twrama 1841_august_2.. - AMA WA

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St John of God Health Care voted number 1 St John of God Health Care has been ranked the number one private hospital operator by its doctors and inpatients according to the latest independent Press Ganey Satisfaction Survey results. The group is proud to again be placed in the 99th percentile by its visiting doctors when benchmarked against other private hospital groups. St John of God Health Care employees are committed to delivering excellent patient care from the point of admission through to discharge from hospital. This is reflected in the satisfaction of the doctors who admit patients to St John of God hospitals and inpatients whose survey results also ranked the organisation in the 99th percentile. head office Ground Floor 12 Kings Park Road West Perth WA 6005 T (08) 9213 3636 F (08) 9213 3668 30 MEDICUS August bunbury Cnr Robertson Drive & Bussell Hwy Bunbury WA 6230 T (08) 9722 1600 F (08) 9722 1650 Geraldton 12 Hermitage Street Geraldton WA 6530 T (08) 9965 8888 F (08) 9964 2015 Murdoch 100 Murdoch Drive Murdoch WA 6150 T (08) 9366 1111 F (08) 9366 1133 Subiaco 12 Salvado Road Subiaco WA 6008 T (08) 9382 6111 F (08) 9381 7180 PatholoGy 23 Walters Drive Osborne Park WA 6017 T 1300 367 674 F (08) 9204 2974
SOAPBOX Soapbox Dear Editor, Consistency please Readers of the May edition of Medicus may be bemused by the AMA (WA)’s attitude to government-controlled bureaucracies associated with health care. On page 29 (May edition), readers were told about the newly-established Health Service Governing Councils. The article was focused mainly on the fact that several prominent AMA figures had been appointed to them, and made no comment on exactly what these new entities will do. The article ended by saying that AMA (WA) has called for “more information to be provided...on how councils will work and how their recommendations will be dealt with”. In contrast, page 48 of the same edition provided yet another vitriolic attack on Medicare Locals – another (relatively) new government initiative. This article made no mention of the fact that many AMA members sit on the Boards of Medicare Locals. Indeed, one of them is chaired by a member of the AMA (WA) branch council. Both of these initiatives may be good, or may be bad. Only time will tell. But some simple questions apply to both, so that an objective assessment can be made: • What is their purpose? • What do they replace? • What problems with existing structures needed to be corrected? Michael Jones M.B.ChB. D (Obst) RCOG Past-president AMA (WA) Dear Editor, I write in fear for our excellent health system. While increases in spending by the WA Government on health over recent years have been very welcome, along with the construction of new hospitals both here in Perth and in regional areas, it appears that the State Budget will be under dire pressures in the very near future. According to economic forecasts recently published by local media the WA Budget will be under tremendous pressure due to a dramatic fall in royalties collected from mining as the price of iron ore and other minerals falls. Already there have been predictions that whichever political party wins the state election early next year will be forced to announce cuts in spending across the board. As a medical professional who is now getting on in years, I have seen a number of these booms and the inevitable busts that follow. Unfortunately, even my slightly addled memory reminds me that health spending is never left out of these cuts. This only means that when the good times return, health services have suffered and we never really catch up. I would once again call on all political parties to undertake to make sure health services, the employment of doctors and nurses, the building of desperately needed new hospitals and the education of future health professionals be protected from any cuts. The chance is there for us to continue to look after the growing health needs of our growing and our ageing population. The opportunity is also there for some parties to take the lead and say that the bread and circuses of government will suffer first, and efficient health spending will be protected. If not, the AMA (WA) along with all other health advocates should react strongly. We are not destined to repeat the past unless we allow it. Signed: A GP who has experienced the past – and can see the future. Refer with confidence. Lions Hearing Clinic’s university trained team of audiologists provide comprehensive hearing assessment and reporting for adults, paediatrics, tinnitus, auditory processing and referrals for implantable devices. Our research activities ensure that we maintain world’s best practice in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of hearing disorders. To make referrals see www.lionshearing.com.au and click on Resources tab. Locations: Subiaco, Nedlands, Mt Lawley, Winthrop, Joondalup, Middle Swan Tel: 1800 054 667 www.lionshearing.com.au August MEDICUS 31
Page 1 and 2: LIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA MEDICUS Journ
Page 3 and 4: Council President Dr Richard Choong
Page 5 and 6: FROM THE EDITOR Leading the charge
Page 7 and 8: Nothing but the truth MEDICAL CERTI
Page 9 and 10: INDUSTRIAL Superannuation Guarantee
Page 11 and 12: INDUSTRIAL Industrial Update No. 6
Page 13 and 14: Examples of Best Practice Benefit f
Page 15 and 16: Simplify YOUR Life We can help with
Page 17 and 18: NEWS $75m hospital redevelopment pl
Page 19 and 20: FOCUS When no talk is good talk by
Page 21 and 22: OPINION bureaucrat decides that, sa
Page 23 and 24: Osborne Park Volkswagen Presents th
Page 25 and 26: Desperately seeking FEATURE by Paul
Page 27 and 28: FEATURE before “giving up”, ine
Page 29 and 30: COVER STORY make WA smoke free - an
Page 31: The age of specialisation As your c
Page 35 and 36: OPINION to assess and coordinate co
Page 37 and 38: Shades of grey colour mandatory ‘
Page 39 and 40: OPINION Equity versus equality by G
Page 41 and 42: Firm foundation and support helps S
Page 43 and 44: FOR THE RECORD Boy from Britain sco
Page 45 and 46: MELANOMA CONFERENCE 2012 Hosted by
Page 47 and 48: More than medical indemnity MDA Nat
Page 49 and 50: BEYOND BORDERS Promising: Sen Sok I
Page 51 and 52: EVERY JAGUAR CAN DO THINGS MACHINES
Page 53 and 54: COMMUNITY FORGING A STRONGER CONNEC
Page 55 and 56: RESEARCH We now receive less than a
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Page 59 and 60: FOOD Orange mustard barbecue steaks
Page 61 and 62: WINE Hail to THE EMPEROR Then and n
Page 63 and 64: PHOTOGRAPHY Notice there are no are
Page 65 and 66: TECHNOLOGY Hi-tech: A surgeon using
Page 67 and 68: To win a double pass to one of the
Page 69 and 70: Professional Notices CARDIOVASCULAR
Page 71 and 72: carer’s support, patient support,
Page 73 and 74: Mundaring FT/PT VR GP To join busy,
Page 75 and 76: WESTERN WESTERN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
Page 77 and 78: PostgraduateNews Please forward sub
Page 79 and 80: General Ultrasound Same day appoint

twrama 1841_august_2.. - AMA WA

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