Announcements

AUSTRALIA

Border and quarantine fixes are urgently needed

The Australian, Editorials, 11/05/2021, Page 10

Australia's success in suppressing COVID-19 has been a triumph for public safety but it also has helped to foster a culture of risk aversion that is proving difficult to shake. Evidence of over-caution can be found across all levels of government, and from the public. Read more

Easier to 'come and go' with jab

Daily Telegraph, General News, 11/05/2021, Clare Armstrong, Page 2

The ability to come and go from Australia more easily and not be subjected to as many restrictions is an "incentive" to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Mr Hunt said the federal government was developing a road map for reopening Australia that would be a "progressive" easing of measures. Read more

Australia notches up record number of COVID-19 jabs administered in week

ABC Online, Other, 10/05/2021, Tahlia Roy

Australia's vaccination program has struggled to meet its targets from the get-go, but Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced a record week of shots in arms. A record 402,000 vaccine doses were delivered last week. Read more

Fixing wreck of aged care could be Morrison's legacy

The Australian, General News, 11/05/2021, Stephen Lunn, Page 4

Fixing aged care could be Scott Morrison's prime ministerial legacy, but simply throwing more money at an out-of-date system won't deliver the reforms needed, aged-care advocates say. After The Australian revealed Tuesday's federal budget is set to deliver a new $18bn aged-care reform package over the next four years, advocates say a systemwide overhaul is needed to cut out waste and ensure better-quality care to the growing cohort of older Australians. Read more

QUEENSLAND

Gold Coast population surge puts unprecedented pressure on medical clinics

ABC News, 10/05/21, Sarah Cummings

Gold Coast doctors say they're battling a new COVID crisis caused by the population boom in Queensland. ... Dr Unni said her staff were trying to prioritise the most needy patients, including children and people with chronic diseases ... Read more

Queensland COVID-19 vaccine rollout lags as other states open mass jab hubs new data shows

The Courier Mail, 11/05/21, Madura McCormack

Queensland’s COVID jab drive is failing to keep pace with Victoria and NSW as the other states implement mass vaccination hubs. Read more

Sweeping change at doctor’s surgery sparks call for review

The Courier Mail, 10/05/21, Jackie Sinnerton

The rise of super GP clinics that are owned by large corporations and host multiple services has triggered calls for a sweeping review and potential regulation. Read more

Rural bulk billing rebates will increase up to 40 per cent across regional, remote and rural towns

Daily Mercury, 10/05/21, Heidi Petith

Rural doctors applaud the ‘game-changing’ increases making healthcare across Mackay Whitsunday Isaac more affordable. HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR SUBURB>> Read more

Changes will make GP bulk billing in the bush more widespread

Queensland Country Life, 10/05/21,  Jamieson Murphy

Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton said more than 12,000 rural and remote GPs would be eligible for the higher bulk billing incentive. "Australians in ... Read more

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Medical Association

Testing our defences

Sydney Morning Herald, General News, 08/05/2021, Deborah Snow, Page 23

The Australian Medical Association has also used the furore over the India flights suspension to mount a fresh push against vulnerabilities in the hotel quarantine system.

“We really want to see our national cabinet exploring what is the post-hotel quarantine future,” AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid told journalists on Tuesday. Read more

COVID-19

New advice on COVID spread puts air quality in the spotlight

The Age, Other, 09/05/2021, Aisha Dow and Michael Koziol

Changing World Health Organisation advice on the airborne transmission risk of COVID-19 has sparked calls for Australian officials to update national guidelines on air quality. [...] A controversial recommendation from the government's Infection Control Expert Group still allows surgical masks and protective eyewear to be used in the routine care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, despite criticism from infection diseases experts and the Australian Medical Association who say surgical masks cannot protect against airborne spread. Read more

Five Australians suffer blood clots after AstraZeneca jab in one week

News.com.au, 08/05/21, Darren Cartwright

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young revealed the 66-year-old Townsville man’s condition had been directly linked to being vaccinated against COVID-19 at a midday press conference on Thursday.

“The TGA, I understand, will announce later today a case of thrombosis following an AstraZeneca vaccination in a 66-year-old gentleman in Townsville,” she said.

“He has been admitted to the ICU.

“TGA has confirmed that his illness is a direct result of the AstraZeneca vaccine.” Read more

COVID live: Queensland, NSW and Victoria open to receiving more flights from India, PM says

ABC News, 07/05/21, Updated 08/05/21, Michael Doyle and Kelsie Iorio

Mr Morrison made the announcement after the latest national Cabinet meeting. Read more

‘It has worked’: Dutton defends Australia’s hotel quarantine system

Sydney Morning Herald, 07/05/21, Lydia Lynch

'It has worked': Dutton defends Australia's hotel quarantine system ... Defence Minister Peter Dutton has defended the use of hotels to quarantine ... Victoria and Queensland have stagnated as negotiations between state and federal ... Read more

Qld hospital not treating virus cases

The West Australian, 07/05/21, AAP

Queensland's second-largest hospital hasn't treated a coronavirus patient for more than a month after an outbreak was traced to its infectious diseases ward.

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane has been locked down twice in recent months due to two separate COVID-19 outbreaks in the city. Read more

Hotel quarantine now mandatory for some Sydney travellers to Qld

MyGC.com.au, 07/05/21, Shanee Dobeson

Anyone arriving in Queensland who has been to a COVID-19 exposure site in Sydney is being forced into hotel quarantine for two weeks.

The new measure, announced by the State’s top doctor on Thursday, kicked in at 1.00am on Friday and is now mandatory.

It comes as the sunshine state attempts to limit the risk of the virus potentially leaking from NSW into Queensland.

‘I’ll never take anything for granted’: Brisbane doctor’s battle with long COVID

The Courier Mail, 07/05/21, Jane Armitstead

At 26 years of age, Brisbane doctor Jack Cooper thought he would be able to beat COVID quickly when he was diagnosed last year. But he’s still battling chest pains and headaches. Read more

COVID Qld: Vaccine benefits far outweigh clotting risks

The Courier Mail, 07/05/21, Madura McCormack

Doctors fear the latest cases of rare blood clots could increase vaccine hesitancy in the community — despite the benefits far outweighing the risks. Read more

Public Health and Medical Practice

No time to wait: royal commission's aged-care reforms must be implemented immediately

The Australian, Business News, 10/05/2021, Cam Ansell, Page 18

While the recommendations provided in the aged care royal commission's final report are complex, the fundamental principle is simple. It recognises that older Australians should receive care and support when they need it, not when the federal government decides it can afford it. Read more (behind paywall)

Labor says the budget pitch to women is too little, too late

Canberra Times, General News, 10/05/2021, Karen Barlow, Page 4

Federal Labor has criticised the Morrison government budget measures on childcare, health, economic security, and domestic violence to support women as "managing a political problem" and coming too little, too late. There is more to be revealed on Tuesday's budget night, but as part of a stand-alone 50-page Budget Statement on Women there is a $354 million package to improve health outcomes for women and girls, a reported $680 million revamp of domestic violence prevention measures and $1.7 billion package to make childcare more affordable particularly for parents of multiple children.

  Read More

ACRRM welcomes Rural Bulk Billing Incentive

Media release, ACRRM, 08/05/21

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes today’s announcement by the Federal Government that it will boost bulk billing incentives to improve healthcare provision in rural and remote communities.

Canavan, Stoker make bold claims at Brisbane pro-life rally

Brisbane Times, 08/05/21, Toby Crockford

Queensland LNP senator Matt Canavan has announced at a pro-life rally in ... In March this year, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the number of ... Read more

$7m hospital expansion eases the burden on Bowen patients

The Courier Mail, 07/05/21, Kirra Grimes

Regional Health Assistant Minister Julieanne Gilbert said there would be up ... The Mackay MP said the Queensland Government had also allocated ... Read more

The juggle is real for orthopaedic surgeon mums

Courier Mail, 08/05/21, Jackie Sinnerton

A cultural shift is happening in Queensland hospitals with more women ... Orthopaedics has long been considered best suited for big burly doctors ... Read more

Ambulance ramping Qld: Woman dies after diabetic coma from hospital food

Courier Mail, 09/05/21, Hayden Johnson

State Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said public health workers were doing an “exceptional job every single day” across Queensland. “Amid ... Read more

AMA Queensland

Noel Hayman awarded honorary doctorate

News, The University of Sydney, 06/05/21

Professor Hayman has been admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine (honoris ... medical students to graduate from the University of Queensland, in 1990. ... A founding member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, ... Read more

 

 

We are currently undertaking an Honours project at Queensland University of Technology in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, and part of the research involves administering a survey to medical and health practitioners. The survey will include questions on participants’ practices relating to vitamin B12 and women of reproductive age and will be able to be completed anonymously online.  

We’re looking to recruit people to complete the survey who meet the following criteria: 

• Currently working as either a general medical practitioner (G.P.), dietitian, nutritionist or naturopath in Australia. 
• See patients in a one-on-one situation. 
• Some patients seen are women of reproductive age (aged 18-44 years) 

Participants will be able to enter into a prize draw to win one of two $250 Coles and Myer Group vouchers. 

Further details of the study and how people can participate can be found by clicking the following link:  https://survey.qut.edu.au/f/195729/1fc6/ 

Please note that this study has been approved by the QUT Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 1800001055). 

Please find attached a memorandum from Professor Rebecca Kimble advising the following new publications on the Queensland Clinical Guidelines website

NeoMedQ

• Sucrose
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Hepatitis B immunoglobulin
• Phytomenadione

Statewide Nomograms to accompany neonatal jaundice clinical guideline

• Nomogram: Baby greater than 38
• Nomogram: Baby 35 to 37+6 weeks
• Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and more than 1999 grams 
• Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and 1500-1999 grams
• Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and 1000-1499 grams
• Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and less than 1000 grams

Australian Medical Association

'Failure of basic humanity': Readers respond to jail, fines for those returning from India

WA Today, Other, 06/05/2021, Orietta Guerrera

As this week progressed the chorus against the threat to fine and even jail anyone trying to enter Australia from COVID-ravaged India grew louder. [...] The Australian Medical Association wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt asking them to immediately overturn the "mean-spirited" order.

Read more

 

GP practices offered second chance to join COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Australian Doctor, Other, 06/05/2021, Geir O'Rourke

GP practices yet to sign up for the coronavirus vaccine rollout could soon be offered another chance. [...] AMA vice president Dr Chris Moy said the increase in dose supply was a "good start", particularly for those practices being sent 50 doses a week.

Read more

 

ABC, 7:30, 06/05/2021, Leigh Sales

Interview with Dr Omar Khorshid, President of the AMA. Sales says Sydney residents are being urged to be careful after the discovery of COVID-19 community transmission, which prompted restrictions. [...] Khorshid says the reality is the NSW has an undefined risk.

Watch at 7.41

 

Coronavirus

Biden backs plan to waive Covid-19 vaccine patents

The Australian

US President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday announced support for a global waiver on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines, offering hope to poor nations that have struggled to access the lifesaving doses. India, where the death toll hit a new daily record amid fears the peak is still to come, has been leading the fight within the World Trade Organisation to allow more drug-makers to manufacture the vaccines — a move that pharma giants oppose.

Read more

Worldwide plastic bag shortage stalls vaccine production

Sydney Morning Herald, General News, 07/05/2021, Liam Mannix, Page 4

A shortage of specialised, high-volume plastic bags has emerged as a bottleneck limiting the world's ability to make enough COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine manufacturers, including CSL here in Australia, use them to line the vessels in which they grow the vaccine's components.

Read more

Vaccine link to five new clotting cases

Brisbane Times

Five cases of a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder have been confirmed in people who recently received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and Australia's medical regulator is investigating three more potential cases. The five cases take the country to a total of 11 patients who developed the blood clotting with a low platelet count more than four days after receiving their first shot.

Read more

‘Monumental moment’: Australia applauds US push for patent-free COVID vaccines

Sydney Morning Herald

Australia has welcomed the Biden administration’s decision to support the waiving of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines – a move that will make it easy for developing countries to manufacture their own vaccines – while refusing to commit to follow suit.

Read more

 

COVID Qld: Vaccine benefits far outweigh clotting risks

Courier Mail, General News, 07/05/2021, Madura McCormack

Doctors fear the latest cases of rare blood clots could increase vaccine hesitancy in the community, despite the benefits of getting the jab still outweighing the risks.

Read more

 

Public Health and Medical Practice

$5 million dollar funding shortfall revealed at Victor Harbor Hospital

Victor Harbor Times, Other, 06/05/2021, Jack Manning

An urgent request for $5 million in hospital funding is on its way to Health Minister Greg Hunt ahead of next week's Federal Budget announcement. Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie is requesting a $5 million funding allocation to complete promised upgrades to the Emergency Department (ED) and Renal Dialysis Unit at the Victor Harbor Hospital (Southern Fleurieu Health Service).

Read more

 

Travellers to Queensland who've been to Sydney COVID-19 exposure sites to face hotel quarantine

ABC News

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said "people shouldn't be travelling from New South Wales if they have been to those venues". "We will have ...

Read more

 

Coronavirus crisis: Queensland man develops blood clots after AZ vaccine

The West Australian

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said as of 1am on Friday, anyone in Queensland who has been to any of the 19 exposure sites in the NSW capital will be ...

Read more

 

Queensland to consider Sydney hotspot declaration

9News

Queensland Health Authorities are reportedly considering declaring parts of Sydney a hotspot following the latest case.

Watch now

 

Katter's Australian Party Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter calls on the Palaszczuk Labor ...

The North West Star

So tragic are the state of affairs on the island, community advocates are presently petitioning the Queensland Health Minister for an expansion of their ...

