Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania | Non-profit organisation

Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania

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25.01.2022 The Devonport Respiratory Clinic is offering free coronavirus testing. Tasmanians with cold and flu-like symptoms are encouraged to make an appointment. This in...cludes: - sore or scratchy throat - coughing - runny nose - fever - shortness of breath. So dont ignore the symptoms, even if theyre mild. GPs and nurses at this Australian Government-funded clinic can assess, test and treat you. Book a free appointment now at hotdoc.com.au or visit www.primaryhealthtas.com.au for more information.

23.01.2022 Its great to have the MCH ED re-opening but we want to see it back at full capacity with a mixture of ACEM and ACRRM Specialists to support this hospital

23.01.2022 COVID-19 UPDATE MOBILE TESTING ON THE WEST COAST 29- 30 May: Rosebery... 31 May-1 June: Queenstown To request a test, call your GP or the Public Health Hotline (1800 671 738). You can only be tested if you have a referral. Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms should come forward and get tested. If in doubt, get a test. IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL with a fever or respiratory symptoms call your GP or hotline 800671738 and seek testing. REPORT NON COMPLIANCE of social isolation here: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au//tasmanian-health-hotline-form-f Download the COVIDSAFE App on your phone to help contacts of confirmed cases be reached quickly and effectively. The Premiers Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania here: https://issuu.com//our_plan_to_rebuild_a_stronger_tasmania - Information for West Coast ratepayers here: https://www.westcoast.tas.gov.au/?a=554358 - For mental health support, Lifeline: 13 11 14 - State Government Coronavirus Hub: www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au - Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738 - National Coronavirus Hotline 1800 020 080 - Education Hotline 1800 816 057 CHANGES TO COUNCIL OPERATIONS Council offices are now closed for face to face assistance but are still operating. We can still assist you, contact us by email, phone or the new post box outside our Queenstown office. Council meetings will now be done via video link and live streamed. Questions can be submitted to the General Manager up to 7 days before the meeting or given to your Councillors to present on your behalf. Questions given after the 7 day period will be taken as questions without notice. -Face to face operations have been suspended at the Visitor Centre but staff can still assist you via phone, email or online. -Gyms and Indoor Sports Facilities are closed. -Strahan public toilets are closed except the Esplanade toilet next to the Visitor Centre all other public toilets remain open. -Hire/use of all Council facilities are being reviewed to ensure distancing and hygiene standards are met. -All Town Halls Closed -Waste Collection as normal -Responses to Works Requests as normal -West Coast parking meters non operational -All Swimming Pools Closed -All Campgrounds Closed The Covid-19 situation is changing rapidly, and further changes are likely. Latest information will be provided on this post. Signs will be on facilities that are closed or restricted. Information on Councils Response can be found on our website: www.westcoast.tas.gov.au

22.01.2022 The Mersey Community Hospital Emergency Department will open between 8 am 10 pm daily from Sunday 31 May 2020. Patients who need emergency care outside these... hours will be redirected to other hospitals, including the North West Regional Hospital and Launceston General Hospital. Ambulance Tasmania will continue to transport people in need of emergency hospitalisation to the hospital that is best able to provide the service that patient needs.

21.01.2022 Care closer to home can deliver excellent health outcomes #RuralHealth

21.01.2022 The Tasmanian president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Eve Merfield, said services like the hotline could also save rural patients unnecessary and expensive travel. "Its often stressful enough for rural patients to travel to the city when theyre well, but when theyre debilitated by both their disease and their treatment it can be very distressing," Dr Merfield said. "We know that people in rural areas have poorer outcomes from cancer, for a variety of reasons, so every support they can get to undergo that treatment is really important."

