Australian Medical Association

WOOLDRIDGE: I think Dr Phelps and I have been able to resolve a good number of issues and we have been talking about how we can progress some of the initiatives in the budget and how we can work better together, and it has been very satisfactory. JOURNALIST: [inaudible] bury the hatchet? PHELPS: I can quite confidently say we have buried the hatchet. JOURNALIST: [inaudible] apologise? PHELPS: Yes. Dr Wooldridge apologised last night publicly and to me today and the AMA has accep

JOURNALIST: What was the mood like? PHELPS: Very congenial. JOURNALIST: From the beginning? PHELPS: Yes, yes. JOURNALIST: Who, sort of, broke the ice? PHELPS: Oh, I think shaking hands and saying hello breaks the ice. We had had a discussion on the telephone last night, and I think we both knew that we were going into the meeting with a much more positive point of view than otherwise might have been the case. JOURNALIST: So, describe then, you know, when you walked in, not togethe

Interview Radio 2SM, with Howard Sattler Discussing Corporatisation of General Practice SATTLER: Are you having trouble getting your doctor to come and visit you at home? You know, the old home visit used to be commonplace with doctors. But not now, with those who are corporatised, as they say, doctors who are being got together in groups to just work out of medical centres, a part of their, if you like, their service to the public does not include going home, apparently. A

Drug Action Week 25-29 June 2001 Australia's peak Aboriginal health body - the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) - the Australian Medical Association (AMA), and the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia are calling on the Federal Government to urgently fund a national strategy to tackle Aboriginal drug and alcohol misuse. CEO of NACCHO, Mr Craig Ritchie, said Drug Action Week this week was a perfect opportunity for the Government to show

AMA Federal Vice-President, Dr Trevor Mudge, today urged Australians to get immunised against the flu virus after reports of an outbreak approaching 'epidemic' levels in parts of New Zealand. Dr Mudge said 'at risk' people should see a GP as soon as possible for their vaccination: those aged over 65 years any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50 any adult with a chronic debilitating disease, especially those with heart, lung or kidney diseases or diabet

Channel 9 Today, with Steve Liebmann LIEBMANN: Now, to that much publicised dispute the one that's created a gulf between Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge and AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps. Prime Minister John Howard intervened yesterday, hosting a meeting in Canberra aimed at getting the two talking again. Dr Kerryn Phelps joins us now, from our studios in Canberra. Kerryn, good morning to you. PHELPS: Good morning, Steve. LIEBMANN: The Minister

HALL: Well, listening to that report was the Federal President of the AMA, Dr Kerryn Phelps, who joins us now from her office in Canberra. Dr Phelps, you were in that meeting with the Prime Minister and the Health Minister, last night, for more than an hour. How would you describe the atmosphere there on the leather chesterfields in the Prime Minister's Office? PHELPS: I'd have to say it was very constructive. The Prime Minister expressed a very clear intention that the AMA shou

Federal AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that tort law reform legislation introduced by the NSW Government yesterday is a positive and welcome first step in addressing the escalating medical indemnity crisis. Dr Phelps said that NSW Health Minister, Craig Knowles, should be congratulated for confronting the problem head-on with this legislation. "The other State and Territory Governments should follow the NSW example, then work together to produce further solutions to a

JOURNALIST: Did Dr Wooldridge apologise? PHELPS: Dr Wooldridge did not apologise at this meeting. The AMA welcomes the Prime Minister's intervention in the matter of the consultative process between the AMA and government, and I think that I can say the consultative process will improve, as a result of the Prime Minister's intervention. JOURNALIST: Why do you think that? What assurances were given by either Dr Wooldridge or the Prime Minister? PHELPS: Well, we had a lengthy

COMPERE: The AMA is accusing the big private health funds of putting cost before patient care by listing preferred doctors on their Internet sites. Patients can now browse the web sites of ten health funds to find a medical specialist who won't charge more than what their fund covers. Consumer groups and the Federal Government have welcomed the initiative for giving patients information to help them choose a doctor. In Canberra, Mark Willacy. WILLACY: There's no doubt the biggest