Read more

Latest information from @Carl De Wet

NSW COVID-19 community transmission; implications for Queensland

• From 1 am, Friday 7 May 2021, anyone arriving in Queensland who has been at any of the affected venues during the risk period must go into hotel quarantine. Police and health workers will be meeting flights coming into Queensland. 
• Anyone in Queensland who has been in New South Wales since 27 April is asked to get tested if they develop any symptoms – however mild – and isolate until they get a negative result.
• Anyone already in Queensland who has been to any of the exposure sites (https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing) in New South Wales during the risk period identified is asked to quarantine at their home or other accommodation for 14 days, and get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible. 

 

Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT)

• The Therapeutic Goods Administration provides regular updates about the experience and safety with COVID-19 vaccines in Australia - https://www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safety-report-06-05-2021:
• Five recent reports of blood clots and low blood platelets have been assessed as VITT, likely to be linked to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. They increase the total Australian reports assessed as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to 11. To 2 May 2021, approximately 1.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered. 
• Given the AZ vaccine is largely only administered to over 50s, we will only see VITT reported in this age group. He also said earlier results globally showed the rare side effect was more common in people under 50, but not unknown in over 50.
• All cases had an underlying health condition but these varied in nature (note: underlying clotting conditions are not considered a risk).
• Of the 5 cases, 4 have already been discharged from hospital and of these; two are back at work.
• Rates of VITT in Australia are similar to Canada, UK and Continental Europe.
• SUMMARY: VITT remains very rare. TGA and ATAGI advice is that benefits of the AZ vaccine for over 50s exceeds the risk of not having the vaccine.
• The National Blood Authority (NBA) The NBA has temporarily added VITT as a condition to Version 3 of the Criteria for the Clinical Use of Immunoglobulin in Australia (Criteria), to enable supply of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) under the national blood arrangements for cases of genuine need. Access is now available through BloodSTAR- https://www.criteria.blood.gov.au/MedicalCondition/View/2669.

 

Public Health Directions

• From 7 May 2021, updates were made to the following Public Health Directions to provide a two-week extension on new transport requirements:

• Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No.9)
• Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for Air Crew Direction (No.2)
• Requirements for Quarantine Facility Workers Direction (No.3)
• Maritime Protocol

• The new time for commencement of the new requirements for transport providers transporting quarantined persons is 9am Friday 21 May. This allows transport providers additional time to undertake infection control training, obtain endorsement from the Department of Transport and Main Roads and have a COVID-Safe Transport Plan in place.
• The Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No.9) has also been updated to clarify that international arrivals will be requested to be tested on day 5 of their quarantine period in addition to being tested as soon as possible after arrival and on day 12 or 13.
• Lastly, masks are no longer required to be worn by quarantined persons on balconies of government-arranged accommodation. This change has been made to the Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No.9) and the Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for Air Crew Direction (No.2).
• Further information about these Directions, please visit the Queensland Health website.

 

New and updated resources (with thanks to the RBWH Vaccination Service)

• Updates (due to TTS)

• Provider information sheet on TTS
• Patient information sheet on TTS
• Consent form
• Information for providers: COVID-19 Vaccination consent and FAQs
• Patient Information sheet on AstraZeneca
• After your AstraZeneca vaccine
• pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy
• Decision making guide – frail older people
• Decision making guide - immunocompromise
• Provider guide for COVID-19 vaccinations in people with immunocompromise

•  New documents
• Decision making guide for palliative care
• Guidance on the use of Multi-dose vials

 

Inspirational thought

‘More effort is wasted doing things that don’t matter, than is wasted doing things inefficiently’ (James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/may-6-2021?rh_ref=56fbe018)

 

Best wishes, and happy Mother’s Day in advance for Sunday.

Carl

 

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Job title: VR General practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Locum I Perm

Location: Brisbane, Townsville, Shepperton, Portland

Salary: $2000 + GST Per day

Additional benefits: Return flight, accommodation and car hire provided.

 

Job title: Indigenous General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Perm

Location: North Brisbane, QLD

Salary: $260K per annum + Super on top 9.5%

Additional benefits: 4 weeks paid leave, 2 weeks sick leave, and 10 days paid leave.

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Perm I Locum

Location: Adelaide North

Salary: Up to 70% of bulk billings. Mixed billings on weekends with initial guarantee of $150 per hour.  

Additional benefits: Excellent earning potential. Full nursing support.

 

Job title: General Practitioner / VMO

Dates: May 2021- ongoing

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location: Yarrabah, QLD

Salary: $1786 + GST per day

Additional: Multiple dates available.

 

Job title: Senior Medical Officer

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location: Christmas Island

Salary: $221 per hour + Super + Bonuses

Additional benefits: Accommodation and car hire provided.

 

Job title: GPO VNO

Dates: June 2021 - ongoing

Type of Contract:  Locum I FIFO

Location: Sea Lake, VIC

Salary: $1600 + GST per day

Additional benefits: Travel, accommodation and fuel reimbursement provided.

The Australian Government made amendments to legislation in 2020 that changes how GPs access Medicare. GPs no longer access higher Medicare rebates by registering their Fellowship status with Services Australia. Your Medicare access will now be linked to your registration status with Ahpra and the Medical Board.  

All Fellows who do not hold specialist registration with Ahpra at 16 June 2021 will lose access to Medicare benefits. To avoid this, you must apply to Ahpra to update your registration by 21 May 2021 to ensure your application is processed by Ahpra and Services Australia.  

From 16 June 2021, being a Fellow and holding general registration with Ahpra is not enough to maintain your Medicare access. Access to the general practice items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will be based on your specialist registration status with the Ahpra.  

If you are not sure if you have previously registered as a specialist it is easy to check. 

1. Go to the Ahpra website by clicking here. 
2. Type in your name or registration number and click ‘Search’
3. Scroll until you find your details and click ‘View Details’ 
4. Scroll down the page to ‘Registration Type’ 
5. If you are a registered as a specialist you will see Type:  Specialist registration and Specialty: General Practice 

The process to register as a specialist with Ahpra has been streamlined to support affected GPs. Ahpra has emailed GPs who need to register as a specialist and Services Australia are following up phone calls. DO NOT IGNORE these contacts. Timely action is required to ensure GPs do not have their access to MBS items disrupted.  

All you have to do to register is complete the application form. The RACGP will provide evidence of fellowship directly to Ahpra. 

It is important to note access to Medicare rebates cannot be backdated. If you apply for specialist registration before 21 May 2021 you will not lose access.  

If you submit your application after 21 May 2021 and are not registered as a specialist on the 16 June 2021, your patients will not be able to claim a Medicare rebate. 

If you have any questions, you can contact Ahpra between 9:00am – 5:00pm weekdays on 1300 419 495 or submit a web enquiry form.

Web enquiry forms with the category “Register of Practitioners – Specialist” will be given priority by Ahpra. 

More information is available from Ahpra here. 

Voting is open for AMA Queensland Board or Council positions and will close on 19 May.

Members would have received an email yesterday with their individual voting link so check your account including the junk folder.

We also encourage all candidates to use this platform, the Queensland Doctors’ Community (QDC, to appeal to members.

Use this quick start guide here to help you.

If you require assistance, please contact our team on (07) 3872 2222 or email community@amaq.com.au.

 

No new community COVID-19 cases paves way for WA restrictions to ease The Age, Other, 05/05/2021, Hamish Hastie Western Australia has recorded no new community cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, paving the way for restrictions in the Perth and Peel regions to relax. [...] The Australian Medical Association WA has continually called for higher grade masks and better PPE for quarantine hotel staff but Mr McGowan said the state couldn't do much more than it was already doing to mitigate the spread of the virus.   Read More Federal government 'got it wrong' with 'distressing' messaging on India travel ban Sky News Australia, Other, 05/05/2021 AMA Vice President Dr Chris Moy says the federal government "got it wrong" with their "distressing" messaging surrounding the Indian travel ban, and possible fines and jail time for Australians attempting to return home. [...] "To be sure the AMA did support the pause basically to sure up hotel quarantine which has been showing significant leaks due to the number of cases and also the possible increasing infectivity of some variants," Dr Moy said.   Read More India travel ban shows the government ‘doesn’t trust hotel quarantine’: AMA President Sky News Australia, Other, 05/05/2021 Australian Medical Association President Dr Omar Khorshid says it is "reasonable" for the government to pause flights to India while the holes in hotel quarantine are "patched up". "What the government’s done by making this announcement is it’s said that it doesn’t trust hotel quarantine," he said.   Read More 'Appreciate we also needed to send a message': Deputy PM defends India travel threat 9News, Other, 05/05/2021, Chanel Zagon The deputy Prime minister has defended the Federal Government's threats of criminal sanctions for anyone who tries to enter Australia from India during the travel ban, claiming they were made to "send a message". [...] The UN Human Rights Committee and leading doctors from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) are among those who have raised "serious concerns" about the travel ban.   Read More ‘People will die’: Indian-Australian community leaders call on government to evacuate vulnerable Australians The Guardian, Other, 05/05/2021, Sarah Martin Members of the Indian community will call on the government to urgently evacuate vulnerable Australians amid the country’s worsening Covid crisis, when they meet with immigration minister Alex Hawke on Wednesday. [...] The Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid called on the government to use whatever means necessary to bring Australians in India home, particularly the 650 registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs as vulnerable.   Read More 24-hour bed wait in emergency departments for 1446 mentally ill SA patients Townsville Bulletin, Other, 05/05/2021, Rebecca DiGirolamo lmost 1500 South Australians with a mental health condition were stuck for over 24 hours in an emergency department (ED) in the past year to February, it has been revealed in state parliament. [...] Picture: Tom Huntley The Australian Medical Association SA branch Vice President Dr Michelle Atchison said allowing mental health patients to wait that long in EDs was "discrimination against people with a serious mental health illness". Also reported by: Adelaide Now (Online)   Read More AMA gets GP membership boost but still lacks female doctors Australian Doctor, Other, 05/05/2021, Antony Scholefield The covid-19 pandemic has coincided with a jump in the number of GPs joining the AMA. The AMA says it hit 6022 GP members in December 2020, compared with 5731 at the same point in 2019.   Read More Indian business and community leaders call on the government to reverse its drastic ban on arrivals from India, ahead of an urgent meeting with the immigration minister Business Insider Australia, Other, 05/05/2021, Bianca Healey Indian Australian business groups and other community leaders have spoken out in opposition to the Australian government's ban on arrivals from India. [...] Omar Khorshid, president of the Australian Medical Association told the Australian Financial Review he believed the penalties should be reversed immediately, adding that in his opinion as a medical professional the decision by the Australian government was misguided.   Read More Prison is no place for a child: Health, justice groups slam NT youth justice reforms Croakey, Other, 05/05/2021, Marie McInerney Leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health and justice groups have condemned proposed Northern Territory youth justice reforms which they say flout the recommendations of the Don Dale Royal Commission and will see the number of Aboriginal children behind bars "skyrocket". [...] The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT), Australian Medical Association Northern Territory (AMA NT), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation (Congress), Danila Dilba Health Service and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) have written an open letter to the NT Government.   Read More Sky News Live, Newsday, 05/05/2021, Ashleigh Gillon Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists that the travel ban with India is working. The AMA is putting pressure on the Federal Government to rescue stranded vulnerable Australians.   Play Now Sky News Live, Newsday, 05/05/2021, Ashleigh Gillon Interview with Australian Medical Association President Dr Omar Khorshid. Gillon says the AMA is calling on the Federal Government to commit to repatriating Australians, arguing the risk of keeping them in India is greater than the risk of bringing them home.   Play Now Sky News Live, Newsday, 05/05/2021, Tom Connell Interview with Dr Chris Moy, Vice President, Australian Medical Association. Connell says the AMA is calling for Australian citizens to be able to return from India.   Play Now Channel 9, Today, 06/05/2021, Karl Stefanovic, Allison Langdon, Alex Cullen, & Brooke Boney Interview with Dr Danielle McMullen, President, Australian Medical Association NSW. Langdon says 14 suburbs are on alert right now in Sydney due to a new mystery COVID-19 case and more cases are being warned.   Play Now 2GB, 05:30 News, 06/05/2021 The Health Department says GPs receiving 50 doses of AstraZeneca per week will receive 150 while those getting 100 doses will be allocated 200. Australian Medical Association Vice President Dr Chris Moy says it is welcome news.   Play Now Back to Top

