Australian Medical Association

AMA President Dr Steven Hambleton said tonight that the government had done the right thing by sparing health from broad funding cuts to provide a budget for tough economic times and to fund a budget surplus.

“Health has generally been sheltered from the budget cuts,” Dr Hambleton said.

The AMA has reviewed the Government’s Draft Ten Year Roadmap for National Mental Health Reform (the Roadmap) and is pleased to see that some of the directions set out in the plan incorporate elements of the AMA Position Statement on Mental Health 2011, in particular those Roadmap actions related to reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing access to early intervention and support and improving accessibility of mental health and support services. The AMA has nevertheless critiqued the Government on funding cuts to the Better Access Program (as this action does not match the policy intent outlined in the Roadmap to improve provision of mental health and support services to those who need them) and for failing to adequately recognise the vital and increasing role that GPs play in caring for patients with a mental health issue and their families. The AMA comments also highlighted the importance of specifically targeted programs for special needs groups, and the need to develop measures to address systemic barriers to mental health services.

National Minimum Terms and Conditions for GP Registrars - revised November 2011

The 2010 agreement has been updated and contains the rates which apply from the start of the 2012 training year.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the Government’s Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) program will help reduce avoidable hospital admissions in veterans with chronic and complex diseases.

Dr Hambleton said that the AMA welcomes the CVC program’s comprehensive approach to the management of chronic and complex diseases.

“One of the greatest challenges in caring for older people is ensuring that their care needs are well supported and coordinated,” Dr Hambleton said.

AMA FAMILY DOCTOR WEEK 2011: AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that Government plans to overhaul funding for after hours GP services could leave some practices without the necessary support to continue providing vital after hours care to their local communities.

Dr Hambleton said that funding to fill service delivery gaps is welcome, but this must not be at the expense of services that are already available.

“The Government’s decision does not guarantee that those practices currently delivering quality after hours services will be properly supported to do this once the Government’s plan to move funding to Medicare Locals is fully implemented,” Dr Hambleton said.

AMA FAMILY DOCTOR WEEK 2011: The AMA today urged all governments to recognise the importance of family doctors in caring for communities in natural disasters and other crises, and to work with the medical profession to involve GPs in disaster planning arrangements.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, today paid tribute to the family doctors who provided assistance to Australians affected by natural disasters earlier this year, and said their experiences showed that family doctors are often the first people Australians turn to in crises.

“The role of GPs in emergency response situations is not well understood by governments, and GPs have not had enough input into disaster planning,” Dr Hambleton said.

AMA Family Doctor Week 2011 – a celebration of the central role played by local family doctors in delivering high quality health care in local communities all around Australia – commences tomorrow.

The theme for this year’s Family Doctor Week is Your Family Doctor: Excellence in Health Care.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that family doctors are highly trained and highly skilled to provide excellent health care to people through all stages of life.

“Maintaining regular contact with a trusted GP is good for our health and the health of our families,” Dr Hambleton said.

The AMA today launched an online petition as part of its campaign to convince the Government to restore funding for GP mental health services through Medicare under the Better Access Program.

The Government slashed more than $400 million from the Program in the May Budget.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that, from November, Medicare patient rebates for GP mental health services will be cut by 50 per cent.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, today urged the Government to rethink its poorly thought out plans for Medicare Locals and work with the medical profession to develop a model of care with a greater chance of success.

Dr Hambleton said that the announcement that the first 15 Medicare Locals will commence in less than a month is proof that the policy is being rushed through. AMA surveys show that the majority of doctors are sceptical about the effectiveness of proposed Medicare Locals funding.

As part of a service to all of our members the AMA has mediated an agreement between GP Registrars and GP Supervisors that sets out minimum terms and conditions for GP Registrars. This agreement is negotiated every two years by the National GP Supervisors Association (NGPSA) and GP Registrars Australia (GPRA), with the AMA's assistance.

The 2011 agreement applies from the start of the 2011 training year.