October 2023

Welcome to the October update. What a busy four weeks we have had!
 
The 2023 Annual NSW&ACT Faculty Member Meeting was hosted at our North Sydney office on 27 September.
 
It was lovely seeing all the members who were able to attend in person and online. The evening, as every year, was an opportunity to highlight achievements and the work of the Faculty for members. I would like to specifically thank Professor Mark Harris for his inspiring delivery of this year’s Charles Bridges-Webb Oration.
 
I was also delighted to formally announce the naming of the “Doctor Harry Nespolon Lounge.” Our beautiful members meeting space named in honour of the late Dr Harry Nespolon for his leadership role on behalf of all GPs within the RACGP.  A recording of the meeting can be found here. For those of you who are local or passing through the city, we encourage you to make use of the North Sydney office and the Member’s Lounge.
 
During the evening we also had the pleasure to present the NSW&ACT Faculty State Awards, and I would like to once again extend my heartfelt congratulations to our winners:
 

• Dr Richard Draper – NSW&ACT General Practitioner of the Year.
• Dr Kate Manderson – NSW&ACT General Practitioner Supervisor of the Year.
• Dr Keersten Fitzgerald – NSW&ACT General Practitioner in Training of the Year.
• Walker Street Doctors, North Sydney – NSW&ACT Practice of the Year.
• Professor Kirsty Douglas – Special Service Award
• Dr Inthikab Yoosuff – NSW&ACT General Practitioner of the Year Special Commendation
• Dr Collette Hourigan- NSW&ACT General Practitioner of the Year Special Commendation
• Dr Ameeta Patel – Eric Fisher Award

 
As promised, in September, the NSW&ACT Faculty hosted a webinar featuring NSW Commissioner of State Revenue, Mr Cullen Smythe, alongside GP payroll tax experts William Buck accountants, to give an overview of the current payroll tax issues in NSW and what recent changes in legislation might mean for GPs, practice owners and contractors. In case you missed it, a recording of the webinar can be found here. The RACGP is continuing its advocacy work on payroll tax following the hard won 12-month pause on audits and amnesty on retrospective penalties in NSW. Further discussions with the NSW Finance Minister and Health Minister for NSW are scheduled to occur over the next few weeks. We are also continuing discussions with the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr around Payroll tax exemptions in the ACT.
 
Our webinar offerings have also supported NSW&ACT GPs in understanding the roll out of My Medicare. In collaboration with NSW/ACT PHNs, we delivered a series of three informative webinars and Q&A sessions on MyMedicare, recordings of which can be found here.
 
The GP23 WONCA conference is fast approaching, and I am greatly looking forward to a weekend packed full of workshops, clinical skills updates and sessions for practice owners. Registrations are still open for this incredible opportunity to reflect on what primary healthcare has learnt throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and what’s needed to thrive in the future. I would like to invite all of you to come and meet your Faculty Council and Staff at the RACGP Stand in the Exhibition Hall on Friday 27 October between 8:00am and 8:45am. It is also a great opportunity to meet up with your Faculty Colleagues, so I hope that I will be able to meet a huge number of my NSW&ACT colleagues there.
 
Until next month, here’s hoping for some down time as well as work! Take care of yourselves.

Event Date, time Location CPD Functional or Dysfunctional? Updates on IBS and Rectal Prolapse 6 November 2023 7.30-8.30pm (AEDT) Online One EA CPD hour Orthopaedics | An Update on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 8 November 2023 7.30-8.30pm (AEDT) Online One EA CPD hour I need antibiotics for my cold! | Antimicrobial stewardship in primary care 9 November 2023 7.00-8.00pm (AEDT) Online N/A RSV Vaccine Update and Shingrix Vaccine Roll-out 14 November 2023 7.30-8.30pm (AEDT) Online One EA CPD hour Introduction To Point-of-care Ultrasound 22 November 2023 8.30am-4.30pm Coogee, NSW Five EA and Five RP CPD hours Hepatitis C in General Practice Forum 28 November 2023 7.30-8.30pm (AEDT) Online One EA CPD hour

This month's WONCA World Conference Sydney 2023 (26-29 October) incorporates RACGP’s annual conference, GP23. It offers a dynamic program of presentations and accredited activities, such as pre-conference workshops, clinical skills updates, CPR workshops, and targeted sessions for practice owners.  