Coronavirus Pregnancy rules 'make no sense' The Australian, General News, 06/05/2021, Paul Garvey, Page 5 Covid-19 restrictions limiting West Australian women to a single support person when giving birth have been labelled "heartless and nonsensical". WA opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam said the limits on birth support people - introduced when the government announced a three-day lockdown after a COVID-19 breach at a quarantine hotel last month were unfair and inconsistent.   Read More Hotel workers in vaccine scare The Australian, General News, 06/05/2021, Damon Johnston and Ewin Hannan, Page 6 Three Victorian hotel quarantine workers injected with the Pfizer vaccine suffered side-effects so serious paramedics were called and they were taken to hospital. [...] The reports, obtained by The Australian, reveal the first worker - a "swabbing team member" who tests returned travellers for COVID-19 - was vaccinated at 5.10pm on March 31 at the InterContinental Hotel in Collins Street, Melbourne.   Read More Where the bloody hell are the vaccination ads? Daily Telegraph, General News, 06/05/2021, James Morrow, Page 13 One of the left's favourite jabs at the Prime Minister is that he is no real leader, but rather an empty suit: "Scotty from Marketing." [...] A Department of Health spokesman said "the national COVID-19 vaccines campaign is continually being updated to respond to the specific stages of the rollout of the Australian vaccination program.   Read More COVID-19 vaccine doses for GPs to triple: Hunt Age, General News, 06/05/2021, Rachel Clun and Liam Mannix, Page 5 Thousands of general practices will receive three times as many COVID19 vaccine doses from next week, as the federal government continues to ramp up its vaccination program. [...] From May 17, everyone over the age of 50 will be able to get the vaccine from general practices as well, but Lucas de Toca, from the Department of Health's COVID-19 primary care response team, said some clinics were already opening up their books.   Read More GPs to get dose bump Daily Telegraph, General News, 06/05/2021, Rebecca Le May, Page 11 Some general practices will receive a big boost in COVID-19 vaccination doses, Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced, as the federal Government moves to accelerate its stalled rollout program. Mr Hunt said on Wednesday the amount of doses supplied to lower volume general practices would be tripled, while medium volume surgeries would get double the current amount.   Read More Crackdown on tradies at quarantine sites Herald Sun, General News, 06/05/2021, Kieran Rooney, Page 11 More than 700 contractors from 47 companies will be given immediate priority for the vaccine to prevent further risk of unvaccinated workers entering hotel Quarantine. In the wake of reports tradies and other workers were being approved for jobs inside secure quarantine facilities, contractors needed for the scheme will be added to 1a COVID-19 vaccine rollout.   Read More GPs in line for weekly vax boost Herald Sun, General News, 06/05/2021, Tamsin Rose, Page 12 Australia's vaccine rollout will increase when thousands of general practices receive a major bump in the number of COVID-19 jabs they are sent each week. Clinics that were receiving 50 doses a week will now get 150 and those receiving 100 doses will have their weekly stocks doubled.   Read More Race to find COVID source Courier Mail, General News, 06/05/2021, Rebecca Le May, Page 1 Health authorities have issued urgent health advice to anyone who has been to a declared NSW exposure site and is currently in Queensland: quarantine at home immediately. The order comes as NSW scrambles to find the source of infection for one new locally acquired COVID-19 case a man who has not been overseas or worked in a highrisk job like hotel quarantine.   Read More New vaccine clinic gets boost, just two days after opening Canberra Times, General News, 06/05/2021, Cassandra Morgan, Page 5 Canberra's newest COVID-19 vaccination hub has been in such strong demand that its capacity has increased just two days after it opened. [...] "The Calvary Public Hospital COVID-19 vaccination clinic supplements the Commonwealth government's AstraZeneca program, being delivered through general practices in the ACT," the minister said.   Read More Sydney's sudden and mysterious COVID case ABC Online, Other, 06/05/2021 On Coronacast with Dr Norman Swan When NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian started her press conference yesterday, she got straight to the point: NSW had detected a case of COVID in the community. And as yet, there's no known source. The patient has not been overseas or interstate and has no known links to hotel quarantine.   Read More Low and medium volume general practices to get COVID vaccine supply boost for over 50s phase NEWS.com.au, Other, 05/05/2021 Certain general practices will have their allocated vaccine shipments doubled or tripled as the government moves to fix its stalled rollout program. Certain general practices will receive a big boost in COVID-19 vaccination doses, Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced, as the federal government moves to accelerate its stalled rollout program.   Read More Sky News Live, First Edition - Early, 06/05/2021, Peter Stefanovic and Laura Jayes The Federal Government is being sued by a man over the India flight ban. The 93yo Victoria man is currently stuck in India.   Play Now Back to Top

Public Health and Medical Practice CSL forced to pay more for plasma in US Sydney Morning Herald, Business News, 06/05/2021, Emma Koehn, Page 26 Biotechnology giant csl has been forced to increase the amount of cash it pays plasma donors in the United States in response to a big drop in collection volumes partly caused by stimulus cheques stopping donors from turning up. CSL's chief operating officer Paul McKenzie yesterday confirmed the company's core plasma collection business remained under pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with costs for collection increasing due to new hygiene measures and the company's decision to increase donation fees.   Read More Online health boost Herald Sun, General News, 06/05/2021, Tom Minear, Page 4 All government services will be available online by the end of the decade under a $500m plan to overhaul the myGov and My Health Record portals. A new digital assistant will be created to answer questions, saving Australians from waiting on hold to government departments, and myGov will be upgraded to enable users to manage government payments and claims across services such as childcare and Centrelink.   Read More We can build it here Herald Sun, General News, 06/05/2021, Brigid O'Connell, Page 5 Melbourne is the centre of a health revolution after the launch of Australia's first medical device development and manufacturing centre. Bright-spark ideas from leading researchers and doctors will now have a way of becoming reality.   Read More New fund to support Mr Fluffy victims Canberra Times, General News, 06/05/2021, Dan Jervis-Bardy, Page 3 A fund to help cover medical expenses for victims of Mr Fluffy asbestos will be established, with the federal government agreeing to contribute up to $8 million toward the ACT-run program. Health Minister Greg Hunt and ACT Senator Zed Seselja will on Thursday announce the Commonwealth's support for the landmark program, saying it is the "right thing to do".   Read More Vulnerable will be a priority West Australian, Edition Changes, 06/05/2021, Lanai Scarr, Page 8 Anthony Albanese will place dementia care at the centre of his economic plan. The Opposition Leader will today deliver a major pre-Budget speech in Sydney where he will slam the Coalition for "headline grabbing" and not caring about the long-term future of the nation.   Read More How are young people accessing vapes? Canberra Times, General News, 06/05/2021, Toby Vue, Page 6 Parents, school principals, youth centres and researchers have sounded the alarm bell about the rise in young people taking up e-cigarettes across the country. The devices, also known as vapes, are a relatively new phenomenon compared with traditional smoking, leaving some schools and communities unsure about how to properly address the issue.   Read More Rural Doctors Association of Australia thanks telehealth midwives on International Day of the Midwife Glen Innes Examiner, Other, 05/05/2021 Rural doctors are taking their hats off to the midwives delivering babies in rural and remote Australia on May 5 - International Day of the Midwife - in recognition that they keep the heart of rural birthing beating. Dr John Hall, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), said that birthing units pay an essential role in keeping many rural hospital services going, and midwives provide the key to achieving this.   Read More How universities, employers and government can better support the Indigenous health workforce Croakey, Other, 05/05/2021, Marie McInerney, Kylie Stothers, & Paul Gibson Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) is surveying its members on the impact of COVID-19 on their education, training and professional practice. Its findings to date hold important lessons for educators, employers and governments on how they can better support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and, ultimately, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, particularly in times of disruption and public health emergencies.   Read More Back to Top

We welcome today’s announcement of the increase to COVID-19 vaccine allocations to general practices. This increase means about 4,000 practices currently receiving between 50 and 100 doses per week will be eligible to receive an extra 100 doses each week which will help improve access for patients.

 

While we know that many GPs can deliver far greater numbers of vaccines, it is a step in the right direction to vaccinating our community more quickly. More than half of all COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered by GPs, who are now the backbone of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

It is also important to note that GPs who currently provide a COVID-19 vaccination service can contact their Primary Health Network (PHN) to receive permission to start vaccinating people over 50 before 17 May. Simply e-mail your PHN representative with the request. They will reply with a letter of acknowledgement and update the state-wide spreadsheet, which is then shared with the Commonwealth. The practice is then added to the online resource so consumers are able to search for and book appointments.

We will continue to advocate for all GPs to be able to administer COVID-19 vaccines, just like any other vaccine in our community, and that supply continues to increase.

We thank you for your commitment in caring for our community and collaboration in safeguarding Queenslanders against COVID-19.

Yours sincerely

Prof Chris Perry, President, AMA Queensland

Dr Brett Dale, Chief Executive Officer, AMA Queensland

New push for cabins to house travellers The Australian, General News, 05/05/2021, Rosie Lewis, Page 2 Scott Morrison is facing demands from doctors and crossbench MPs to urgently build accommodation facilities to repatriate Australians stranded in India, as he pledges to "seriously consider" a cabin-style quarantine proposal from Victoria. [...] Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said the Indian flights ban was warranted to manage the risk of large numbers of infectious people entering the "fragile" hotel quarantine system, but people stuck there required a government response.   Read More Cases nearly doubled prior to India block Sydney Morning Herald, General News, 05/05/2021, Aisha Dow and Rachel Clun, Page 7 Coronavirus infections in quarantine grew 46 per cent in the four weeks leading to the Australian government's decision to pause flights from India, as experts question if the extraordinary action - including fines and jail for those flouting the ban - was proportionate to the risk. [...] Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid, who yesterday called on the Prime Minister to immediately overturn the order that threatens Australians returning from India with hefty fines and jail, said he believed the temporary ban on flights was reasonable but only to urgently address the nation's flawed hotel quarantine system. Also reported by: Age (Melbourne)   Read More We could have coped Herald Sun, General News, 05/05/2021, Clare Armstrong and Tom Minear, Page 9 An extra 140 cases of COVID-19 in a month was all it took to overwhelm Australia's hotel quarantine system and force the border closure with India, but health officials say we could have coped with more sick travellers. [...] Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid called on the government to reverse the jail threat, saying it was "mean-spirited" and an "overreach". Also reported by: Hobart Mercury (Hobart)   Read More How to get Australia’s borders open again Australian Financial Review, Other, 04/05/2021, Nathan Grills and Tony Blakely Australia needs to be resilient, which means largely vaccinated, before wholesale opening of our borders. But we have a long way to go with this, as fewer than eight out of 100 Australians have received their first vaccine dose so far. [...]   Read More PM considers Victorian quarantine proposal The Age, Other, 04/05/2021, Aisha Dow and Rachel Clun Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed Victoria's "detailed and comprehensive proposal" to build a cabin-style quarantine site in Melbourne's north is being assessed by the Commonwealth, as pressure mounts on his government to improve arrangements for returned travellers. On Tuesday the Australian Medical Association slammed the controversial order threatening Australians returning from coronavirus-ravaged India with hefty fines and jail, and called for hotel quarantine arrangements to be urgently improved and alternatives considered.   Read More AMA calls for withdrawal of jail threat for India returnees WA Today, Other, 04/05/2021, Aisha Dow and Rachel Clun The Australian Medical Association has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt asking them to immediately overturn the order that threatens Australians returning from India with hefty fines and jail, calling it an "overreach". The medical body hadn't previously formalised its position on the measure, which was implemented in addition to a flight ban and widely condemned since news of it broke on Saturday.   Read More Blood on your hands': PM labels Slater's India ban comments 'absurd Brisbane Times, Other, 04/05/2021, Sarah McPhee Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied he has "blood on his hands" after former Australian cricketer Michael Slater said the federal government's ban on returnees from India was a "disgrace". [...] Australia Medical Association president Omar Khorshid called for the urgent repatriation of any Australian citizens in India after the two-week ban had lapsed, saying stranded Australians were at risk of death.   Read More Returned Victorian traveller records weak COVID-positive result in regional WA town of Collie ABC Online, Other, 04/05/2021, James Carmody and Jacqueline Lynch A man in Collie, south of Perth, has tested positive for COVID-19. [...] Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr Omar Khorshid told ABC Radio Perth that while he was yet to be briefed on the details, he assumed authorities must have a reason to suspect the case was a historical one.   Read More Doctors and nurses call for urgent action on aged care staff ratios ABC Online, Other, 04/05/2021, Sally Sara The Australian Medical Association and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation are calling on the Federal Government to implement the minimum staff time standards as soon as possible. The Final Report from the Aged Care Royal Commission found that while there are "many ingredients" that make up a safe and high quality aged care sector, it cannot be achieved without having enough staff.   Read More Coalition to hold talks with Indian-Australian community leaders as anger mounts over travel ban The Guardian, Other, 04/05/2021, Sarah Martin The immigration minister, Alex Hawke, will hold an urgent roundtable with Indian-Australian community leaders, as the government seeks to quell anger about the government’s widely-condemned India travel ban. [...] The Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid called on the government to use whatever means necessary to bring Australians in India home, particularly the 650 registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs as vulnerable.   Read More Food is a critical weapon in preventing chronic disease Croakey, Other, 04/05/2021, Robert Hunt In the post below, Dietitians Australia CEO Robert Hunt welcomes the long-urged focus in the draft on food and nutrition, but argues the Strategy needs to be further strengthened, including through prioritising the impact of climate on health, setting a target on food security, and making the Health Star Rating system mandatory. [...] The Australian Medical Association has labelled the current investment in preventive health in Australia as "woefully inadequate and far below the example set by similar countries in the OECD", and its submission also calls for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and a volumetric tax on alcohol to source revenue for increased funding.   Read More NSW Premier says Australia can’t live in ‘bubble’ forever as state loses $1.5b a month without international travel NEWS.com.au, Other, 04/05/2021, Charis Chang Australians can’t live in a "bubble" forever, the NSW Premier has warned, revealing the staggering cost of being a hermit country. Australians can’t live in a "bubble" forever and will likely need to accept some level of risk once the rest of the world opens up. [...] Sky News host Andrew Bolt has said the India ban "stinks of racism" and Australian Medical Association WA President, Dr Andrew Miller, said it was "absolutely unacceptable and outrageous".   Read More Victorian Opposition slams government over Ambulance Victoria flaws during fiery question time NEWS.com.au, Other, 04/05/2021, Rhiannon Tuffield Victoria’s opposition leader has lashed out in parliament about the state’s "appalling" ambulance wait times, calling out the government for "letting Victorians die". [...] The incident has drawn attention to a system in crisis, with the Australian Medical Association pointing out flaws, and the victim’s own brother labelling it "negligent".   Read More Leaving Australians in India riskier than letting them come home: AMA head 9News, Other, 04/05/2021, Nick Pearson The risk of keeping Australians in India is greater than the risk of bringing them home, one of the nation's top doctors has warned. Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid has called on the government to commit to repatriating Australians in India once the current travel ban lapses.   Read More Channel 9, Today, 04/05/2021, Karl Stefanovic, Allison Langdon, Alex Cullen, and Brooke Boney Interview with Dr Omar Khorshid, President of the Australian Medical Association. Stefanovic says health authorities in Perth remain on alert this morning with nearly 80 exposure sites linked to the latest outbreak. Khorshid says West Australians are social distancing and following the mask requirements, noting that there is no need for a snap lockdown.   Play Now 6PR, Perth Live, 04/05/2021, Oliver Peterson Interview with Dr Chris Moy, Vice President of the AMA. Compere says the IPL has been suspended as COVID-19 spreads to other cricket teams in India from Pat Cummins' team Kalkota to David Warner's Hyderabad team. He mentions the Delhi team now has a reported case.   Play Now ABC Radio Hobart, Drive, 04/05/2021, Lucy Breaden Interview with AMA Tasmania president Dr Helen McArdle. Breaden notes the final report into Australia's aged care system has been handed down by the Federal Government following two years of hearings by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which revealed that one in three elderly people is abused or neglected while also recommending mandatory staff to patient ratios in aged care homes. She adds the Australian Medical Association has confirmed mandatory staff to patient ratios are yet to happen.   Play Now Back to Top

