05 June 2020


CrazySocks4Docs day

Friday 5 June is CrazySocks4Docs day, an opportunity to raise awareness of the mental health of doctors and health practitioners around the world. 

The summer bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic have made this year particularly challenging for GPs. It is essential doctors and other healthcare professionals take care of their own health and wellbeing during this challenging period. The RACGP provides members a range of resources for self-care, and this campaign will increase member awareness of available supports.

This CrazySocks4Docs day, the RACGP will be selling special socks through its online shop, with all proceeds going to Beyond Blue.

Show your support by visiting the RACGP pop-up shop and purchasing your own pair of crazy socks.

The RACGP crazy socks are available in one pair ($25) or three pairs ($55). Delivery is included in the price of purchase.


RACGP NSW&ACT Eric Fisher Award

RACGP NSW&ACT Eric Fisher Award

Nominations are now open for the RACGP NSW&ACT Eric Fisher Award, which celebrates the commitment of a New Fellow to the emotional wellbeing of their patients and their colleagues in the medical profession.

The award was established in honour of the late Dr Eric Fisher, who was seen as a role model by his colleagues and held several key leadership positions throughout his 67 years in medicine. Dr Fisher was passionate about young GPs and fervently believed that emotional wellbeing has a significant impact on a person’s health and recovery.

 If you know a New Fellow who has made a difference to the health and wellbeing of their patients and colleagues, nominate them for the Eric Fisher Award today.

 Nominations close on Friday 24 July 2020.


COVID-19 online member meet-up: 9 June

Join RACGP Rural’s fortnightly online meet-ups to connect with your rural and remote colleagues and share your experiences in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In partnership with RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, this session will cover guidance for healthcare teams to support COVID-19 prevention and management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

The first set of clinical recommendations for the prevention and management of COVID-19 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients has been developed by the RACGP, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Lowitja Institute, and the Australian National University.

Dr Mary Belfrage and Dr Tanya Schramm will take you through these recommendations, followed by the opportunity for questions and discussion.

Date: Tuesday 9 June 2020

Time: 7.00–8.00 pm AEST

Cost: Free

Visit Zoom to register.


RACGP webinar: Introduction to electronic prescribing

Changes have been made to legislation to recognise electronic prescriptions as a legal document. Electronic prescribing allows for the prescribing and dispensing of medicines without the need for a paper prescription, which can improve efficiency and medicines safety.

This webinar introduces the optional new model of prescribing, and the changes it will bring for you and your patients. Delivered with support from the Australian Digital Health Agency, this session will help you prepare for the roll-out of electronic prescribing in coming weeks.

‘An introduction to electronic prescribing’ is available on-demand until 28 June 2020, giving you the flexibility to participate when and where suits you. This webinar is a CPD Activity worth two points under the RACGP CPD Program. Register for the webinar via GotoWebinar.


Business resilience and continuity during COVID-19

‘Business resilience and continuity during COVID-19’, a three-part webinar series to support GPs and GP practice owners, is now available to view on demand.

The series is hosted by Dr Todd Cameron and proudly supported by CommBank

Episode one provides an overview of the current Australian economy, while episode two outlines strategies and plans to drive business in a COVID-19 environment. The final episode explores the cause and effect from the broader health system and its impacts on GPs, as well as the importance of building business resilience.

Watch the series on demand via the RACGP now.


Distance learning and mental health training

The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is committed to working with our member organisations to ensure the impact on GPs’ training and educational opportunities is minimised during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes encouraging training providers to develop accredited education via distance learning.

We appreciate your patience during this time as we work hard to streamline processes that will help us continue to accredit high-quality mental health training and education.

View a list of accredited mental health training and educational activities via the GPMHSC website. 


DynaMed’s Drug Interactions tool

RACGP members have access to clinical decision support resource, DynaMed, which includes a useful drug interactions tool with which you can check an unlimited number of drugs for potential interactions:

  • Drug – Drug (including herbal)
  • Drug – Tobacco
  • Drug – Food
  • Drug – Ethanol
  • Drug – Pregnancy and lactation

The tool presents brief and detailed summaries of drug interactions that are referenced and enable you to:

  • view results by severity and type of drug interaction
  • search by brand and generic names
  • check an unlimited number of drugs and/or substances at once
  • understand the interaction severity using the five-point severity rating
  • interpret quality and type of interaction evidence with a four-level documentation rating system.

Visit DynaMed via the RACGP website to find the drug interactions tool and other evidence-based information to inform your clinical practice. DynaMed is a member-only resource (login to the RACGP website is required).


Community needs reassurance about seeking cancer diagnosis and treatment

COVID-19 has caused a drop in cancer-related presentations, raising concerns about late diagnoses and patients missing the benefits of early intervention.

Referrals at Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre were down by a third year-on-year in the early phase of pandemic restrictions. They have since improved, but remain down around 15%.

‘COVID-19 should not prevent anyone from accessing a cancer treatment they need,’ Professor Declan Murphy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, said.

‘We’ve written to our patients to reassure those who need to come to Peter Mac that they are safe to do so.’

GPs can also play a role in reassuring patients that teh Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and other hospitals have measures in place – such as temperature screening on arrival, visitor limits and increased use of telehealth – to reduce transmission risk.

A study published this week estimates a three-month delay in diagnosis and treatment would result in 90 additional Australian deaths in four cancer types over five years, and $12 million in added healthcare costs. This increases to 350 deaths, and $46 million in costs, if the diagnosis delay is six months.


Media enquiries

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

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor