COVID-19: Online rural member meet-ups
RACGP Rural is hosting online member meet-ups to connect rural and remote GPs during the COVID-19 pandemic and bring you a forum to share your experiences.
During each meet-up, we’ll share a real rural GP story to help inspire local solutions and raise awareness of important issues. This will be followed by an interactive Q&A and discussion.
Join us for our next meet-up on Tuesday 28 April 7.00–8.00 pm AEST.
Visit Zoom to register.
EOIs for COVID-19 and general practice research close 24 April
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to GPs in Australia and internationally. GPs are playing a central role on the frontline of care while also managing the everyday needs of their patients and adapting to new ways of consulting. The evidence base around COVID-19 is evolving, and it is important to understand the pandemic’s impact on general practice.
In response to this situation, the RACGP Foundation and HCF Research Foundation are coming together to fund research projects relating to COVID-19 and general practice.
Expressions of interest are now open for high-quality research projects relating to COVID-19 and general practice.
Find out more about the grant via the RACGP website.
Managing type 2 diabetes during Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. With Ramadan beginning on Thursday 23 April, all healthy adult Muslims are obliged to refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during this lunar month.
People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes are not obliged to fast and can donate to a charity as atonement; however, many still choose to fast.
View the RACGP’s guide for GPs on Diabetes management during Ramadan.
With diabetes a national health priority, the RACGP has also published a resource for GPs to help patients with type 2 diabetes. View the General practice management of type 2 diabetes.
Submission to the Disability Royal Commission
The RACGP recently provided a submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability in response to an issues paper on healthcare for people with cognitive disability. The submission can be viewed on the RACGP website.
The Disability Royal Commission was established in April 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability. It is due to deliver a final report by 29 April 2022.
The RACGP’s submission makes a number of recommendations based on member feedback regarding access to healthcare for people with cognitive disability, and the reasons why this patient demographic may experience violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Thank you to all those who provided feedback to inform this submission.
Changes to antibiotic listings
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings for antibiotics have changed since 1 April 2020.
The changes were recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) in August 2019 to support best practice prescribing in Australia.
Visit the PBS website for more information on the changes.
RACGP New Fellows mentors
The RACGP is seeking strong and supportive mentors for New Fellows.
Through the program, experienced members will provide professional and personal support to a New Fellow. This is intended to help them better manage the pressures of the profession, including social isolation and unsustainable workplace pressures.
The two stages to becoming a mentor are training and matching with a suitable mentee. Mentors will earn 40 CPD points upon completion of the program.
There’s never been a more important time to support New Fellows.
Visit the RACGP website to find out more about the program.