GRIMSHAW: Let's talk about post-polio syndrome, Kerryn. What is it, exactly? PHELPS: Well, this has been in the news, coming from the United States, recently. Well, it's a syndrome that occurs up to forty years after you've had a case of polio. So, Australia does have tens of thousands of polio survivors, and there were a number of epidemics in the past, and, of course, the tragic results because polio caused a very rapid paralysis and it affected tens of thousands of Austral

AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that the Federal Government should issue temporary Medicare cards to all asylum seekers in Australia to allow them access to basic medical care. Dr Phelps said today, World Refugee Day, was an appropriate time for the Government to act to change the current Federal policy, which effectively denies hundreds of asylum seekers a fundamental human right. "In the meantime, small groups of doctors and other health professionals have responded

Today Show, with Tracey Grimshaw and Steve Liebmann Discussion on Netball Australia interim ban on pregnant women COMPERE: Last week on our program you'll recall we canvassed Netball Australia's proposal to ban pregnant women from playing the game at an elite level. Well, yesterday that became a reality, with Netball Australia imposing an interim ban on mothers to be, from all levels, under its control. Now, shortly we'll ask for your opinions in a viewer poll. But first to d

Vice-President of the Federal AMA, Dr Trevor Mudge, said today that Netball Australia's decision to ban pregnant women from playing netball is contrary to the Australian notion of a 'fair go'. Dr Mudge, a senior obstetrician, said medical science indicates there is no problem with pregnant women playing sports like netball up to a certain advanced stage of their pregnancy. "In fact, playing sport and keeping fit are beneficial to women during pregnancy and at delivery. "The so

President of the AMA, Dr Kerryn Phelps, today welcomed moves by Australia's largest medical corporations to adopt a code of conduct drafted in consultation with the AMA. Dr Phelps and officers of the AMA met with the managing directors of Endeavour HealthCare, Foundation HealthCare, Mayne Health and Medical Care Services in Melbourne last Friday to discuss the code of conduct. Dr Phelps said it was agreed that the provision of high quality medical and health services to the Austr

The President of the AMA, Dr Kerryn Phelps, today described the Government's health fund gap advertising campaign - which started on television last night as a poorly veiled attack on the clinical independence of doctors at taxpayer expense. Dr Phelps said the reported $15 million of taxpayer money that is being used to promote the private health funds would have been better spent on public hospitals. "This campaign has no focus on patient care or the best available medical t

Speech to Alternative Therapies Seminar Saturday, 16 June 2001, Sydney "IS THERE PROOF IN THE TOFU PUDDING?" First of all, my thanks to John Eden for inviting me to speak at this seminar - from one "paradigm challenger" to another. John made a very compelling presentation via video to the AMA National Conference last month, and he continues to work tirelessly to build bridges between so-called orthodox medicine and so-called alternative medicine. I'll try to do my bit here tod

"RVS Climb Every MoUntain, Ford Every Stream" Thank you for the opportunity to address the Summit today. I am very pleased to see this effort at engaging grass roots organisations in the debate on the future of our specialty. At a critical time for medicine in this country especially for general practice the AMA has been very active in its advocacy for a better deal for doctors all doctors and a better deal for our patients. I found it curious to hear Nick Demediuk fr

The Australian Medical Association strongly supports calls for better wages for nurses working in private residential aged care facilities. Chair of the AMA's Advisory Committee on the Care of Older People, Dr Gerald Segal, said the AMA was concerned, but not surprised, by the results of a recent study by the Australian Nursing Federation into nurse wages. "The report - Quality Wages, Quality Staff, Quality Care - shows that in most states and territories, the pay for nurses in pri

Contrary to some media reports today, the AMA supports the concept of a voluntary code of 'informed financial consent' for inpatient medical services, AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today. Dr Phelps said the AMA had first looked at the concept in 1988, the policy had been firmly in place since 1994, and was reinforced with an information campaign for doctors in 1998 - and it has been a very successful initiative. "Reported plans by the Federal Government to introduce a manda

