Thompson Estate The stunning Sauvignon Blanc Semillon from Margaret River’s Thompson Estate. 10% OFF and free delivery within <strong>WA</strong> for <strong>AMA</strong> (<strong>WA</strong>) members. Thompson Estate 299 Tom Cullity Drive, Wilyabrup <strong>WA</strong> 6284 Phone/Fax: (08) 9755 6406 thompsonestate.com 52 MEDICUS October
<strong>AMA</strong> IN THE MEDIA WHY HAY FEVER IS GRIPPING <strong>WA</strong> Bassendean GP Steve Wilson, chairman of the <strong>AMA</strong>’s Council of General Practice, advised people to see their l<strong>oc</strong>al d<strong>oc</strong>tor because new treatments were available. “I do get upset when I see people wasting their money because they keep buying packets of certain antihistamines and they don’t get any better,” Dr Wilson said. “They need to see a good GP because there are lots of new treatments that people don’t know about.” The Sunday Times, October 14, 2012 <strong>AMA</strong> CONCERNED ABOUT CORONIAL INQUEST The <strong>AMA</strong> says the results of a coronial inquest into the death of a South-West woman highlight the need for improved health facilities. Professor Paul Skerritt says better services are needed for people after their discharge. ABC Radio, September 7, 2012 DOCTORS DEMAND CHAPERONES Worried d<strong>oc</strong>tors want the Health Department to provide chaperones for patient examinations where needed, particularly in hospital emergency departments. Australian Medical Ass<strong>oc</strong>iation emergency d<strong>oc</strong>tor Dave Mountain said in other cases concerns had been raised about d<strong>oc</strong>tors doing intimate examinations that were later found to be groundless. “There was a time when a health professional would have had the benefit of the doubt but now it seems very easy for d<strong>oc</strong>tors to find themselves in a situation that is at best unpleasant and at worse could see them before a judge,” he said. “The playing field has changed substantially and made junior d<strong>oc</strong>tors in particular nervous,” he said. The West Australian, October 10, 2012 457 WORKERS HEALTH FEARS Australian Medical Ass<strong>oc</strong>iation <strong>WA</strong> President Richard Choong said it was essential that the Federal Government plug an anomaly in regulations that meant many 457-visa workers were not health tested. Otherwise, Australia would be open to “diseases that have not been seen for decades” and potentially also blood-borne diseases. “The health of Australians will be at risk if action is not taken, given there has already been approval given for a huge increase in workers to come to Australian, particularly to work in the mining industry,” he said. The Sunday Times, October 7, 2012 DOCTORS FEAR MORE WILL DIE D<strong>oc</strong>tors fear more patients will die in <strong>WA</strong>’s overcrowded hospitals because of a plan to strip at least $12 million from the public health system as part of budget cuts. <strong>AMA</strong> <strong>WA</strong> spokesman David Mountain said: “When a health system is as overcrowded as ours, when you continue to inflict damage on that system with more cuts, that means people’s lives will be lost.” The Sunday Times, October 14, 2012 <strong>WA</strong> HOSPITALS OUTPERFORMING OTHER STATES The Health Department says latest figures show <strong>WA</strong>’s Emergency Departments are outperforming their interstate counterparts. The <strong>AMA</strong> president Dr Richard Choong, says while <strong>WA</strong>’s Emergency Departments have performed well, the Government needs to work to ensure the standards stay high. “We have to realise that although we are very high on the stats, we can’t rest on our laurels and though we have the capacity to see the patients – that capacity needs to grow,” Dr Choong said. ABC Online, September 28, 2012 ACTION URGED ON FOETAL BOOZE WOES Obstetrician Michael Gannon said while the National Health and Medical Research Council stated there was no safe dose of alcohol during pregnancy, the warnings about alcohol use were aimed more at women who consistently consumed high amounts of alcohol rather than those who enjoyed the “<strong>oc</strong>casional s<strong>oc</strong>ial drink”. The West Australian, September 21, 2012 FACEBOOK GAG FEAR HITS DOCTORS Health professionals including d<strong>oc</strong>tors and nurses could face new rules when using s<strong>oc</strong>ial media such as Facebook and Twitter. <strong>AMA</strong> (<strong>WA</strong>) President Richard Choong said (the new rule) was a waste of time and resources. “Our lives are already bound by our professional codes for conduct and on the whole d<strong>oc</strong>tors and other health professionals use s<strong>oc</strong>ial media appropriately, so I don’t know how this policy would add anything,” Dr Choong said. The West Australian, September 19, 2012 Medicus Article Submission Dates for 2012 In order to distribute Medicus in a timely fashion, and to meet our commitment to readers, all article submissions are required by the following date: Issue Submission Date November closed December 5 November 2012 February 7 December 2012 If you would like to submit an article for inclusion in Medicus please contact Janine Martin, in the first instance, at janine.martin@amawa.com.au NOTE: These submission deadlines are for articles, classifieds and professional listings. For Display Advertisement timelines and submission requirements please contact Des Michael on (08) 9273 3056. October MEDICUS 53
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