Coronavirus CSL open to long-term virus vaccine production Sydney Morning Herald, Business News, 05/05/2021, Emma Koehn, Page 23 Biotech giant CSL is in talks with the government about its longer-term role in Australia's fight against coronavirus, as the company races to complete 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by December. The $123 billion blood plasma giant confirmed over the weekend that it was now producing more than 1 million doses of the vaccine per week, with more than 3.7 million doses released to the public by the end of April.   Read More NSW plans to make mRNA vaccines locally Sydney Morning Herald, General News, 05/05/2021, Kate Aubusson and Alexandra Smith, Page 6 Premier Gladys Berejiklian says mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and other viruses would be manufactured in NSW under an ambitious plan that would create a new vaccine and therapeutics industry. The state government has convened a team of scientists to determine how the high-tech vaccines can be made locally.   Read More New vaccine booking system pulls big numbers Canberra Times, General News, 05/05/2021, Cassandra Morgan, Page 4 The uptake of Canberra's new online COVID vaccine booking system has been strong, with more than 1600 people booking in to get the jab on Monday and Calvary's vaccine hub booked out until mid-next week. The launch of the ACT government's My Digital Health Record portal coincided with the expansion of the territory's vaccine rollout program to over-50s.   Read More Vaccine jitters over side effects Canberra Times, General News, 05/05/2021, Sally Whyte, Page 6 More than 80 per cent of Australians are concerned about the prospect of side effects associated with vaccines against COVID-19, although more than half of Australians say they would definitely get a safe and effective vaccine if offered. A new study into attitudes towards vaccination shows an increase in the number of Australians who say they definitely or probably would get vaccinated from January this year, although there is more hesitancy than in August last year.   Read More Record number of Victorians get COVID jab Augusta Margaret River Mail, Other, 04/05/2021, Benita Kolovos Almost 7000 coronavirus jabs have been administered in Victoria since the state opened its vaccination hubs to everyone aged over 50. Some 6923 vaccine doses were administered in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning across the state's 22 mass vaccination hubs, according to the health department. Also reported by: The Area News (Online), Oberon Review (Online), Northern Beaches Review (Online)   Read More Back to Top

Public Health and Medical Practice Voluntary euthanasia Bill's 17th attempt Adelaide Advertiser, General News, 05/05/2021, Gabriel Polychronis, Page 5 Respected broadcaster Andrew Denton has urged South Australian MPs to legalise voluntary euthanasia, ahead of a crucial vote in parliament today. But a senior SA neurologist believes passing the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Bill would lead to an "expansive euthanasia regime".   Read More 'Third World country': Liberals attack government on ambulance wait times The Age, Other, 04/05/2021, Paul Sakkal The Victorian opposition has taken aim at the Andrews government over the death of a 32-year-old woman who waited more than six hours for an ambulance. In the first parliamentary sitting day since the death of Caulfield North woman Christina Lackmann, Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien targeted Health Minister Martin Foley and demanded the government explain how many other patients are waiting lengthy periods for emergency assistance.   Read More Government announces details of new chemotherapy review HealthDispatch, Other, 04/05/2021 The federal government has announced the details of its chemotherapy review, including its chair and the terms of reference. The review, which was announced in last year's 2020-21 Budget, will be led by Professor Sanchia Aranda AM.   Read More Sky News Live, Alan Jones, 04/05/2021, Alan Jones Interview with Ian Henschke, National Seniors Australia. Jones notes the aged care sector will have its eyes on the budget announcement. He says a Royal Commission into the sector released a report that made 148 recommendations to improve the quality of care.   Play Now Back to Top

Qld Premier calls on Commonwealth to expand GP vaccination network The Age, Other, 03/05/2021, Tony Moore Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will ask Prime Minister Scott Morrison at national cabinet to expand the number of GPs who can deliver COVID-19 vaccines. [...] That move would be supported by the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association, which believed GPs should be central to the rollout.   Read More Why WA isn't in lockdown over latest community outbreak WA Today, Other, 03/05/2021, Heather McNeill Two million Perth residents had barely emerged from a three-day lockdown when another hotel quarantine breach was detected, this time in a security guard who worked at the Pan Pacific. [...] However Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said he believed Perth should keep some underlying restrictions in place to prevent the need to lock down over small numbers of cases in the future.   Read More COVID-19: Masks now part of ongoing restrictions as 93 public exposure sites across Perth identified West Australian, Other, 03/05/2021, Peter Law and Briana Fiore Premier Mark McGowan has flagged Perth residents may be forced to keep wearing masks for longer, as health authorities remain at a loss to explain how a mask-wearing security guard contracted COVID-19 from a returned traveller at the Pan Pacific hotel. [...] The Australian Medical Association's Perth-based president Omar Khorshid suggested WA should keep some restrictions in place to prevent the need to lockdown Perth the next time the virus escaped from a quarantine hotel.   Read More WA lockdown avoided for another day as Premier Mark McGowan rolls up his sleeve for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ABC Online, Other, 03/05/2021, Nicolas Perpitch Perth will continue to avoid another lockdown after no new community cases of COVID-19 were recorded overnight. [...] The head of the Australian Medical Association's WA branch has rejected Mr McGowan's assertion that N95 masks are not practical for security guards, while launching an attack on the Premier. Also reported by: Geelong Advertiser (Online)   Read More WA's top doctor takes aim at 'hopeless' quarantine system after worker, housemates contract COVID-19 Adelaide Now, Other, 03/05/2021, Ellen Ransley Western Australia's top doctor has taken aim at the state's "hopeless" quarantine system after a security guard contracted COVID-19 and inadvertently infected two of his housemates, including a delivery driver. Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said he did not have confidence in the system and has also labelled the federal government's move to deny stranded Australians the right to return home from India as "absolutely unacceptable". Also reported by: NEWS.com.au (Online)   Read More No health advice on jailing India arrivals Perth Now, Other, 03/05/2021, Matt Coughlan The nation's chief medical officer warned the federal government stranded Australians could die if his recommendation of an Indian travel ban was accepted. [...] Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said similar measures were not in place for people in Europe or the UK during serious coronavirus outbreaks.   Read More Doctors blast WA’s management of hotel quarantine after new Covid outbreak The Guardian, Other, 03/05/2021, Christopher Knaus The Australian Medical Association has slammed the management of Western Australia’s hotel management system after genomic sequencing suggested a security guard acquired the virus from a returned United States traveller. WA health authorities detected the "Pan Pacific cluster" on Saturday after routine testing of a security guard working at the Pan Pacific hotel quarantine site.   Read More Disruption and duplication, or a desperately needed boost? The Medical Republic, Other, 03/05/2021, Holly Payne With the longest hospital outpatient and emergency department waiting times in the country, there is a clear pressure on ACT leaders to reinvest in primary care solutions. Since coming to power in 2016, the territory’s Labor government has opened five nurse-led walk-in clinics, which have drawn criticism from both the RACGP and the AMA due to the possibility of fragmented care, as well as high running costs.   Read More Prevention the cure for AMA Pharmacy Daily, Other, 03/05/2021 Investment in preventative health will be key to addressing inequities in the health system, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) believes. In its submission in response to the Federal Department of Health’s draft National Preventative Health Strategy, the AMA called for greater funding to be allocated to preventative measures, with AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, describing the current allocaiton of 1.7% of the health budget as “woefully inadequate”.   Read More ABC News, ABC News at Noon, 03/05/2021, Ros Childs Interview with Dr Andrew Miller, WA president of the AMA. Miller demonstrates the mask he suggests for highest effectiveness as PPE in the workplace. He reports that he can wear this mask for 12 hours in an operating theatre or in intensive care without any problem.   Play Now ABC Radio Canberra, Mornings, 03/05/2021, Adam Shirley Interview with AMA ACT president Dr Antonio Di Dio. Shirley says the ACT Government has today opened a Calvary vaccination hub, specifically for those who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab. As a GP, Di Dio states he supports the opening of the vaccination centre.   Play Now 5AA, Breakfast, 03/05/2021, David Penberthy and Will Goodings Interview with Dr Chris Moy, President of the Australian Medical Association. Moy says over 50s should check with their local GP to see how to book an appointment. He mentions the best way to book, however, is through the healthdirect website, which has an eligibility checker and the closest vaccination facility in the area.   Play Now ABC Radio Perth, Mornings, 03/05/2021, Nadia Mitsopoulos Interview with AMA WA president Dr Andrew Miller. Mitsopoulos says WA is experiencing its third hotel outbreak in three months. Miller says WA's hotel quarantine system is a disgrace and a failure.   Play Now 6PR, Breakfast, 03/05/2021, Gareth Parker Interview with AMA national president Dr Omar Khorshid. Parker says WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Health Minister Roger Cook will hold a press event at 8.15am today at the Claremont Showgrounds vaccination centre where they will get their jabs. Khorshid states a lot of Australians are very keen to get the vaccine knowing it is the only way out of the pandemic, but there are still those who are worried and concerned.   Play Now Triple J, Hack, 03/05/2021, Avani Dias Interview with AMA's Dr Hash Abdeen. Dias says anecdotal evidence show that there isn't enough support from hospitals when people report their drinks have been spiked. Abdeen says Qld Health and Qld Police said such reports should be taken seriously.   Play Now Back to Top

Coronavirus Who to call, where to go and what to expect as inoculation rollout moves into the next phase Age, General News, 04/05/2021, Rachael Dexter, Page 4 Yesterday marked a milestone in Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout as the biggest cohort so far in the population became eligible for their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. If you're a Victorian, here's everything you need to know about vaccines available.   Read More Doubt on local mRNA plans as firms pull out Age, General News, 04/05/2021, Liam Mannix, Page 5 Vaccine development experts say it will take at least $250 million plus the support of a major pharmaceutical company to set up mRNA manufacturing in Australia, cooling hopes of a local jab in the next year. Manufacturing a vaccine under the tightly controlled conditions demanded by medical regulators is an enormous, costly and difficult challenge only a few companies globally are capable of.   Read More Barilaro diagnosis misses various roots of vaccine vacillation: expert Sydney Morning Herald, General News, 04/05/2021, Alexandra Smith and Kate Aubusson, Page 4 An Australian expert in vaccine uptake says confusion and a lack of confidence are likely factors stopping people in NSW from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said yesterday complacency was to blame for the slow uptake of the vaccine, adding that supply had outstripped demand.   Read More Stroke fear on vaccine Herald Sun, General News, 04/05/2021, Page 8 A Queensland man who had a stroke and developed blood clots within days of having an AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot is waiting to hear from health experts assessing whether the vaccine could be responsible. The 65-year-old, of Shute Harbour, was so ill a doctor asked his wife whether they had discussed end-of-life issues.   Read More Booster shot for vaccine rollout Adelaide Advertiser, General News, 04/05/2021, Andrew Hough, Page 9 South Australian GPs have been asked to help boost the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout. SA Health last night sought applications from Commonwealth-approved medical practices to deliver 1000 more doses.   Read More Aged care vax failure Courier Mail, General News, 04/05/2021, Madura McCormack , Page 1 Tens of thousands of critical aged-care staff have been told to join the queue to get their coronavirus vaccine at GP clinics or state-run vaccination hubs, with government documents revealing plans to deliver the jab in their workplaces have hit another snag. There are an estimated 318,000 aged and disability care staff across the country, but the latest data available shows just 37,000 have been vaccinated all of them with leftover doses as residents received Pfizer jabs.   Read More Call out for over-50s to 'roll up and get jabbed' West Australian, General News, 04/05/2021, Charlotte Elton and Peter Law, Page 5 All Australians aged over 50 became eligible for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine yesterday — including Premier Mark McGowan, who received his first jab yesterday morning. The 53-year old Premier rolled up his sleeve at Claremont Showground's mass vaccination clinic, accompanied by Health Minister Roger Cook.   Read More Vaccine hubs open doors to people aged 50 and over The Age, Other, 03/05/2021, Rachael Dexter Vaccine sites have officially opened to every Victorian aged 50 and over, as health authorities move to reassure those wary of the AstraZeneca vaccine to speed up the roll-out. From 7.30am six mass vaccine sites across the state began inoculating those 50 and over.   Read More High demand at mass COVID vaccine clinics Oberon Review, Other, 03/05/2021, Liz Hobday There's been growing demand at Victoria's mass vaccination clinics as people over 50 lined up for their COVID jab. From Monday, anyone aged over 50 can get an AstraZeneca vaccine at high volume clinics in Melbourne, Geelong, and Ballarat.   Read More Back to Top

Public Health and Medical Practice Gender doctors 'pressed to give drugs' The Australian, General News, 04/05/2021, Bernard Lane, Page 7 Gender clinicians are under increasing pressure to enable "conveyor belt" medicalisation of children who arrive already convinced that hormonal drugs are the only solution to their distress, according to a landmark study. The first paper from Australian gender clinicians to tap into international concerns about the "gender affirmative" medicalised treatment model for gender dysphoria suggests that young people are often not open to exploring other possible factors in their distress, such as family trauma, sexual abuse, depression, and autism.   Read More Pandemic takes toll on maternal health Age, General News, 04/05/2021, Wendy Tuohy, Page 9 A so-called "covid lag" has contributed to a rise in demand for perinatal support, as mothers who endured pregnancy during the pandemic welcome babies into the continuing health crisis. Maternal mental health organisation Gidget Foundation Australia has supported 122 per cent more people this year, while calls to the national helpline for women suffering perinatal depression and anxiety doubled last year. Also reported by: Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney)   Read More Preying on IVF hope Herald Sun, General News, 04/05/2021, Grant McArthur, Page 5 Four out of five IVF patients are paying thousands of dollars for untested add-on treatments, with little or no proof they will increase their chances of having a baby. Some of the techniques pushed to desperate patients may even harm their chances of a healthy pregnancy, a study backed by Victoria's fertility watchdog found. Also reported by: Adelaide Advertiser (Adelaide), Courier Mail (Brisbane)   Read More Medicinal weed warning Northern Territory News, General News, 04/05/2021, Page 2 Consumers are being warned against buying medicinal cannabis on the black market, with the products potentially posing dangerous risks to health. Australia's health regulator warned consumers products bought on the internet may be unsafe, of poor quality, or contain a different dose to what the label claims.   Read More

Green zone breach passenger tests positive, vaccine rollout update, CHO Directions update, National Cabinet vaccination program update, clinician wellbeing podcast

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data
In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 3 new overseas acquired cases, 2 detected in hotel quarantine, 1 detected in Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal (more information below)
• 29 active cases
• 1,559 total cases
• To date, there have been 7 deaths.
• 6,337 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination data

• 2,362 vaccine doses administered in the past 24 hours
• 144,228 total doses administered

National data

Green zone breach passenger tests positive for COVID-19

A passenger involved in a green zone breach at Brisbane International Airport yesterday has tested positive to COVID-19 with the international terminal declared a ‘venue of concern’.
Serology testing is underway to determine if the case is historical. The man’s travel partner has tested negative to COVID-19.

