Celebrating the work of hardworking local family doctors

Next week is Family Doctor Week, the AMA’s annual celebration of the hard work and dedication of the nation’s family doctors – the GPs who serve local communities in the cities, the suburbs, rural centres, country towns, and remote areas of Australia.

Having a trusted family doctor is good for your health.  People who have an ongoing relationship with a family doctor are shown to have better health outcomes.

Last year, GPs provided 127,966,000 services across Australia.

In keeping with this year’s Family Doctor Week theme, For A Lifetime of Trusted Care, the AMA will showcase the work of family doctors and the key relationship they have with their patients at important stages of life.

The AMA will issue media releases and post YouTube videos on the following topics:

• Your Family Doctor and You: Pregnancy
• Your Family Doctor and You: Infancy
• Your Family Doctor and You: Childhood
• Your Family Doctor and You: Adolescence
• Your Family Doctor and You: Middle Age
• Your Family Doctor and You: Old Age
• Your Family Doctor and You: Palliative Care and Dying

There will also be a series of media releases on some of the major health policy issues currently having an impact on family doctors.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, will address the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 18 July.  As well as discussing the health issues of the day, Dr Hambleton will highlight Family Doctor Week and launch “More Than Just A Union – A History of the AMA”, a special publication to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Federal AMA.

Local media are encouraged to make contact with family doctors in their area to highlight the great work they are providing in local communities right across the country.

9 July 2012

CONTACT:         Kirsty Waterford                  02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753

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