACGP Specific Interests.
RACGP Specific Interests provides members who have an interest in a particular area of general practice an opportunity to network with other like-minded members and share and develop knowledge and materials. There are 25 endorsed networks and three working groups in the faculty, on topics including refugee health, addiction medicine, environmental impacts in general practice and obesity management. Networks share information, advocate on relevant issues and develop educational material to support member needs.