21.01.2022 A solution to the crisis impacting the Mersey Community Hospital is right under the nose of the Tasmanian Government, if only it would think outside the box, th...e Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania (RDAT) has said in a media release issued today. The situation at the Mersey has been like watching a train wreck in slow motion over many years we know that the train needs to change tracks but we cant convince the driver RDAT President, Dr Eve Merfield, said. We have repeatedly told the Government that the ongoing doctor shortage at the Mersey can be fixed by implementing a sustainable and cost-effective Rural Generalist model of care there. Yet it has continued along the path of relying on expensive locums. Read RDATs media release: https://www.rdaa.com.au/documents/item/1182 Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania Peter Gutwein Michael Ferguson Sarah Lovell MLC Rebecca White MP ABC Hobart ABC Northern Tasmania The Mercury Newspaper The Examiner Newspaper, Launceston The Advocate newspaper Tasmania Talks AMA Tasmania Mark Coulton MP Greg Hunt MP Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

21.01.2022 "We need permanent staff, not locums, which is pretty much the situation now." The unions call for a different staff model has been echoed by the Rural Doctors Association Australia. CEO Peta Rutherford said the RDAA had called on the state government some years ago to move the Mersey medical workforce into a rural generalist workforce.... "Both the Mersey and the North West Regional Hospital have a high level of locum engagement, and both have struggled. "Neither has been consistently able to fill their rosters without extensive use of locums. "They need to change the medical workforce model and create a model thats sustainable. "If the answer (from the government) continues to be no reform discussion, and it continues to be further service reductions and continued use of locums, then you are not investing in the future. "We are concerned if there is a continued lack of willingness to actually undertake active reform, what that would mean for the future." Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP AMA Tasmania

20.01.2022 Were excited to have FACRRM Prof Dennis Pashen, A/Prof Malcolm Hogg (Head of Pain Services at Melbourne Health), and Dr Louis Christie (Palliative Care Service... Senior Medical Officer) joining us for our Reducing Opioid Harm - Pain Management webinar tomorrow night (Tuesday 7 July). Register here >> https://bit.ly/2A3HiDI Rural Doctors Association Australia See more

20.01.2022 Together with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), we have made the decision to postpone our #RMA20 conference until 24-27 February 2021.... This follows the resurgence of #COVID19 in Victoria & NSW and the changes to restrictions evolving. The decision supports our commitment to put the health and safety of delegates, sponsors, staff, families, colleagues and communities first. Read our joint statement here - https://bit.ly/30Onvl3. Registrations for the new dates will open soon. If you are yet to purchase your tickets and would like to attend on the new dates, please express your interest via this link (https://bit.ly/3g2Yd97) and we will be in touch shortly to let you know when registrations re-open. We also want to let you know that... ...the #RMA21 conference will still also be going ahead from 20-23 October 2021, meaning you have two chances to attend RMA in 2021! The location of this conference will be revealed later this year, so watch this space and add these dates to your diary now. We look forward to seeing you at one or both of our events in 2021! Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

20.01.2022 Rural Australians deserve high quality palliative care, provided to them or their family members, as close to home as possible - so it is great to see the immen...se commitment made by so many of our rural doctors and other health professionals to delivering this high level of care - including, for many, undertaking extra training and gaining advanced qualifications in this field. During National Palliative Care Week (24-30 May), we recognise the commitment of our rural health professionals in the field of palliative care, and we also recognise the many thousands of rural Australians who benefit from high quality palliative care in their own homes and communities each year. The theme of National Palliative Care Week this year - "Palliative CareIts more than you think" - very aptly describes the importance of palliative care in our lives, and especially in the lives of rural patients and their families. Follow this link to view a really interesting webinar that we recently convened with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) on the provision of palliative care during COVID-19 pandemic - https://bit.ly/36qHw3w Find more information about National Palliative Care Week and palliative care itself at Palliative Care Australia. #palliativecare #NPCW2020 #morethanyouthink #auspol #gorural #loverural #medtwitter #ruralgeneralist #ruralpalliativecare #destinationrural Greg Hunt MP Mark Coulton MP Australian Government Department of Health

