The problem with corporatized medicine ( be it swallowed up by a corporate state, like British NHS, or by capitalist corporations) is that al the credit for good results is assumed by that corporate state or company. All too commonly, bad results are left on the shoulders of the doctors. Although the enemies of private medicine shriek that all protests from private doctors are “all about money”, this is not true. Many private doctors could have a less demanding life if they were simpy 9 to 5 employees rather than independent people dependent on individuals paying for their services. This may seem too simplistic an argument, but it is a plausible one. Most of us surrendered our youth to study and exams – an later asked sacrifices of spouses and families too, when Dr Dad or Dr Mum had to work so late, or was called away in the middle of birthday parties, school concerts etc etc. This is something we must not forget, and we must also put this simple observation to our students and junior doctors.
Continue Reading January 10th, 2012
Stephen Milgate - Executive Officer
Australian Doctors’ Fund
St Vincent Hospital
First Annual Mental Health & Psychiatry Conference
I have renamed my topic:
WAYS TO GET PEAK PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR HOSPITAL WORK GROUP
Continue Reading December 6th, 2011
The dominant view within the Commonwealth and State Government medical workforce decision-making bureaucracies is that Australia has a serious shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) and hospital doctors, that is those who work as non-specialist Hospital Medical Officers (HMOs).
This diagnosis has dominated policy on the matter since the early 2000s. In response, the Commonwealth and State Governments have encouraged the recruitment of international medical graduates (IMGs) and allowed them to practise on concessional terms, as long as they do so in districts of workforce shortage. These are defined by the Commonwealth as districts where the ratio of population to doctors is above the national average.
GPs have been permitted to migrate under Australia’s permanent entry skilled migration visa categories as long as they can obtain general registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). This means that they have to possess credentials equivalent to those of domestic medical graduates who have completed their intern year. …
Continue Reading October 11th, 2011
Senator Adams wants to know what happens if a Medicare Local doesn’t perform. The following transcript from Senate Hansard, dated 30/5/2011 makes it perfectly clear …
Continue Reading September 19th, 2011
Sweden has a national health system that has had its time in the sun. Like the whole nation, it has run out of money. People who have paid high taxes all their lives cannot get the care they need, save after long waits (many months or more than a year in some cases, just to see a specialist in an outpatient clinic. Nursing home type care is d severely rationed. Old people are left alone in their homes and “supported” by home visitors who are not trained nurses. Home visits by doctors are virtually unknown, save by a few private emergency firms (often using foreign doctors), nurses are quitting in droves or having protest meetings to demand better pay. The people have no choice, like the British NHS clientele, they have to go where they are sent by the regional health authority which is the equivalent of a NHS trust or a Medicare “local” in Australia.
Continue Reading September 6th, 2011
A poem read out at a function organised by cancer survivor, Mr Kilner Mason, principal of the Mason Picture Company to celebrate the conclusion of his chemotherapy treatment on Saturday 30 July 2011 at Darling Harbour and to thank his oncology team represented by Dr Chris Milross and Dr Michael Boyer with a generous donation to the RPA Oncology Unit.
The ADF salutes the great work of our oncologists and their teams.
Continue Reading September 1st, 2011
“Medicare Locals” it seems will solve the woes of anyone who has trouble finding a GP anywhere and at any hour.
The usual buzzwords are there, about “access” and “equity”.
But hang on – wasn’t all this supposed to have been fixed up by MEDICARE – it has had 27 years to prove itself, after all .
Continue Reading August 31st, 2011
Australian Doctors Orchestra - 2011 Charity Concert.
2pm Sunday 18th September 2011 at Sydney Town Hall, Sydney.
Continue Reading August 21st, 2011
This paper was presented by Dr. Lachlan Dunjey at the Notre Dame University: Medical Law - lecture 15 Sept 2010. Dr Dunjey is the Convenor of group identifiying itself as “Medicine With Morality”. This paper provides his analysis of the Euthanasia Debate.
Continue Reading November 13th, 2010
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Doctors’ Fund Limited will be held at: 12 Seaforth Street, Bexley NSW 2207 or by teleconference on Tuesday, 23rd November 2010 at 8.15am (Sydney time). Those wanting to participate by teleconference, please inform Bethany McIntosh on (02) 9567 5595BUSINESS
1 Proxies
2 Apologies
3 Minutes of the 2009 Annual General Meeting
4 Financial Report
To receive, consider and adopt the financial report of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2010 together with the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon.
5 Election of Directors
In accordance with the company’s articles of association, the directors are subject to re-election.
6 General Business
To transact any business that may be lawfully brought forward.
By order of the Board of the Australian Doctors’ Fund Limited.
A member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his/her stead. That person need not be a member of the company, but should be a natural person over the age of 18 years. Forms to appoint proxies must be lodged at the registered office of the company not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting.
Stephen Milgate
Executive Director
Australian Doctors’ Fund Ltd
19 October 2010.
October 26th, 2010
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