The man arrived on a flight from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, yesterday morning. He and his travel partner were mistakenly directed to the airport’s green departure zone, instead of the red zone for travellers from higher-risk countries and spent around two hours among passengers of three New Zealand-bound flights.

Anyone who was in the terminal between 9.45am and midday on Thursday, 29 April 2021, should monitor their symptoms and get tested immediately if they feel unwell.

The three flights affected are Air New Zealand NZ202 from Brisbane to Christchurch, Air New Zealand NZ146 from Brisbane to Auckland, and Qantas QF135 from Brisbane to Christchurch. The NZ Ministry of Health have been informed of the latest results and are taking their own protection measures. Read more.

UPDATE – COVID-19 vaccination rollout

Following the “recalibration” of Australia’s COVID-19 vacination rollout, Queensland Health continues to work with the Australian Government to establish more Pfizer vaccination locations across the state. Here are the key points to remember:

• Regardless of your age, people who have already had their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given their second dose.
• Anyone over 50 years of age who has had their first dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be given their second dose.
• Anyone under 50 years of age can have the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine if they choose to, but must be fully informed about thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia as an extremely rare but serious side effect before vaccination and this must be documented in the record.
• Both vaccines are still considered safe and highly effective.
• Soon, Hospital and Health Services will have access to both vaccines.
• Work continues to have Queensland’s state-run vaccination locations added to the Australian Government’s online eligibility checker and appointment finder. Queensland’s existing booking system (QCVMS) is also being expanded to enable non-Queensland Health staff in 1b and household members of 1a to book an appointment. Until this occurs, some people may not be able to make an appointment in the right place or for the appropriate vaccine for them.
• If you are unsure or have questions, visit our website, visit your local QHEPS/intranet page, visit your local vaccination location or ask your line manager.

Please be patient. Everyone is doing their best to get a vaccine into your arm as soon as possible.

CHO Directions update

From Wednesday 28 April 2021, changes to the following Directions came into effect:

• Interstate Exposure Venues Direction
• Management of Close Contacts Direction (No.2)
• Aged Care Direction (No.28)
• Hospital Visitors Direction (No.19)
• Disability Accommodation Services Direction (No.17)

A summary of these changes can be found below.

Interstate Exposure Venues Direction (NEW)

• People are required to quarantine for 14 days in government arranged accommodation upon arrival to Queensland if they have been to an interstate exposure venue during the exposure period.
• An interstate exposure venue is a place identified by an Australian state or territory or New Zealand where a person who has been present during an exposure period is required to quarantine, isolate, or be tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they get a negative test result.
• It includes both ‘close’ and ‘casual’ contact venues.
• A person who is already in Queensland and becomes aware they have visited an interstate exposure venue must contact Queensland Health (13HEALTH) and travel directly to their home or another suitable residence to isolate until they receive further instructions from Queensland Health.

Management of Close Contacts Direction (No.2)

• Removes the requirements for people who have been to interstate exposure sites as this is covered by the new Interstate Exposure Sites Direction.
• Includes specific advice for close contacts who are air crew in line with the CDNA Guidelines. Please note this includes the ability for international air crew, including Queensland based international air crew and ADF, to leave quarantine before 14 days has passed if they are asymptomatic and travel on a crew only flight. 

Aged Care Direction (No.28)
Hospital Visitors Direction (No.19)
Disability Accommodation Services Direction (No.17)

• Provide that a person, including staff and visitors, cannot enter one of these facilities if they have been to an interstate exposure venue.
• An exemption may be granted for end-of-life visits for a person that has been to an exposure site.

  Further information about these Directions, please visit the Queensland Health website.

COVID-19 Vaccination Program, National Cabinet Update

A presentation with an update on Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program (22 April 2021) is now available to view or download. Details on the key changes for the recalibrated vaccine rollout are included.

Clinician wellbeing in the midst of a pandemic – podcast

Liz Crowe spent 25 years as a social worker, predominantly in paediatric intensive care and critical care. During that time she developed a passion for clinician wellbeing and started researching how she could support her colleagues. Her passion recently became her profession and Liz now draws on her clinical experience and research in her new role as a Staff Wellbeing Consultant, Counsellor and Coach at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

In her interview with the Queensland Clinical Senate, Liz shares some of her experiences, along with tips to help fill our tanks, feel less stressed and more engaged, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. Listen now at Whooshkaa or Apple.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers 
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre  

Key links - interstate or national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Key links - wellbeing

• Boost Your Healthy
• Pandemic Kindness Movement

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager.

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) or Vaccine Command Centre (VCC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: NSW, VIC, QLD, NT, WA, SA

Salary: $180 per hour + GST

Additional benefits: If travelling – accommodation will be provided.
Notes: Consulting with Coles Supermarket staff about the Flu Vaccine and potentially
the COVID Vaccine. Doctor is responsible for consultation and entering of medical notes
into the patient management system. As well as providing clinical supervision to
the nurse immuniser.  

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: $2000 per day + GST

Additional benefits: Return travel to and from Cairns, with Accommodation and Car-Hire provided.

 

Job title: VR or GR General Practitioner – Surgical Liposuction

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Perth City, WA

Salary: : $200,000 + Super

Additional benefits: Option to franchise ownership buy-in option at 12 months.
Notes: No cosmetic experience needed – Full training provided.

 

Job title: GR on PEP, or a VR

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent I Locum

Location: Brisbane, QLD

Salary: $2000 per day potential. 65-70% of billings with initial guarantee.

Additional benefits: Full time nursing support provided.

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Brisbane CBD, QLD

Salary: $120 an hour, 65% of Private Billings

Additional benefits: Full nursing support provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent I FIFO

Location: Broken Hill, NSW

Salary: $1300 - $1400 daily rate

Additional benefits: Accommodation and Car-Hire provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location:  Sydney, NSW

Salary: $150 per hour + GST

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location: Packenham, VIC

Salary: 70% bulk billings or $150 3 month guarantee

Additional benefits:  Full time nursing support

 

Job title:  General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Permanent

Location: Launceston, TAS

Salary: 65-70% bulk billings

Additional benefits:  $5000 relocation assistance

Vaccine clarification, Watch today’s vaccine info session, THANZ statement, Patient information on vaccination, Updated vaccine statements, WA restrictions ease, CHO Directions updated

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data
In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 2 new overseas acquired cases, detected in hotel quarantine (recently returned from PNG)
• 15 active cases (14 are in hospital)
• 1,541 total cases
• To date, there have been 7 deaths.
• 2,922 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination data

• 706 vaccine doses administered 26 April 2021
• 137,087 total doses administered

National data

Vaccine clarification

On Friday, we stated that 1a and 1b frontline workers would be eligible for Pfizer. To clarify, the Prime Minister has stated that access to the Pfizer vaccine will be limited to:

• People aged under 50 years eligible in phases 1a and 1b (pending commencement of subsequent phases);
• Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) residents (through completion of the Commonwealth’s existing in-reach program);
• Disability care residents with complex needs who require in-reach vaccination services;
• People in remote and very remote communities where it makes sense to use a single vaccine for all or most of the community; and
• In very limited circumstances, quarantine, border and frontline health care workers who are 50 years of age or over and not already vaccinated, where the relevant state or territory determines the worker should be fully vaccinated and protected as soon as possible.

You can read the Prime Minister’s full statement here.

Watch the COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session for Healthcare Workers

The Queensland Clinical Senate in partnership with CEQ-Engage delivered its fourth vaccine education session for healthcare workers today (Tuesday, 27 April 2021). You can watch today’s session here.

Host Dr Alex Markwell, Queensland Clinical Senate Chair, was joined by:

• Dr Krispin Hajkowicz, Director, Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,
• Dr Robert Bird, Director Haematology, Cancer Services Division, Princess Alexandra Hospital,
• Prof Keith McNeil, A/DDG Prevention Division and Chief Medical Officer
• Dr Bav Manoharan, Clinical Lead, COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce
• Mr Scott Brown, A/Manager COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce 
• Prof Lisa Nissen, COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce

The session covered an update on the National Cabinet outcomes, updates from the TGA and ATAGI, adverse events following immunisation, and more.

Summary of the session for ease of listening (note: timestamps are approximate):

• 00:03:09 – update on/outcomes from National Cabinet
• 00:06:26 – risk-benefit use of AstraZeneca vaccine
• 00:11:22 – update on Queensland’s rollout
• 00:16:00 – Adverse Events Following Immunisation
• 00:20:01 – presentation from Dr Robert Bird
• 00:35:37 – presentation from Dr Krispin Hajkowicz
• 00:48:47 – message from Prof. Keith McNeil, Chief Clinical Information Officer and A/Deputy Director-General, Prevention Division
• 00:51:48 – Q&A segment begins:

You can also watch our previous information sessions online.

THANZ statement

The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand statement on suspected vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT)/Vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopaenia (VITT) is available here. This statement provides information about this condition which we believe is the process leading to thrombocytopaenia and thromobosis post-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination, as well as an algorithm for investigation and treatment. Updates, as required, are made available weekly.

Information to help patients make informed decisions

The Department of Health has published information to help patients make informed decisions: ‘Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca’.

To help providers and patients make informed decisions, ATAGI has looked at two scenarios – Australia’s first wave in early 2020, and Victoria’s second wave later in 2020 – to illustrate how the benefits versus risk of vaccination with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine would weigh up if Australia had another outbreak of COVID-19 similar to what has happened in the past (adapting the method used by Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, University of Cambridge). You can see the outcomes and the full patient information here.

Updated vaccine statements

ATAGI has reinforced its recommendations on the use of the COVID-19 vaccine.
https://health.gov.au/news/atagi-reinforce-recommendations-on-use-of-covid-19-vaccines-following-review-of-vaccine-safety-data-and-benefits

The Chief Medical Officer has also issued a statement on the ATAGI advice
https://health.gov.au/news/response-latest-atagi-advice

The TGA have published the outcomes of investigations into three potential TTS cases
https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/astrazeneca-chadox1-s-covid-19-vaccine-3

In response to the ATAGI statement the Department of Health has updated these pages:
Advice for vaccine providers
About the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine information for disability service providers
Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines

Western Australia restrictions ease: what this means in QLD

With restrictions easing overnight in Western Australia (WA), Queensland has revised its restrictions for people returning from WA.

From midday today (27 April 2021), anyone who has been quarantined because of travel to WA can leave if they:

• have returned at least one negative COVID-19 test
• have not attended any of the venues listed as being linked to the three WA cases
• provide contact details for the further 14 days since they initially entered quarantine and
• agree to immediately test and isolate if they develop any symptoms in the further 14 days since they entered quarantine.

People who have been in the Perth or Peel regions on or since 17 April are not allowed to attend aged care or disability residential facilities, hospitals or prisons unless they obtained an exemption for an end-of-life visit or it had been 14 days since they left WA. 

CHO Directions - Management of Close Contacts Direction

From 8:45pm, Monday 26 April 2021, the Management of Close Contacts Direction came into effect:

The Management of Close Contacts Direction applies to people in Queensland and who have travelled from interstate and provides:

• quarantine requirements for people who are informed they are close contacts and casual contacts, including reasons to leave quarantine, how to travel to and from their quarantine premises for permitted reasons and when a quarantine period ends, 
• people who have been to an interstate exposure site must quarantine as if they are a close contact under the Direction and contact Queensland Health for further instructions. This includes casual contact venues.

From midday today, Queensland Health will be undeclaring the Western Australian hotspots of Perth and Peel regions. People who have arrived in Queensland from interstate must continue to monitor contact tracing alerts and comply with the Management of Close Contacts Direction if they have been to an interstate exposure site or are close or casual contacts.

Further information about these Directions, please visit the Queensland Health website.

CHO Directions – Places of Concern and Maritime Protocol

From 6PM, Saturday 24 April 2021, the following Directions and Protocols have been updated:

• Places of Concern Direction
• Maritime Protocol

The updated Places of Concern Direction (No.2):

• provides that the person is not considered to have been in a place of concern if they solely transited through a place of concern including Perth airport
• provides that a person may leave Queensland to return to Western Australia by air, if they have received a negative test result
• clarifies that a person isolating in a residence requires an exemption to enter a facility for an end of life visit. 

The Maritime Protocol v7 re-instates all Borders and COVID-19 Hotspots requirements.