20.01.2022 Webinar on tonight; register here: https://mycollege.acrrm.org.au//find-college-event/details

19.01.2022 GPTT's Dr Jim Berryman and Saunders Street Clinic have been awarded the National RACGP GP Supervisor of the Year and General Practice of the Year. We are very f...ortunate to have Dr Berryman and the Team at Saunders Street Clinic continuing to make a huge difference to the community of the North West and General Practice Training in Tasmania. https://gptt.com.au//dr-jim-berryman-awarded-australian-g/

18.01.2022 The Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania is gravely concerned about the reduced operating hours of the Mersey Community Hospital. RDAT advocates for safe and timely healthcare to all Australians in rural and remote areas. We have continually advocated to the Tasmanian Government to consider the local GP workforce to assist in the staffing of hospitals in the NW Coast. This Rural Generalist model has been successful in other states such as Queensland and NSW, has saved rura...l hospitals from closing and even seen some services such as maternity reinstated. RDAT strongly recommends that the Health Minister and Health Secretary invest in the local health workforce and work to reinstate the Emergency Department at the MCH in a safe and timely manner. Rural Doctors Association Australia Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP AMA Tasmania Ambulance Tasmania Department of Health, Tasmania ABC Northern Tasmania WIN News Tasmania

17.01.2022 Many members are continuing to report problems in sourcing PPE. So ACRRM & Rural Doctors Association Australia decided to do something about it! Members now hav...e exclusive access to purchase PPE supplies for their practice. Hurry! You have until midday 8 June to get your orders in. >> https://bit.ly/2XWMhOp Not an ACRRM or RDAA member? You can still take advantage of this offer, plus enjoy membership benefits until 30 June 2021 by becoming a member today. Learn more here >> https://bit.ly/2XWMhOp See more

17.01.2022 Were pleased to offer a further opportunity for ACRRM & RDAA members to access PPE for their practice. Members have until 12:00pm Tues 23 June to submit their orders for isolation gowns and face shields. >> https://bit.ly/2BhhnIQ Not a member? Sign up now to access this offer.

16.01.2022 DEADLINE EXTENDED - RURAL HEALTH BURSARY Calling all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students (in your second year of medicine or later) - the app...lication deadline has been extended until Monday 29 June for the MDA National and RDAA Rural Health Bursary for 2020! Our major sponsor, MDA National, is generously offering a Bursary again in 2020 as part of its ongoing relationship with us. The initiative is supported by a partnership with the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association. The Bursary is valued at $7000 + GST and is intended to assist the recipient with undertaking a rural or remote clinical placement; any other activity (including research) that would benefit rural/remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and/or rural/remote health; or relocation, living and/or study expenses to support your study. The Bursary will also support attendance at the annual Rural Medicine Australia conference that we hold with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). Find more details on the Bursary here! https://www.rdaa.com.au/documents/item/1058

16.01.2022 Are your socks sorted? Tomorrow, Friday 5 June, you are invited to show support for healthcare workers experiencing mental illness. Spread the message and encou...rage doctors to talk about mental health - take a photo of your bright, zany socks and share it on social media using the hashtag #CrazySocks4Docs See more

16.01.2022 Join RACGP #DestinationRural webinar Everything rural GP 7pm (AEST) (so 8pm for Vic,NSW & Tas, just to be clear) Wednesday 2 December 2020. The session will be ...highly interactive where all your questions (even the one you think you shouldn't ask) will be answered. register now https://racgp.zoom.us/we/register/WN_B51yYftUQAijWhudznf8Pw

14.01.2022 Applications are now open for Registrar positions in the THS North West https://careers.pageuppeople.com/759/cw/en/filter/

14.01.2022 Queenstown ambulance volunteers were among four community-led emergency services to secure a share of $20 000 of the Granville Harbour Wind Farm Volunteer Emerg...ency Services Grant. Queenstown Ambulance Tasmania volunteers will receive a satellite phone, and education and kitchen equipment for staff on shift. The companys grants will run for another two years providing $50 000 overall to emergency services to help them attract new volunteers to support the West Coast community.

