VICDOC Summer 2023 - Magazine - Page 65
much broader. In 2024 we will continue to
urge the Government to focus on resolving
the class actions at the negotiating table
and fixing the health system rather than
dragging public hospital doctors through
the courts.
2024 will also witness the continued
implementation of Health Service
Information Sharing — an initiative for
which we long advocated. This initiative
will connect health information across
our public health services and reduce the
burden on patients of having to recall
and advise doctors of their past medical
history. Access to relevant treatment
information will allow clinicians to start
treatment sooner, will reduce unnecessary
tests and investigations and will reduce the
likelihood of medication errors — outcomes
which have the potential to save lives.
2. GENERAL PRACTICE
-
In 2024, as in 2023, General Practice will
be a key AMAV advocacy focus. General
practice is in crisis, and the workforce and
financial challenges it currently confronts
are a significant threat to the sustainability
of our healthcare system, and the health
and welfare of Victorians. In2023 we
wrote to the Victorian Government
proposing a collaborative effort to develop
a comprehensive General Practice Support
and Recovery Strategy.
In contacting the Government, we
expressed optimism regarding Premier
Allan's public comments about the need
to improve general practice accessibility,
and the desire of all state Premiers to
advocate at National Cabinet for
further improvements to Medicare.
Despite the Victorian Government's
recent laudable investments in various
primary care initiatives, we hold concerns
that some of these endeavours may
fragment the delivery of primary care and
general practice services in Victoria, and
do not align with the Strengthening
Medicare foundational reform direction of
fostering coordinated team care. Further,
in our experience, these various services
are not well understood by Victorian
consumers which has implications
for access and appropriate use.
Victoria lags behind other states in its
support for general practice, especially
regarding the implementation of the Single
Employer Model for General Practice
Registrars and the potential imposition of
retroactive payroll tax bills. The latter has
sparked considerable concerns and anxiety
— concerns which we have consistently
relayed to Government.
There is a pressing need for a dedicated,
Victoria-specific General Practice Support
and Recovery strategy. AMAV envisages
this strategy would include elements such
as the future of GP registrar incentive
payments, Single Employer Model trials
for registrars, two-way data sharing, and
ensuring that state-initiated pharmacy
prescribing measures do not disrupt GPled team-based care. It would also seek to
address intersections with Priority Primary
Care Centres and the Victorian Virtual
Emergency Department, as well as improve
GP/hospital transfer of care arrangements,
reduce state-imposed administrative
burdens on GPs, and address payroll
tax concerns.
It is our view that development and
implementation of such a strategy would
prevent duplication and fragmentation,
enhance coordination, team-based care and
productivity, and, ultimately, improve the
sustainability of Victorian General Practice,
and, in turn, the health of all Victorians.
We are pleased to update members
that, having proposed this strategy to the
Department and Government, they have
responded favourably and in 2024 we will
collaborate with both on multiple fronts
to strengthen state support for GPs and
GP registrars.
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