President and CEO update - June 2023
The state budget has been handed down, with a record health spend that is above the inflation rate and the implementation of more of our Ramping Roundtable recommendations. However, we are yet to see the Workforce Plan to find the thousands of new staff needed to meet increasing demand across the state. We have seen the reopening of the Gladstone Hospital maternity unit after almost a year on bypass, but other units remain closed around the state.
State budget
The Queensland budget finally recognised it’s not good enough to just keep level with inflation, delivering a 9.6 per cent increase in overall healthcare spending and 2.6% above CPI.
Our health investments must keep up with our rapidly growing population and increasing costs of delivering high-quality healthcare.
We were pleased to see the implementation of our Ramping Roundtable recommendation to extend hospital transit and discharge lounge opening hours. Allowing patients to be discharged after hours and on weekends will free up beds for patients waiting in emergency departments.
We welcome the detail around the financial incentives to attract interstate and international doctors and healthcare workers to rural and remote Queensland. We would like to see this scheme expanded to include GPs and other private specialists, not just Queensland Health employees.
However, this budget missed the opportunity to outline the strategy needed to find the workforce for our healthcare system. Queensland Health is finalising a Workforce Plan. This must look at the entire workforce – GPs, aged care staff, disability workers, private hospitals – as well as Queensland Health employees to identify current and future shortfalls and gaps.
We look forward to seeing more detail in coming weeks and working with the Minister on implementing these budget measures.
Rural health
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has announced a new trial to bring allied health practitioners to five remote and rural Queensland communities, following similar projects in New South Wales and Western Australia.
Under the scheme, allied health practitioners including psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers will travel to Blackall-Tambo, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry for regular in-person clinics, followed up by telehealth appointments.
AMA Queensland has long advocated for innovative projects to support healthcare practitioners to work in rural and remote communities as part of GP-led multidisciplinary teams.
We look forward to seeing the results of this $1.5 million trial.
Payroll tax
Treasurer Cameron Dick has made it clear the payroll tax amnesty for general practices will not be extended beyond June 2025. While we thank Queensland for being the only state or territory to offer an amnesty on the application of this new interpretation of tax laws, we will continue to advocate for an exemption for GPs.
We will make this an election issue next year as GPs will not be able to absorb the added tax and will have to pass it on to patients.
We hope that once again Queensland leads the way and recognises how important it is not to make access to GPs more expensive for patients, particularly in rural and remote areas.
We encourage all practices to seek legal and accounting advice about registering for the amnesty. Practices must complete an expression of interest form by 29 September 2023 to be eligible.
Transcript - Staff the key to health system challenges
Payroll tax amnesty for contracted general practitioners
Maternity services
It is a great relief that maternity services have been restored at Gladstone Hospital after almost a year on bypass.
We look forward to seeing more details of how the $42 million allocated in the state budget for maternity services will be used to fill workforce shortages that have led to many rural units closing or being put on indefinite bypass.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has made it clear in media interviews that she is working with AMA Queensland on solutions to the obstetrician shortage in regional Queensland and that the first new staff recruited from interstate and overseas under the financial incentives offer will start work from 1 July.
We will continue to advocate for more obstetricians, anaesthetists and paediatricians to be recruited and retained in regional Queensland so other maternity units like Biloela and Cooktown can reopen.
General practice
AMA Queensland is continuing to advocate for Queensland to follow Victoria’s lead and offer financial incentives to medical graduates to pursue general practice as their specialty.
Victoria’s GP training program was oversubscribed this year following the introduction of the incentives, while there are still places available in Queensland.
Currently only 15 per cent of medical students want to train as GPs, pointing to a looming shortfall over the next decade as GPs retire.
The state government says GPs are a federal issue but we believe all levels of government have a role to play. If you’re a patient trying to make an after-hours appointment with your GP, you don’t care where the funding comes from.
Bulk billing incentive changes
We have developed a suite of resources to inform patients about changes to the bulk billing incentive and why it will not impact their Medicare rebates. They’re designed for practices to print in-house as wall posters and patient fact sheets. Visit our website to download them.
AMA Queensland Foundation EOFY Tax Appeal
The AMA Queensland Foundation has launched its end of financial year tax appeal to bring healthcare to Queenslanders experiencing homelessness with charity partner Beddown.
Funds raised will help Beddown open new accommodating venues across the state and connect guests with vital outreach medical, healthcare and hygiene services.
Donations can be made through the Foundation website and all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Medical student scholarships
Three James Cook University medical students are receiving financial help from the AMA Queensland Foundation to assist in continuing their medical studies.
Ryan Luck, 21 and Julie George, 22, have been awarded AMA Queensland Foundation Medical Student Scholarships of $10,000. The third recipient has requested privacy.,
All three are outstanding students who have overcome personal hurdles to continue the challenging but rewarding path of medicine.
We encourage all colleagues to donate to the Foundation so it can continue its good work.
Emergency department presentations
Queensland has seen a surge in children presenting to emergency departments as the winter flu and RSV season kicks in.
Our hospitals are overstretched and relying on the dedication and altruism of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to keep the system operating.
We are urging all Queenslanders to get their influenza vaccinations and COVID boosters, to practise good hand hygiene, and to stay home if they are sick.
We have had more than 27,000 confirmed flu cases and almost 15,000 RSV cases in Queensland this year. While COVID cases are dropping, we are still seeing more than 500 new cases reported every day. All Queenslanders need to be vigilant about their own health and the health of others to avoid our hospitals becoming swamped with respiratory cases.
Vaping
New tobacco laws passed state parliament last month following strong AMA Queensland advocacy.
The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Act introduces a licensing regime for nicotine products, including vapes and e-cigarettes, with new offences and penalties, and stronger enforcement.
We have been calling for this action for years. Last year, Queensland received the Dirty Ashtray Award for the government’s failure to enforce regulations around the sale of vapes.
Hopefully this will ensure we do not receive this award again.
We are seeing welcome moves at both the state and federal levels to crack down on non-prescription nicotine products to protect young people from nicotine addiction and lung damage.
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Junior Doctor Conference and Women in Medicine Breakfast
In May we travelled to Townsville for a number of events, including the sold-out Women in Medicine Breakfast and the Junior Doctor Conference (JDC).
There was significant media interest in JDC as it showcased North Queensland to medical students and junior doctors considering a career in regional Queensland.
Dinner for the Profession
More than 180 people crowded into Customs House for our annual black tie Dinner for the Profession, which followed the AMA Queensland AGM on Friday 26 May.
Several awards were presented, including AMA Queensland’s highest honour, the Gold Medal, which was conferred posthumously on Dr Kate Sinclair. Her son, Dr George Lindley-Jones, accepted the award on her family’s behalf.
Dr Jennifer Schafer was awarded the Excellence in Health Care Medal, Dr Rosemary Geraghty was named the Rural Health Medallist and accountant Patrick Staunton was made a Distinguished Support Member for his long service as chair of the AMA Queensland Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC).
Past President and AMA Queensland Foundation Board chairman Dr Dilip Dhupelia was presented with his AMA Roll of Fellows certificate, after the original presentation was delayed by the pandemic.
Senior Doctors Conference
We are pleased to be partnering with the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association (ASADA), led by AMA Queensland Board member Dr Geoff Hawson, to host the second Senior Doctors Conference in August at Waters Edge Brisbane. Early-bird ticket prices end on 9 July.
Last year’s conference saw almost 100 senior active and retired doctors travel nationally for the conference. This year's program will cover topics such as: healthy ageing; encore careers; and senior doctors and the health system.
Save Saturday 19 August in your calendar and register now to secure your early-bird pricing.