ABC Radio 2BL with Raphael Epstein and Angela Catterns Discussion the Australian sick day and the Australian Hotels' Association concern about the amount of medical certificates that are being issued EPSTEIN: What we will talk about first is the great Australian institution of an Australian sick day. A great institution if you're the worker, not so great if you're the employer. The Hotels' Association has been saying something about that. CATTERNS: They have, indeed. They're c

Radio 2GB, with Graham Richardson Discussion - Medicare gap payments ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ RICHARDSON: With me is Dr Kerryn Phelps, the boss of the AMA the Federal President she's on the line. Hello, Kerryn. PHELPS: Hi, Graham. RICHARDSON: Now, you heard what Michael Wooldridge had to say. In terms of this gap, I think you'd agree, wouldn't you, that it would be better if doctors did

Australia's three major health organisations today called for all political parties to support a new system of strengthened and graphic health warnings on cigarette packets. The Cancer Council Australia (CCA), the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the National Heart Foundation want cigarette packets to be covered with images of tumours, oral cancers and diseased organs similar to the health warning system successfully used in Canada. The three organisations have also calle

Channel 9 Today Show, with Steve Liebmann - Discussion on colic; SIDS LIEBMANN: Well, anyone who's ever had a colicky or irritable baby will know the heartache, not to forget the sleep deprivation, that parents go through. And there have also been concerns raised this week about the popular medicine, Phenergan, that many parents, we're told, use to sedate their children, and its possible link, in turn, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Well, joining us now to give us some ad

Radio 2SM with Grant Goldman Discussion on pregnant women participating in sports GOLDMAN: Just on the sporting pregnancy issue, we have on the line from the AMA the Deputy President, Trevor Mudge. G'Day, Trevor. MUDGE: G'Day. GOLDMAN: So, Trevor, what are your thoughts about all of this? MUDGE: I think the important thing is that before the Netball Association do anything, they ought to take some expert advice, which is what they're suggesting, and I think their primary

AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that changes to Medicare proposed by the Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, in the Health Legislation Amendment (Medical Practitioners' Qualifications and Other Measures) Bill will make it harder to get doctors to live and work in rural areas and will hinder the career prospects of Australian junior doctors. Dr Wooldridge is proposing to remove the sunset clause [due to cease to exist in 2002], which would make Medicare provider num

Budding filmmakers are being encouraged to enter the Australian Medical Association and Diners Club Community Service Announcement Award for 2001 with a first prize of $5,000. The theme for this year's competition "Every Body's GORGEOUS" aims to reinforce positive messages about body image. AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said the award encouraged people with film-making aspirations to produce a creative 30 second community service announcement (CSA) for television.

GRIMSHAW: To medical news now, and with winter well and truly upon us, so too is another season of colds and flu. To discuss the best methods of treatment, we're joined now by Today Health Editor, Dr Kerryn Phelps. Good morning, Kerryn. PHELPS: Good morning, Tracey. GRIMSHAW: Time for our annual flu check. Is there a particular bout that's going around this year, or is it the same old common flu? PHELPS: Well, there is a different group of flu viruses and, certainly, th

Radio 3AK - with compares Kevin Hillier and Cathy Bedford. Subjects: 'overprescribing' of antibiotics; corporates; Wooldridge HILLIER: Dr Kerryn Phelps, the President of the AMA, joins us now. Good morning, and welcome to the program. PHELPS: Good morning. BEDFORD: Doctor, how is your relationship with the Health Minister, Dr Wooldridge? PHELPS: Well, I have to say it hasn't really been good from the beginning. We went in that is, the Vice President and I went into initial di

On World No Tobacco Day 2001, the Australian Medical Association has urged the public to patronise only the restaurants, pubs and clubs which go totally smokefree. AMA Federal Vice-President, Dr Trevor Mudge, said there was now widespread community support for smokefree venues. "Eighty-five per cent of Australians want smoking banned in all workplaces and all shopping centres, 77 per cent want smoking banned in restaurants and cafes, according to the Australian Institute of Heal