COVID-19 resurgence
As Victoria enters a new lockdown, we’re all faced with the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. In just one day last week, 288 new cases were reported and, predicting the future, this number will remain high for a week or so before we see if the lockdown is going to work.
Faculty updates
The faculty is focused on the pandemic. RACGP Victoria Councillor Dr Bernard Shui is meeting regularly with the government on GP issues and is part of the Clinical Leaders group for Safer Care Victoria. Dr Anita Muñoz, Dr Karen Price and I will continue to deliver the regular and well-attended webinars. We’re meeting with the Department of Health and Human Services, and we’re in regular contact with the Chief Health Officer's unit during each week. We’re also using this time to talk to the state political parties about what health in our state may look like after the pandemic, as we’ve seen there are consequences for the state not actively engaging with general practice in times of crisis.
RACGP Awards
Nominations for the RACGP Awards are currently open. Given everything that’s happened this year, the awards are such an opportunity to recognise the exceptional GPs, GPs in training, supervisors and practices in our state. Please go to the awards website for more details and to access nomination forms.
RACGP elections
Finally, nominations for the RACGP elections close Thursday 30 July 2020. As well as the President and Censor-in-Chief roles, positions are also open on many of the state, territory and national faculty councils, including ours. The elections are a great way to influence the direction of general practice in Australia, so I’d encourage you to consider nominating.
Dr Cameron Loy,
RACGP Victoria Chair