Dr Fred Betros, AMA President Dr Saxon Smith and Dr Kean-Seng Lim face the media Feature Winning the election While candidates fought to win their seats in the NSW State Election, it looks like the real winners were the AMA (NSW)’s priorities for health. The ballots have been counted and despite a state-wide swing of more than 9 per cent toward Labor, the Coalition has retained government with a strong margin. In the lead-up to the election, AMA (NSW) lobbied both the Coalition and Labor parties – meeting with key people including the Health Minister, Shadow Health Minister, the Premier, and associated personnel from their offices. In addition, AMA (NSW) organised a series of meetings between grassroots AMA members and their local politicians (both MPs and candidates). AMA (NSW) outlined its key goals in the AMA (NSW) 2015 State Election Priorities for Health. The policy papers focused on eight specific areas: Increasing GP involvement in the public health system; Improving the health of rural and regional communities in NSW; Improving access to health services; Improving end of life care; Improving health funding certainty; Improving health outcomes through public health initiatives; Providing world-class medical education and training; and Increasing the involvement of medical practitioners in decision-making. NEW TRAINING PLACES The first of the AMA (NSW) priorities for health, Improving the Health of Rural and Regional Communities in NSW, was launched in Dubbo. AMA (NSW) President, Dr Saxon Smith, visited Dubbo Base Hospital to meet with local doctors and media to highlight the goals outlined in the policy paper. He called for funding of $30 million over four years to boost doctor numbers in rural and regional NSW. “Forty per cent of the NSW population lives outside of Sydney and it is well known that patients from rural and regional areas face higher costs and longer travel times to access medical care,” Dr Smith said. “Medical graduate numbers have doubled in the last five years as part of a plan to address the severe medical workforce shortages in NSW and Australia. “We must not waste this once-ina-lifetime opportunity to provide an 20 I THE NSW DOCTOR I NON-MEMBER ISSUE I MAY/JUNE 2015 adequate medical workforce in regional NSW,” he added. Shortly after, the Coalition government announced its plan to base 60 new registrar positions in outer metropolitan and regional hospitals. “Given time, this will help solve the doctor shortage being experienced in country NSW,” Dr Smith said in response. In the lead-up to the election, the Coalition made several other promises that were closely aligned with AMA (NSW) priorities. Key pledges included: • Nearly $1 billion for upgrades to Westmead Hospital, this was in addition to several multimillion dollar promises for other hospital upgrades around the state • Funding for 700 new doctors • Prior to the election, AMA (NSW), ASMOF and Health Minister Jillian Skinner signed a memorandum of understanding making feedback from senior doctors an important part of hospital managers’ annual reviews Dr Colin McClintock, Dr Randall Greenberg, AMA President Dr Saxon Smith and Dr James Yeung at Dubbo Base Hospital In the lead-up to the election, the Coalition pledged nearly $1 billion for upgrades to Westmead Hospital. • Funding the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic at Westmead Hospital, taking over from the pilot program FARE started • Removing the co-payment on chemotherapy for public patients, as well as other drugs for conditions such as HIV, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis, severe allergic asthma and rare diseases • The Coalition pledged not to introduce nurse-led walk-in clinics co-located at hospitals • Five paediatric surgeon positions for the Children’s Hospital Network and a commitment to improve paediatric services in NSW While the Coalition won the election, it should be noted that by election day, Labor was also pledging nearly the same amount of money as the Coalition for Westmead upgrades, it also pledged to remove co-payments for chemotherapy, and had promised significant spends on hospital infrastructure. dr. Jillian Skinner has been reappointed as Health Minister Going forward Shortly after the election Premier Mike Baird announced his cabinet. Significantly, Jillian Skinner will retain the Health portfolio. “AMA (NSW) has a good working relationship with the Minister and I look forward to continuing to work with her towards better health outcomes for people in the state,” Dr Smith said. He added, “AMA (NSW) welcomes the news Pru Goward has taken over the mental health portfolio. “This also presents a good chance to improve the health of people in NSW. “A new minister will bring a fresh perspective and I will be happy to work with Ms Goward on improving mental health services, particularly those in the public sector,” Dr Smith said. “It’s especially pleasing that Ms Goward has been named the Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “Domestic violence is a problem that crosses many jurisdictions – health, law and order, and community services to name a few – and I’m glad the Government appears to be making this a priority. “I look forward to discussing with the Minister the role doctors can play in helping to fight this scourge,” Dr Smith said. AMA (NSW) looks forward to continuing to advocate on behalf of a better health system for doctors and patients in 2015.
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