Further information about these Directions, can be found on the Queensland Health website.

CHO Directions – Border Restrictions

From 12:01am, Saturday 24 April 2021, the following Directions came into effect:

• Border Restrictions Direction

The Borders Direction will:

• Only allow returning Queensland residents and other categories of people to enter Queensland including specialist workers, police and emergency services, disaster management and defence. 
• Anyone permitted to enter Queensland from a hotspot will be required to enter hotel quarantine.
• Any non-Queensland residents who are not permitted to enter Queensland under the Direction will need to apply for an exemption to enter Queensland
• Require anyone entering Queensland from a hotspot to complete the Border Declaration Pass

A number of other Directions are impacted by these changes including the Aged Care Direction, Hospital Visitors Direction and Disability Accommodation Services Direction. People who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot will be prohibited from entering these facilities.

Further information about these Directions, please visit the Queensland Health website. Please note, additional supporting material such as Q&A’s will be published through the course of the day.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre  

Key links - interstate or national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Key links - wellbeing

• Boost Your Healthy
• Pandemic Kindness Movement

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) or Vaccine Command Centre (VCC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Epidemiology

• There are currently nine active COVID-19 cases in Queensland, but no evidence of community-transmission

 

Updated Directions

 

From 12:01am, Saturday 24 April 2021, the following Directions came into effect:

• Places of Concern Direction (applying to people who arrived in Queensland since 17 April 2021 up until the commencement of the Borders Restrictions Direction)
• Border Restrictions Direction
• COVID-19 Hotspots Declaration

 

The Places of Concern Direction will:

• Require individuals who have been in Perth or Peel on or since 17 April 2021 to have a COVID-19 test and quarantine at their home or arranged accommodation until they receive a negative test
• Once a person receives a negative test result, only permit people to leave their residence for essential food, medical care, to escape a risk of harm, to exercise, to undertake a COVID-19 test, or for an end-of-life visit if the facility permits this.  People will not be permitted to leave to attend work, school or childcare.
• The stay at home requirements will cease once WA lifts its lockdown restrictions.

 

The Borders Direction will:

• Only allow returning Queensland residents and other categories of people to enter Queensland including specialist workers, police and emergency services, disaster management and defence.
• Anyone permitted to enter Queensland from a hotspot will be required to enter hotel quarantine.
• Any non-Queensland residents who are not permitted to enter Queensland under the Direction will need to apply for an exemption to enter Queensland
• Require anyone entering Queensland from a hotspot to complete the Border Declaration Pass

 

The COVID-19 Hotspots Direction will:

• declare 34 Western Australia (WA) Local Government Areas and 2 unincorporated areas as declared COVID 19 hotspots

 

A number of other Directions are impacted by these changes including the Aged Care Direction, Hospital Visitors Direction and Disability Accommodation Services Direction. People who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot will be prohibited from entering these facilities.

 

Inspirational thought

• ‘We may easily have ‘the next India’ just around the corner. How much excess death must we see before global co-operations overcome the ‘me first’ approaches from wealthier countries?’ From ‘COVID-19 in India: an unfolding humanitarian crisis’

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: NSW, VIC, QLD, NT, WA, SA

Salary: $180 per hour + GST

Additional benefits: If travelling – accommodation will be provided.
Notes: Consulting with Coles Supermarket staff about the Flu Vaccine and potentially
the COVID Vaccine. Doctor is responsible for consultation and entering of medical notes
into the patient management system. As well as providing clinical supervision to
the nurse immuniser.  

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: $2000 per day + GST

Additional benefits: Return travel to and from Cairns, with Accommodation and Car-Hire provided.

 

Job title: VR or GR General Practitioner – Surgical Liposuction

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Perth City, WA

Salary: : $200,000 + Super

Additional benefits: Option to franchise ownership buy-in option at 12 months.
Notes: No cosmetic experience needed – Full training provided.

 

Job title: Cannabis Medical Officer

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Gold Coast, QLD

Salary: $110 per hour + GST

Additional benefits: Full training provided. Relocation assistance can be provided.  

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Tieri, QLD

Salary: $9000 - $9500 per week + GST

Additional benefits: Travel, Accommodation and Car-Hire provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent I FIFO

Location: Broken Hill, NSW

Salary: $1300 - $1400 daily rate

Additional benefits: Accommodation and Car-Hire provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location:  Sydney, NSW

Salary: $150 per hour + GST

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location: Packenham, VIC

Salary: 70% bulk billings or $150 3 month guarantee

Additional benefits:  Full time nursing support

 

Job title:  General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Permanent

Location: Launceston, TAS

Salary: 65-70% bulk billings

Additional benefits:  $5000 relocation assistance@

​

Vaccine rollout changes, New Zealand contact tracing locations, Vaccine info session, Multiple CHO Directions updated, Clinical Evidence Taskforce updates

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data
In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 4 new overseas acquired cases, detected in hotel quarantine
• 18 active cases
• 1,524 total cases
• To date, there have been 7 deaths.
• 2,821 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination data

• 2,726 vaccine doses administered 22 April 2021
• 133,853 total doses administered

National data

National Cabinet announces changes to vaccine rollout 

State-run vaccination clinics and General Practice Respiratory Clinics will offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to all people aged over 50 from May 3, and at GP clinics from May 17, it was announced late yesterday. 

The changes to the Australian Vaccination Rollout Strategy follow concerns of VIPIT/VITT/TTS  linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in people aged under 50 years.

The Pfizer vaccine remains the preferred vaccine for people under 50, aged and disability care workers, frontline and quarantine workers and Australians eligible for the 1a and 1b rollout. 

Meantime, passengers travelling from high-risk areas will be required to have a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to flying to Australia. Reduced flight arrivals from India were also announced. India recorded more than 300,000 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

You can read more from yesterday’s National Cabinet meeting here.

Contact tracing locations in New Zealand

A contact tracing alert has been issued for people who have been in New Zealand on or since 17 April 2021. Anyone who has recently travelled from New Zealand to Australia, who has visited any of the locations listed here should get tested and isolate. 

Invitation to the fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session for Healthcare Workers

The Queensland Clinical Senate in partnership with CEQ-Engage will deliver its fourth vaccine education session for healthcare workers on Tuesday, 27 April 2021 (next Tuesday).
While these sessions focus on answering your questions, we'll also address topics including:

• Update Vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT)/ thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS) 
• AstraZeneca update 
• Pfizer supply update
• Information arising from National Cabinet meetings
• Clarification around family of 1a eligibility requirements.

Date:             Tuesday, 27 April
Time:             9.00 am – 10.00 am
Location:      Select this link to join the virtual session on Tuesday.

You can also watch our previous information sessions online.

Please note: Any user without a Queensland Health email address will not be able to join the event. A recording of the session will be made available. For more information or to ask a question in advance, please email FrontlineCOVIDAdvice@health.qld.gov.au.

Aged Care Direction updated 

From 4:45pm, Wednesday, 21 April 2021, updates to the Aged Care Direction came into effect:

• From 30 May 2021, you must have had the 2021 flu vaccine if it is available to you, to enter an aged care facility.

Further information about this Direction, including questions and answers please visit the Queensland Health website.

Chief Health Officer Directions – Updates to multiple Directions

Updates to the following directions have been published and came into effect at 9am, today (Friday 23 April):

• Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction
• Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for Air Crew Direction
• Updated Operational Guidelines for Air Crew
• Updated Member of Positioning Crew Form
• Requirements for Quarantine Facility Workers Direction
• Updated Operational Protocol for COVID-19 testing of quarantine facility workers and other requirements
• Transport Plan Template – COVID Safe Transport of Quarantined Persons (NEW)
• Maritime Protocol

 Below is a summary of the changes made to these Directions and Protocols.
 
Transport Plans

• From 9am on 7 May 2021, transport providers who transport quarantined persons to and from quarantine locations (hotels, home quarantine, vessels, etc.) must be endorsed by a government authority and have a Transport Plan in the form approved by the Chief Health Officer.
• The requirement for a Transport Plan is set out in:
• Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No. 8)
• Maritime Protocol 
• Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for Air Crew Direction and Operational Guidelines for Air Crew
• Requirements for Quarantine Facility Workers Direction (No. 2)
• The Department of Transport and Main Roads will endorse transport providers who submit a completed Transport Plan template to COVID19_transport_plans@tmr.qld.gov.au.
• Transport providers are then required to display a Statement of Compliance on their vehicle and adhere to the plan.
• The requirements do not apply to ambulance service and emergency services vehicles.
• Transport providers are kindly asked to submit their plans to the Department of Transport and Main Roads 7 days before their next scheduled quarantine transport service.  

End-to-end quarantine changes

• People are required to wear masks on balconies at quarantine hotels and cannot physically interact with other guests on balconies.
• A quarantined person may only allow someone to enter their quarantine hotel room where an exemption is granted in extreme exceptional circumstances. 
• Otherwise, an emergency officer may allow another person to enter the room in an emergency situation or to perform a COVID-19 test. Contact details must be kept for anyone who enters.
• People in home quarantine may only allow another person to enter the premises if they also live there or in an emergency situation.
• A person who refuses testing when requested to do so by an emergency officer will be required to quarantine for an additional 14 days. Testing will be requested as soon as possible after a person arrives to a quarantine hotel and on day 12-13 of the person’s quarantine period. Planning to implement additional testing on day 5 is also underway.

Air Crew Direction

• In order to quarantine at home, a member of positioning crew must be able to provide an undertaking that they only left Australia for the purpose of servicing an inbound or outbound flight and did not undertake any other activities while in a place outside of Australia, including participating in regulatory training.
• Air crew must travel to and from the airport and their nominated quarantine premises without stopping.
• Aeromedical crew may on-fly to another destination in Queensland to complete a patient transfer, subject to strict conditions.

Maritime Protocol

• Maritime crew that sign off a vessel in Queensland and enter hotel quarantine must be tested before they leave Australia.

Protocol for Quarantine Facility Workers

• If a saliva test is not made available to a worker before, during or after their shift, the worker must contact the Venue Manager or Health Manager to discuss how to access a make-up test. 

Further information about all these Directions, including questions and answers please visit the Queensland Health website.

Updates from the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce

Updates this week from the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce include:

• Timing of surgery following COVID-19 infection
• Tocilizumab for pregnant and breastfeeding women
• VTE prophylaxis for adults
• Interferon β-1a plus lopinavir-ritonavir
• Budesonide
• CT-P59 monoclonal antibody
• Consumer Webinar

Anzac Day commemorations

Anzac Day commemorations, including marches, parades, dawn services and other commemorative events can take place this year.

Find out more about 2021 Anzac Day commemorations—including where to find commemorations in your area.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre  

Key links - interstate or national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager.

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) or Vaccine Command Centre (VCC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Fourth vaccination info session, AstraZeneca reminder, Decision Support Guide, Vaccination training update, AusVax vaccine surveillance

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data
In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 1 new overseas acquired case, detected in hotel quarantine
• 17 active cases
• 1,519 total cases
• To date, there have been 7 deaths.
• 5,433 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination data

• 2,535 vaccine doses administered yesterday
• 128,555 total doses administered

National data

NEW: Invitation to the fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session for Healthcare Workers

The Queensland Clinical Senate in partnership with CEQ-Engage will deliver its fourth vaccine education session for healthcare workers on Tuesday, 27 April 2021.

While these sessions focus on answering your questions, we'll also address topics including:

• Update on vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT)/thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS)
• AstraZeneca update 
• Pfizer supply update
• Information arising from National Cabinet meetings
• Clarification around family of 1a eligibility requirements.

Date:             Tuesday, 27 April
Time:             9.00 am – 10.00 am
Location:      Select this link to join the virtual session on Tuesday.

You can also watch our previous information sessions online.

Please note: Any user without a Queensland Health email address will not be able to join the event. A recording of the session will be made available. For more information or to ask a question in advance, please email FrontlineCOVIDAdvice@health.qld.gov.au

REMINDER: Second dose of AstraZeneca

If you have not had a severe adverse reaction to your first dose of AstraZeneca, you can be confident in having your second dose. As per the full statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI):

• Studies have suggested it [VITT/thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome or TSS] may occur in approximately 4 - 6 people in every one million people in the 4-20 days after the first dose of vaccine.

Switching to Pfizer for a second dose is not supported except in very rare specific clinical circumstances. The safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series has not been evaluated.

Whilst one dose of AstraZeneca will afford significant protection against severe COVID-19 infection, to create the very best immune response, ensure the most effective clinical protection and maximise broader community coverage, the second dose of the vaccine should be administered 12 weeks apart. AstraZeneca remains a highly effective vaccine (about 76-83 per cent effective at preventing any COVID-19 infection and effectively 100 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19).

More information on the AstraZeneca vaccine can be found here.

REMINDER: COVID-19 Vaccination Screening Questions – Decision Support Guide

A Decision Support Guide has been created to assist healthcare professionals in their conversations with patients about vaccinating with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The guide includes information on blood clotting and a series of questions to guide decision making. The guide should be used in addition to other pre-vaccination screening questions and consent forms available on our website.

The THANZ Advisory Statement for Haematologists on VITT is updated weekly and can be found here. This statement provides further information regarding screening, diagnosis and treatment of this exceptionally rare condition.

UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccination training

All workers for Queensland Government controlled COVID-19 vaccination services must complete the mandatory training requirements relevant to their role detailed in the Queensland COVID-19 Training Matrix.

Significant updates have occurred to the Commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination training program. Queensland staff who administer COVID-19 vaccinations are expected to login and view the new information. Staff are not required to re-complete the training and assessment – just to review the new information. A summary of the updates can be found in the announcement forum. All changes within the modules are identified by 'NEW' in red.

Training requirements for all other staff roles in COVID-19 vaccination services changed from 15 April. These staff no longer complete the Commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination training program but instead complete the Queensland developed training available through iLearn. This is for workers who prepare; receive and handle; work in the Health Contact Centre or provide clerical services.