12.01.2022 Congratulations Associate Professor Ruth Stewart!

11.01.2022 Due to a high wind warning, the West Park Burnie testing clinic will be closed on Tuesday 16 June.

10.01.2022 Are you a medical student or junior doctor wanting to explore the vast array of rural medical training and career opportunities that are on offer in regional an...d rural NSW? If so, this webinar next week is a must-attend! Join the Rural Doctors Association of NSW (RDANSW) next Tuesday 25 August (7pm AEST) for a great webinar about rural medical careers. Guest panelists include Dr Trevor Cheney, Dr Danny Ryan, Dr Ann Tosomeen and Dr Sue Velovski. The webinar will be hosted by RDANSW President, Dr Charles Evill. Register here: https://bit.ly/3iOfSTe AMSA: Australian Medical Students Association AMSA Rural Health National Rural Health Student Network NSW Rural Doctors Network AMA (NSW) Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP HETI - Health Education and Training Institute NSW Health Mark Coulton MP Australian Government Department of Health

10.01.2022 The health of Circular Heads only general practice looks stronger than ever with the news a major regional and remote healthcare service has taken over. Ochre Health co-founder Dr Ross Lamplugh said the plan was to boost the number of permanent doctors back to seven.

09.01.2022 Congratulations to UTAS Rural Clinical School student Alice Thompson who was awarded the RDAT Prize for Rural Medicine by RDAT Committee Member and Director of Rural Pathways, Dr Peter Arvier. Alice will commence her internship at the Launceston General Hospital in 2021.

07.01.2022 The RDAT have long been advocating for the recruitment of Rural Generalist Doctors at MCH and this latest failed campaign is another sign the the Tas Govt need to innovate their workforce model to meet the needs of the local community

05.01.2022 To joke that an upgraded highway is in any way a viable substitute for local birthing services is disgraceful. That Prime Minister Morrison would turn the high...ly stressful and risky issue of roadside births into a joke for the benefit of his parliamentary colleagues is extremely concerning. Read more: https://www.rdaa.com.au/documents/item/1109

05.01.2022 Class of 2020! We could not be prouder of what you have achieved in your 5 years of medicine, let alone through a year of challenges and constant changes. Your ...resilience and willingness to adapt, while remaining positive is a testament to your characters and we look forward to seeing you grow into the fantastic doctors we know you are. Congratulations! #classof2020 See more

04.01.2022 The Rural Generalist model of staffing with a mix of ACRRM, RACGP and ACEM specialists will decrease the reliance on locums, improve local leadership and provide valuable healthcare to the community

03.01.2022 Listen to Dr Eve Merfield on Tasmania Talks discussing the issues in rural health in Tasmania including the Mersey Community Hospital and the Rural Generalist Model: https://embeds.audioboom.com/publishing/playlist/v4 Rural Doctors Association Australia Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP Rustica

02.01.2022 Join your local Rural Health Club Rustica

01.01.2022 The State Government is under pressure for its management of the health system following a cut to emergency services at the Mersey Hospital. Labor and the unions fear it will create a ripple effect across the region, putting additional pressure on the front line.

01.01.2022 The Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania completely rejects the notion made by Dr McArdle that the MCH ED may never return to 24/7 staffing due to the chronic issues of recruitment and retention of health care workers in Rural and Remote Australia. We have continually advocated for innovative workforce solutions such as the Rural Generalist program, the single employer model for GP Registrars, improved pay parity for Tasmanian Doctors, improved support for housing, upskilling, developing a vibrant medical community socially and family supports for spouses and children. The AMA and the State Government need to stop turning a blind eye to the chronic issues in NW Tasmania and applying bandaid solutions that impact poorly on the overall health and well-being of Tasmanians.

01.01.2022 King Islands Dr Ann Buchan representing the RVTS Pathway