Support Family Doctors campaign materials

As part of its support for family doctors campaign, the AMA is running a patient petition urging the major parties to produce policies that preserve and promote general practice as the quality front line in primary care.

We would like medical practices around the country to display our Support Family Doctors poster, distribute our Support Family Doctors brochure, and encourage your patients to sign our Support Family Doctors petition. The signed petitions will be sent to Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott prior to election day on 21 August.

You may choose to print the Support Family Doctors poster and brochures in colour in your practice or you can order copies by emailing memberservices@ama.com.au with your name and address. A set of materials will be sent to you as soon as possible.

Links to the Support Family Doctors campaign materials are below:

• 'Family medicine is running out of time!' – poster
• 'Family medicine is running out of time!' – pamphlet
• 'Support family doctors: the heart of health' – petition

Updated advice on the use of seasonal influenza vaccine for children

The Chief Medical Officer has advised today that children aged from 6 months to less than 5 years may be vaccinated with Vaxigrip® and Influvac®, following a discussion of the risks and benefits of these vaccines with parents and guardians. This includes children at risk of medical complications of influenza and healthy children. Vaccination of children in this age group with Fluvax® and Fluvax® Junior is not recommended due to the identified increased risk of febrile convulsions.

Recommendations on the use of seasonal influenza vaccine including Fluvax® in children 5 years and older and in adults have not changed.

The CMO’s advice follows ongoing investigations in Australia and overseas which have indicated that there does not appear to be the higher than normal incidence of febrile convulsions in children under five with the seasonal flu vaccines Vaxigrip® and Influvac®. Investigations into fever and febrile convulsions associated with the vaccine Fluvax are continuing.

Further information is available from the AMA website.

Collaborative arrangements will provide better care for patients

The AMA has welcomed the Government’s introduction of new regulations that require midwives and nurse practitioners to collaborate with medical practitioners in order to provide Medicare-funded services to patients or prescribe them medications under the PBS. AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said yesterday that the new arrangements would provide a safer and higher standard of care for patients.  Read more

A national disability insurance scheme must be at the core of any national disability strategy

The AMA yesterday called on the major parties to commit to introducing a national disability insurance scheme. Dr Pesce said a national disability insurance scheme must be at the core of any national disability strategy, and should be one of the first decisions of the next government.  Read more

Labor increases mental health investment but more needed

The AMA has welcomed the announcement of a greater investment by Labor in mental health services.
Dr Pesce said it is another down payment on the bigger long-term investment needed to make a real difference in meeting the growing mental health needs of the community.  Read more

To find out more about the AMA’s national campaign to protect and promote the interests of GPs and their patients during the health reform process, go to the Support Family Doctors website.