If you fall into this category and have completed Commonwealth modules prior to the change you do not have to repeat the Queensland modules, however you are welcome to review the Queensland materials. These are also updated with new information as required.

All new staff who prepare; receive and handle; work in the Health Contact Centre or provide clerical services who are completing training from 15 April 2021 should complete the Queensland developed training modules.

AusVax Safety vaccine surveillance

AusVax Safety, led by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is conducting active vaccine safety surveillance of the vaccines in use. Surveillance data have been provided by Vaxtracker and SmartVax based on surveys sent on Day 3 after the vaccination, and data presented here are from surveys received up to 11 April 2021. These data are updated weekly and available online.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre  

Key links - interstate or national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager.

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) or Vaccine Command Centre (VCC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Here's the latest update from @Carl De Wet

Epidemiology

• The latest epidemiological information for Australia is available here. There are lots of interesting information. This figure, updated yesterday, provides a visual summary of our COVID-19 journey in Australia.

Workplace arrangements

• Queensland Health recently published a ‘Safe return to the workplace’ factsheet. The main point is that office-based workplaces are not restricted business and organizations may consider how they can support staff to return to the workplace (with the usual caveats of individual circumstances, remaining home and getting a COVID-19 test if unwell)

Supply of consumables

• The supply of consumables have recently been interrupted in some practices. Our PHNs and professional bodies continue to advocate on this issue. If issues with ordering or delivery of vaccines and consumables continue, contact the Vaccine Operations Centre hotline on 1800 318 208 or email COVID19vaccineoperationscentre@health.gov.au

 

Potential risks and benefits of the AZ vaccine

• The DoH recently published a factsheet with information about the potential benefits and risks of harm from the AZ vaccine (attached). The infographic on page 4 provides lots of information in a simple and clear way.

Inspirational thought

‘He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at’ (Epictetus)

 

Kind regards,

Carl

​

Representatives from the federal health department and ATAGI will answer questions at this afternoon’s Parliamentary COVID committee hearings from 2.30pm AEST. 

The hearings are expected to focus on yesterday’s decision by National Cabinet to back the PM’s push to vaccinate people over 50 ahead of schedule.

Watch here: 

https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/LiveMediaPlayer?vID={C17FB637-DAB3-4DBB-ACE8-74160CDB1CD6}

 

Latest news from @Carl De Wet 

It has been a little while since the last Update. Information is disseminated through so many sources and media, that I wanted to refrain from simple duplication in our Primary Care e-mails.

 

Epidemiology

• Worldwide, the number of COVID-19 related deaths passed the three million mark.
• As of 13 April, more than 730 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. In Queensland, more than 115,000 doses have been administered.
• From next week, the Australian National Cabinet will meet twice a week to improve the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

 

Queensland CHO Directions

From 6.00am Thursday 15 April 2021, updates to the following directions came into effect:

• Revocation of Restrictions for Queensland Direction (No. 2)

• The Direction revokes the restrictions currently in place for all of Queensland.
• Masks are no longer required in indoor public places, except at airports and on airplanes.
• People can stand when eating and drinking at venues.

• Queensland COVID-19 Restricted Areas (No. 14)

• Removed the State of Queensland as a restricted area and declared there are no new restricted areas.
• As a result, restrictions on visits to aged care facilities, hospitals and disability accommodation services have been lifted.
• Movement and Gathering Direction (No. 9)
• Allows 100 people to gather at a private residence. There is no limit to gathering numbers in public spaces outdoors.
• Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 18)
• Removed occupant density requirements for outdoor venues or for areas of a business that are outdoors.
• Removed occupant density and contact information requirements for outdoor events with no dancing, with some exceptions for contact information.
• Collection of contact information requirements still apply to venues with both indoor and outdoor settings. For example, a zoo with indoor and outdoor exhibits must collect contact information for all patrons.
• Outdoor music festivals and outdoor dance festivals with more than 500 people will require a COVID Safe Event Plan or COVID Safe Event Checklist.
• Removed occupant density or collecting contact information requirements for outdoor wedding ceremonies and outdoor funerals.
• Continued dance area density requirements of 1 person per 2sqm for indoor and outdoor venues and events.

For further information  please visit the Queensland Health website.

 

Adverse Events from Immunization (AEFI)

• AusVaxSafety has a fabulous webpage with regular updates aggregating self-reported AEFIs - https://www.ausvaxsafety.org.au/safety-data/covid-19-vaccines. It includes information about specific vaccines.
• As at 11 April, more than 200,00 Australians have responded to the survey. Of these, 51.8% reported any adverse event, and 1.2% reported visiting a doctor or ED. The Queensland experience closely reflects the national data.

 

Practical tip

• We have had queries about consumers presenting to general practices who do not provide COVID-19 vaccine services. The following practical approach applies: During the vaccination process, consumers are advised to seek appropriate medical help if they experience AEFIs. In many instances, that would be their usual GP. In a few instances it might be ED. Vaccine service providers do not provide follow-up care once the consumer has concluded the recommended period of observation, and do not have a role in the reporting of AEFIs that are identified outside the occasion of service. The clinician who assesses the patient, and who suspects an AEFI, must report it.

 

Literature

• This article  published last month reports thrombocytopenia following Pfizer and Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

 

Inspirational thought

A prominent notice in the staff room of a busy rural ED recently caught my eye. The advice to think before you speak has been around for some time, but remains relevant.

​​​​

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately pending training program and Medicare

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Gatton, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings or $120 + GST per hour initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Mon-Fri role with no weekends, Bulk Billing Practice

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately pending training program and medicare

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Warwick, QLD

Salary: 60-70% of billings

Additional benefits: Solo GP Practice, after hours and on-call is required

 

Job title: Indigenous General Practitioner/VMO

Dates: Immediate pending training program and Medicare

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Dalby, WA

Salary: : $180,000 per annum

Additional benefits: $10k relocation assistance, Salary sacrificing, Accommodation, Electricity, Vehicle all included

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Goulburn, NSW

Salary: 60 – 65% of billings

Additional benefits: 3 month initial guarantee

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Monbulk, VIC

Salary: 70% of mixed billings or $150p/hour (3 month initial guarantee)

Additional benefits: DPA exemption for GP interested in teaching

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Innisfail, QLD

Salary: 65% of mixed billings + initial guarantee

Additional benefits: After hours and weekend work available, option to work in hospital on weekends.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate – Flexible length ideally 3 + weeks

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location:  Dalby, QLD

Salary: $1,500 daily rate

Additional benefits: Travel and accommodation provided.

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Locum

Location: Packenham, VIC

Salary: 70% bulk billings or $150 3 month guarantee

Additional benefits:  Full time nursing support

 

Job title:  General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract:  Permanent

Location: Launceston, TAS

Salary: 65-70% bulk billings

Additional benefits:  $5000 relocation assistance

Here's the latest message from Dr Jillann Farmer, Deputy Director-General Clinical Excellence Queensland

I am pleased to advise that from 6am, Thursday, 15 April 2021, all geographical areas will be low risk for PPE usage. Further information can be found at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/novel-coronavirus-qld-clinicians.

Queensland Health appreciates your collaboration in working to address the impacts of COVID-19.

Queensland restriction to ease at 6 am tomorrow. De-escalation of PPE requirements, Direction update

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data

In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 2 new cases acquired in PNG, detected in hotel quarantine
• 51 active cases
• 1,508 total cases
• To date, there have been 7 deaths. (The seventh person to die in QLD was an 80-year-old returned traveller who died in hospital this week. He was diagnosed while in hotel quarantine and admitted to hospital on 25 March).
• 8,246 samples tested in the past 24 hours

Vaccination data

• 2,568 vaccine doses administered yesterday
• 115,025 total doses administered

More Queensland data

National data

Queensland restrictions update

From 6 am Thursday 15 April restrictions across Queensland will ease due to no new unlinked community transmission cases of COVID-19 and consistent testing numbers. From 6am tomorrow:

• you can visit aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, hospitals and correctional facilities if you meet the visitor requirements
• face masks are no longer mandatory except in airports and on planes. We recommend you continue to wear masks on public transport and places where social distancing isn’t possible
• 100 people can gather at your home
• there are no limits on the number of people that can gather in public spaces
• 200 guests are allowed at weddings and funerals, or one person per 2 square metres. No limits with ticketed and allocated seating.
• you can stand when eating and drinking at venues
• no limits on the number of people at outdoor events with ticketed and allocated seating (excl. music festivals)
• you can dance at venues.

More information is available online.

De-escalation of PPE requirements

From 6 am Thursday 15 April 2021, in line with the eased restrictions detailed above, all geographic areas will be ‘low’ risk for PPE usage.

Please refer to the Pandemic Response PPE guidance documents should you require further information.

Direction update

From Tuesday 13 April 2021, the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No. 17) was updated to clarify the existing occupant density requirements for wedding ceremonies and funerals to operate under are one of the following (whichever is greater):

• 1 person per 2 square metres, or
• 100 per cent seated venue capacity with ticketed and allocated seating, or
• a maximum of 200 people.

Further information about this Direction and Protocol, including questions and answers please visit the Queensland Health website.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre

Key links - interstate national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager or Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC).

See below message from Dr Alex Markwell

We are pleased to share with you the Senate’s April 2021 newsletter.

 

As well as a quick update, the newsletter links to the Senate’s latest recommendations and report from the Adolescent to young adult care: doing better meeting, as well as our current podcasts; Infectious Diseases Physicians, Drs Naomi Runnegar and Trent Yarwood, and Primary Care Lead for Queensland’s COVID-19 pandemic response, Dr Carl de Wet.

 

Kind regards

Dr Alex Markwell

Chair, Queensland Clinical Senate

Emergency Physician

​​​

Clinical update on new recommendations for AZ Vaccination, Thrombosis information and papers of interest to clinicians

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data

In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 1 new overseas acquired cases, detected in hotel quarantine
• 55 active cases
• 1,504 total cases (A historic case with a link to a recent Brisbane cluster was added to Queensland’s cases over the weekend. The case, who attended the Byron Bay party, had been in self-isolation and there was no risk to the community. You can read more here).
• To date, there have been 6 deaths
• 3,778 samples tested in the past 24 hours

Vaccination data

• 4050 vaccine doses administered in the past three days
• 109,314 total doses administered

More Queensland data

National data

Clinical update on new recommendations for AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccination

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) issued a statement on 8 April recommending that the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer (Comirnaty) is preferred over the AstraZeneca COVID 19 Vaccine in adults aged under 50 years. This recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults (and hence a higher benefit from vaccination) and a potentially increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 50 years.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits. 

People who have had the first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca without serious adverse effects can be given the second dose, including adults under 50 years.

Queensland Health has amended the relevant information and forms on the COVID-19 vaccination information for healthcare workers website to reflect the changes and assist HHS Vaccination clinics:

• COVID-19 Additional and Temporary Pre-Vaccination Screening Questions. This form is to assist clinics asking the additional question pertaining to blood clotting risks and age-based risk for consumers in light of the above ATAGI advice.
• COVID-19 Patient Information Sheet (Patient Resource). This document is designed for consumers. 
• COVID-19 Vaccination Clinician Decision Support Guide: This document provides information which clinicians may wish to use in their discussion with consumers about the vaccination, including those under the age of 50 who want more information about the risks and benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• COVID-19 Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) Reporting Form. This form has been amended to capture any AEFI relating to thrombosis so that rapid review and referral to the Public Health Unit (PHU) and the TGA can occur. Further information about AEFI reporting is available here.

Please note that new clinical information and data is being released currently and the above advice will be amended as required. 

Thrombosis information and papers of interest to clinicians

A New Clinician information sheet called “Information for clinicians – thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT)” has been developed to assist clinicians in managing patients who present with thrombosis following vaccination. It is based on the THANZ statement, which was updated 10 April 2021. It is critical not to use heparin-based anticoagulation in treatment of suspected TTS, however we note, THANZ now state,
 
“…most cases of common site venous thrombosis (DVT in the lower leg) will be unrelated to VIPIT. In the absence of thrombocytopenia, we advise management as per usual VTE pathway in consultation with a subspecialist thrombosis haematologist…”

Two recent papers published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEMJ) of interest:

• Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination
• Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCov-19 Vaccination

We will continue to advise of further clinical updates.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre

Key links - interstate national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager or Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC).

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Please see below a list of updated information resources that are now published on the Department of Health website.

Published 10 April 2021

Patient information on AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome – new document

Preparing for your COVID-19 vaccination – updated document

AstraZeneca vaccine information sheet – updated document

After your AstraZeneca vaccine – updated document

Pfizer vaccine information sheet – updated document

Published 9 April 2021

COVID-19 vaccine consent form – updated document – no changes since distribution last night

The easy print versions and translated versions have been unpublished but will be available again as soon as they have been updated.

NCIRS are continuing to update further resources over the weekend and next week. We will provide further updates and these links as soon as they are available.

The Department of Health encourages you to share these new and updated resources with your networks.

Changes to rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine, Aged Care Direction changes, NCIRS webinar, National Taskforce updates

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data

In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 1 new overseas acquired case, detected in hotel quarantine
• 63 active cases
• 1,501 total cases
• To date, there have been 6 deaths
• 9,734 samples tested in the past 24 hours

Vaccination data

• 4,966 vaccine doses administered 8 April 2021
• 105,283 total doses administered

More Queensland data

National data

URGENT – Changes to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Following consultation between the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), last night the Australian Government announced four changes to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout that come into effect immediately:

1. At the current time, ATAGI recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer (Comirnaty) is preferred over COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in adults aged under 50 years. This recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults (and hence a higher benefit from vaccination) and a potentially increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 50 years. 
2. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits. 
3. People who have had the first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca without any serious adverse effects can be given the second dose, including adults under 50 years. This is because the syndrome has only ever occurred after the first dose of AstraZeneca; not the second. 
4. The Federal Department of Health will further develop and refine resources for informed consent that clearly convey the benefits and risks of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for both immunisation providers and consumers of all ages.