As part of the WONCA festivities, your local State Chair has invited you to a member meet-up. If you missed the email last week, then see here for more information. Or you can choose to attend the National Faculties Evening on Saturday 28 October, from 6.00–8.00pm where you can mingle with all your friends and colleagues from around Australia. Find out more on our WONCA website.  

Register to attend at wonca.racgp.org.au

Following our advocacy on the recent Services Australia update to signature requirements for bulk billed telehealth, the Minister for Health Ryan Park has advised that they will act to address GPs’ concerns.
 
The Minister told us:

• I have asked my department to provide options to address concerns about the assignment of benefit for Medicare bulk billed claims, including legislative amendments.
• Until these changes are made, there are no plans to pursue any broad punitive actions on this issue unless it relates to fraudulent claims against Medicare.
• The Department will also be in touch with the RACGP about a consultation approach to inform the legislative amendments.

 
For more information on the changes and our advocacy for members, visit: http://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/advocacy-resources/assignment-of-benefit-and-signature-requirements

Assignment of benefit and signature requirements for telehealth services have changed. GPs now need to document verbal consent from bulk billed telehealth patients using an approved form from the Services Australia website. Previously the health department said verbal consent could be documented in a patient’s clinical notes.
 
We know many members see this change as more red tape, and a potential barrier to providing bulk billed care, and we are advocating for a better solution. We will be raising our concerns directly with the Health Minister, and calling for a solution that fits with current workflows and IT systems in general practice.
 
For more information on the changes, including steps to complete the new process, visit: http://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/advocacy-resources/assignment-of-benefit-and-signature-requirements

Last month, the NSW&ACT Faculty hosted a panel discussion to provide GAS update with experts from the Centre of Communicable branch from the NSW Ministry of Health.

View webinar

RACGP NSW&ACT congratulates the following GPs who attained Fellowship of the RACGP last month:
 

Dr Haisley Formosa Dr Nicholas Kotikawatte Appuhamilage Don Dr Caitlin Frede Dr Nathan Taylor Dr Chelsea Ricketts Dr Ryan Lui Dr Nishanthini Thillainadarajah Dr Kellie Wild Dr Omar Sali Dr Kallie Shaw Dr Sana Yazdani Dr Sai Arshanapalli Dr Thanuja Athulathmudali Dr John Chang Dr Shu Er Chong Dr Madeeha Mukhtar Mian Dr Deborah Friend Dr Nurzawani Binti Mohd Zahran Dr So Hyun Kwon Dr Nelson Martoo Dr Caitlin Downes Dr Dillon Chan Dr Wijeratne Mudalige Perera Dr Sunniya Zaheer Dr Sarah Afram Dr Penelope Hall Dr Ryan Barnett Dr Sarah Oh Dr Lyn Heazlewood Dr Peter Leck Dr Natasha Bartos Dr Jian Xin Celestine Gan

 
Congratulations on achieving Fellowship of the RACGP! We recognise the sacrifice and hard work that has gone into your general practice journey.
 
Transitioning frombeing a GP in training to an independent, practising GP is a major career-changing (and life-changing) milestone. The Next Five Program extends support to New Fellows as they navigate their first few years of unsupervised practice.

The NSW Ministry of Health is seeking your feedback on the Exposure Draft Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation (Draft Regulation) and its Regulatory Impact Statement. 

The Draft Regulation will support the operation of the Act. Medicines, poisons (chemicals) and therapeutic goods are an essential part of people’s lives and our society. These substances bring many benefits to health and are necessary in many industries. However, the substances can also pose a risk to health and safety when used inappropriately.

Together, the Act and Draft Regulation set out who can manufacture, supply by wholesale, obtain, supply, prescribe, use, and administer these substances. The Draft Regulation also sets out specific obligations in relation to prescription requirements, on-the-spot fines, fees, when an approval or authority from the Health Secretary is required, labelling, disposal and destruction of these substances. The Act and the Draft Regulation seek to ensure that the framework regulating medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods is contemporary, robust, safe, and efficient. 

The Ministry is seeking submissions on the Draft Regulation and the Regulatory Impact Statement.

Submissions should include the reference DG23/5729 and be sent to MOH-MPTG-Submissions@health.nsw.gov.au by 22 December 2023.

We’ve received reports of situations where individuals are impersonating GPs or recruitment agencies, with the intention of obtaining personal information, including phone numbers and email addresses.  

We’re encouraging members to stay vigilant when receiving such calls.  

Scammers use stealth, surprise and clever tactics to get what they want.  

There’s some general information you can refer to on scams here: https://www.cyber.gov.au/threats/types-threats/scams 

If you have doubt, call them back on a trusted number via the organisation’s official website or known number. 

Report any scams or cybercrime via https://www.cyber.gov.au/  

Are you a passionate GP eager to connect with peers, inspire the next generation, and offer support in these challenging times? Or are you in the early stages of your GP journey, seeking the connection, inspiration and support needed to excel in your career? Look no further than the RACGP Mentoring Program. 
 
The RACGP Mentoring Program aims to connect, inspire and support its members with a focus on wellbeing, collegiality and career development. It’s available to all RACGP members and fosters a two-way mentoring relationship.
 
The Mentoring Program provides training and support services over a 12-month period. It’s an opportunity for GPs to share their experiences and insights by nurturing the development of another GP. If you’re in the early stages of your career, here’s a chance to connect with other members to help each other manage the pressures of the profession.
 
Unlock your potential and strengthen the general practice community by joining the RACGP Mentoring Program. Join us today and register your expression of interest.
 

As your CPD home, the RACGP is here to support you to log and complete your CPD for 2023.
 
Explore our new prescription for CPD success and create your CPD roadmap for the rest of the year. Remember, you can log the CPD you do every day in your practice, or ‘Browse’ on myCPD to find CPD approved activities that meet your needs and interests.
 
For more information and support, contact your local CPD team. We’re here to help.

There has been a 36% increase in sexual assaults from 2012 to 2021. Sexual assult presentation to the health system in NSW reflect this increase.

NSW Health operates at least one 24/7 Sexual Assault Service (SAS) in every Local Health District, providing psychosocial, medical and forensic services to adults and children. General practitioners can refer to SAS through local referral pathways, and/or by contacting local services via the NSW Health website. 
 
To respond to this increased demand and expand the sexual assault medical forensic workforce, NSW Government has committed almost $53 million over four years to establish 48 new staff. 

Syphilis in NSW is increasingly being diagnosed outside of traditional high-risk groups GPs.

Additional syphilis resources and tools for GPs have been developed by NSW Health. Sexual Health Clinics and the NSW Sexual Health Infolink are your source of expert advice and referral information. You can call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink during business hours on 1800 451 624.

GPs who haven’t managed syphilis recently will be offered active assistance with case management from their local sexual health clinic after the notification is referred to them.

An online training has been developed NSW Introduction to Syphilis for Midwives and Clinicians Providing Antenatal Care to assist GP identify priority populations for antenatal syphilis testing, learn about syphilis care and management including more complex clinical scenarios, and contract tracing after a syphilis diagnosis.

From 1 October 2023, positive COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) results will no longer be registered with Service NSW.
 
NSW Health still recommends staying at home and not visit high risk settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals if you have cold or flu symptoms. Find out what to do if your RAT is positive or negative.

Free rapid antigen tests will no longer be available at Service NSW locations from 1 October 2023. Rapid antigen tests can still be purchased at pharmacies and supermarkets.
 
NSW Health continues to emphasise timely COVID-19 testing in people at high risk of severe disease, to facilitate antiviral access. In a recent assessment of the predictors of antiviral uptake in eligible populations in NSW, it was found that interaction with a GP prior to disease was associated with increased antiviral uptake. 

State-wide referral criteria (SRC) is a clinical decision-support tool that communicates the minimum clinical criteria and referral information required for referrals issued to NSW public specialist outpatient services. SRC is intended to support referring clinicians when issuing referrals to public specialist outpatient services to enable safe, timely and effective triage.
 
There is currently SRC available for selected conditions within the specialties of gastroenterology and ophthalmology. Additional state-wide referral criteria for these specialties and others will be progressively developed and made available.
 
Where SRC is not available, referring clinicians are to continue following local referral criteria.
 
Visit the NSW Health SRC website for more information.