The Queensland Health Vaccination Command Centre will work with all stakeholders to manage this significant change. The full ATAGI statement is here. 

It is important to note that only one person in Australia is believe to have developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. 

Chief Health Officer Directions change

From 3 May 2021, the following changes to the Aged Care Direction will come into effect. The direction:

• requires staff and visitors to aged care facilities to have the 2021 flu vaccination, if the vaccine is available to them. 
• the vaccine will be considered unavailable to a person if they:
• have a medical contraindication, or
• are observing the recommended waiting periods between the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccination. 

Further information about this Direction, including questions and answers please visit the Queensland Health website.

NCIRS webinar: COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) will present the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance webinar on Friday 30 April 2021 from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEST. In this webinar participants will:

• hear an update on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Australia
• hear the latest research on Australian attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines
• learn evidence-based strategies for increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among your patients, colleagues, family and friends.

Register online to attend. 

Latest guidance from National COVID-19 Taskforce

Updates from the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce include:

• Convalescent plasma
• Bamlanivimab plus etesevimab
• Enisamium
• Vitamin C
• PIMS-TS.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre

Key links - interstate national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager or Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC).

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Death of former PNG Governor, THANZ statement on VIPIT, CHO Direction for quarantine workers, Positive wastewater results, Anaphylaxis/adrenaline dosage cards, Guidance from National COVID-19 taskforce

Current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

Case data

In the past 24 hours in Queensland:

• 0 new locally acquired cases
• 6 new overseas acquired cases, detected in hotel quarantine
• 73 active cases
• 1,497 total cases
• To date, there have been 6 deaths
• 8,352 samples tested in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination data

• 5,396 vaccine doses administered in the past 24 hours
• 94,762 total doses administered

More Queensland data

National data

Death of former PNG Governor from COVID-19 complications

A former Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governor has passed away in a Queensland hospital from complications due to COVID-19. The 77-year-old male died on Monday, 5 April 2021.

He was a dual PNG / UK national who was transported by Medivac from PNG to Queensland on 28 March, as his condition was worsening. Since that day, he has been in ICU at Redcliffe hospital and died on Monday.

The death is not counted in Queensland statistics, as he was diagnosed in PNG. 

THANZ statement on VIPIT (thromobosis post-vaccination)

The Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand statement on suspected vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) is available here. This statement provides information about this condition which we believe is the process leading to thromobosis and thrombocytopaenia post-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination, as well as an algorithm for investigation and treatment. Updates, as required, are made available weekly.

CHO Direction for quarantine workers

From Tuesday, 06 April 2021, the Requirements for Quarantine Facility Workers Direction came into effect. This Direction replaces the COVID-19 Testing for Quarantine Facility Workers Direction.
 
The updated Direction makes the following changes:

• for vaccinated workers, require saliva surveillance testing each shift plus a weekly throat/nasal swab if away from work, until 14 days have passed.  
• for unvaccinated workers, continue to have saliva testing each shift plus a weekly throat/nasal swab.  A weekly throat/nasal swab is also required while the worker is away from work, until 14 days have passed.
• mandate that a surgical mask must be worn in a designated zone of the hotel. This takes effect immediately on commencement. A person who fails to wear a mask and who enters a designated zone may be subject to a fine of $200.
• defines a designated zone as a floor where a quarantined person is or has stayed, a corridor adjacent to their room or a lift, stairwell or other area that provides access to the floor.
• defines maintenance and repairs contractors. These contractors do not have to undertake routine surveillance testing if an emergency officer directs them not to. They must present to a Queensland Health employee at the hotel before entering a designated zone of the hotel and follow all mask wearing and infection control instructions. 

Further information about this Direction and Protocol, including questions and answers please visit the Queensland Health website.

Positive wastewater results 

Fragments of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected at the Capalaba, Maroochydore and Maryborough wastewater treatment plants. Anyone in these suburbs with symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested. 

For information about which suburbs are included this catchment, visit the Queensland Health wastewater areas webpage.

For information about Queensland’s wastewater surveillance program, visit the Queensland Health website.

Anaphylaxis/adrenaline dosage cards

Clinical Excellence Queensland is arranging a small print run of the anaphylaxis/adrenaline dosage cards, which are designed to attach to a lanyard or retractable badge holder. To order, please email FrontlineCOVIDadvice@health.qld.gov.au with the number required and the relevant postage address. Please note, supply is limited.

Latest guidance from National COVID-19 Taskforce

Updates from the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce include:

• Convalescent plasma
• Bamlanivimab plus etesevimab
• Enisamium
• Vitamin C
• PIMS-TS.

Key links - Queensland

• Information and resources for Queensland clinicians
• Testing clinic locations
• PPE recommendations
• CEQ COVID-19 QHEPS page (internal access only)
• Vaccine information for healthcare workers
• CKN COVID-19 Information Centre

Key links - interstate national

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical guidelines
• AHPPC COVID-19 statements
• Agency for Clinical Innovation COVID-19 website

Please remember:

• if you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 please get tested and stay at home until your test returns a negative result.
• to regularly wash your hands and disinfect your phone
• to maintain physical distancing especially at work.

Please forward these emails to ALL staff within your team and encourage them to subscribe by following this link. Please also continue to send through any general questions you are unable to source answers for locally and we will endeavour to answer them as quickly as possible. For HHS-specific or urgent advice please contact your line manager or Hospital Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC).

Further information

For further information for clinicians, please visit our novel coronavirus (COVID-19) website

Your feedback and questions are welcome and we’ll work with the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre (SHECC) to provide definitive answers and advice.

Nominations are now open for the Queensland Representative position on the Board of the Australian Medical Association.

Under the AMA Constitution, the AMA Queensland Representative position is open for nominations. The appointment is for two years.

A number of corporate governance skills have been identified that would be beneficial to the Board. 

To nominate for this position, please forward a summary statement that addresses the skills matrix to Amanda Sanderson at a.sanderson@amaq.com.au by 5pm Friday 9 April 2021.

Job title: Telehealth Gen Reg Doctor

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Work from home

Salary: $120,000 per annum

Additional benefits: 3 days per week roster, Training provided

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: South East Melb, VIC

Salary: 65 - 72.5% of billings

Additional benefits: Bulk billing clinic, Monday-Friday hours

 

Job title: Indigenous GP VMO

Dates: April – December (4 week block min)

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: NT

Salary: $1,200 - $1,500 per day

Additional benefits: Flights, Accommodation and Car provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum or Permanent

Location: Warwick, QLD

Salary: $1,200 per day

Additional benefits: Flights, accommodation and car hire provided

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: 70% billings for first 3 months then 65%

Additional benefits: Flights, Car and Accommodation provided.

 

Job title: GP/VMO

Dates: Immediate until April 2022

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Sydney, NSW

Salary: $2,000 - $2,500 per day

Additional benefits: Accommodation and travel provided

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates:  Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum and Permanent

Location: Broken Hill, NSW

Salary: $1,200 - $1,400 per day

Additional benefits: Accommodation, travel and car provided

 

Job title: Medical CMO

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Byron Bay, NSW

Salary: $13,650 per week

Additional benefits: Week on week off roster, 12 hours day shifts + on call

 

Job title: Medical CMO

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Byron Bay, NSW

Salary: $13,650 per week

Additional benefits: Week on week off roster, 12 hours day shifts + on call

 

Job title: General Practitioner Occupation Health

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings (70% of billings first 3 months initial guarantee)

Additional benefits: Full books from day 1, All training provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: April/May

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Rainbow Beach, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings or $1200 initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Monday - Friday role, 10 appointments, Busy practice

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Noosa, QLD

Salary: $1,500 per day

Additional benefits: FIFO 2 weeks on – 1 week off roster, Flights and accommodation allowance

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Bendigo, VIC

Salary: 6070% if billings

Additional benefits: Bulk billing practice, Patient base takeover, Initial guarantee

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Sydney, NSW

Salary: 70% of billings

Additional benefits: Flexible hours, 3 month initial guarantee $150 per hour

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent FIFO

Location: Regional NT

Salary: $189,585 – $206, 545 (pro rata for FIFO)

Additional benefits: Attraction allowance, annual airfares, relocation allowance

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: April - June

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Sydney, NSW

Salary: 70% of billings or daily rate

Additional benefits: Flights and accommodation allowance

Latest update from @Carl De Wet
Epidemiology

• Globally, more than 125 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including 2.8 million deaths.
• SHECC continues to closely monitor the situation in PNG.

 

COVID-19 vaccination commenced in General practice

• By now you will all know that COVID-19 vaccination commenced in general practice this week, and you will all have your own success stories. In the Gold Coast, Dr Lisa Beecham administered the first vaccine to a sprightly 90 year old patient who was ‘very excited about getting the vaccine’. More practices will join the collaborative effort over the next few weeks, and stock volumes will increase with the approval of vaccine production on Australian home soil.

 

COVID-19 vaccination in general practice - practical points

• Should general practices provide vaccines for people in group 1a who present to their service with this request? The short answer is that each individual general practice immunizer and service can use their discretion whether they do or not. However, Queensland Health supports a pragmatic approach and administering vaccines where feasible.
• The QH Taskforce is currently working on a state-wide approach to manage patients at high risk of anaphylaxis from vaccines, including consideration whether they should be offered the option to receive vaccines in a hospital setting. We will provide an update when it becomes available.
• Work continues to integrate the AEFI process and template into general practice software. We will provide an update on progress in due course.
• Can multiple doses of the AZ vaccine be drawn up as long as they are used within a certain period of time? This is already included in the formal QH procedure. ATAGI provides a clear answer for general practice here (and attached) – see page 1 point 1.5. Specifically:

‘Where doses will be administered immediately one after another (e.g. in dedicated immunisation clinics, including within general practice), it is acceptable to withdraw multiple doses consecutively from one vial in the preparation area, with each filled syringe (with a capped administration needle) appropriately labelled and stored at the appropriate temperature and protected from light, before each dose is carried across to the administration area for use as soon as practical for each recipient. In this setting, it is acceptable to pre-draw multiple doses from one vial and use within one hour if stored at room temperature, or within six hours if stored at 2-8°C'

 

HealthPathways

• COVID-19 vaccination HealthPathways for our Queensland setting are now available online, and includes:

• COVID-19 vaccination information
• COVID-19 vaccination procedure
• Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination

• The HPs were adapted for Queensland and each region by the HP team and Streamliners. Well done and thanks to Aaron, Scott and the rest of the team
• Please provide feedback on the HPs. The editors value opportunities to further improve the resource.

 

COVID-19 vaccines and anaphylaxis

• The media recently reported a number of COVID-19 vaccine anaphylaxis incidents. Careful review of each incident found that most did not meet the criteria for true anaphylaxis
• The pragmatic approach remains to treat each individual patient according to clinical need in the first instance. We are grateful that every patient in Queensland has so far fully recovered from AEFI.

 

Resources

• Queensland Health created a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 vaccination information for primary care: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/novel-coronavirus-qld-clinicians/covid-19-vaccination-information-for-healthcare-workers/primary-care-providers. It is also accessible from the main page by using the link in the blue box at the top (Thanks Katie and team)

 

Notification of suspected cases of COVID-19

• Queensland PHUs and SHECC are unanimous that suspected cases of COVID-19 should be notified to PHUs by phone. This arrangement will be reviewed if there is a significant surge in community cases.

​

Please see latest info from Clinical Excellence Queensland.

The Hypoglycaemia-newborn guideline has been amended. The publication/revision history of the QCG guideline is outlined in the guideline supplement available online at www.health.qld.gov.au/qcg/guidelinehistory

Printed copies should be replaced. For further implementation suggestions, see the QCG implementation checklist.

 

All guidelines and short guides are endorsed for use in Queensland by the Statewide Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Network and NeoMedQ by Queensland Neonatal Services Advisory Group

Please see latest info from Clinical Excellence Queensland.

The Hypoglycaemia-newborn guideline has been amended. The publication/revision history of the QCG guideline is outlined in the guideline supplement available online at www.health.qld.gov.au/qcg/guidelinehistory

Printed copies should be replaced. For further implementation suggestions, see the QCG implementation checklist.

All guidelines and short guides are endorsed for use in Queensland by the Statewide Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Network and NeoMedQ by Queensland Neonatal Services Advisory Group

Job title: General Practitioner – AMS

Dates: July 2021

Type of Contract: Perm/FIFO

Location: Coastal Remote NT

Salary: $189,585 - $206,545 (based on level of experience)

Additional benefits: Relocation/Repatriation allowance, annual airfares, Professional development allowance, Monday - Friday hours.

General Practitioner - Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr.com.au)

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Flexible

Type of Contract: Permanent 

Location: Brisbane, QLD

Salary: 65% of mixed billings + initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Established patient base, Accredited practice with fantastic amenities, Flexible hours on offer.

 https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-general-practitioner-dpa-position-30299022/?wpv-profession[]=doctors

 

 

Job title: Telehealth Doctor

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent 

Location: Work from anywhere in Australia

Salary: $200,000 + Super per annum

Additional benefits: Monday - Friday role working from home, Occasional weekend work available for additional earnings. 

 https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-telehealth-doctor-3233641/?wpv-profession[]=general-practitioner

 

Job title: ED HMO

Dates: 26/04/2021 – 07/02/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Echuca, VIC

Salary: $120 - $140 per hour

Additional benefits: Accommodation and travel provided, Professional development programs to up skill, Less then 3 hours from Melbourne.

 https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-7-7-hmo-3179096/?wpv-profession[]=hospital-doctors-junior

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Northern QLD

Salary: $1,500 daily rate

Additional benefits: Existing patient base, Coastal town location, Potential to earn $400,000 per annum.

 GP Required. Earn up to $1500p/day life of contract. Live close to Cairns. - Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr.com.au)

 

Job title:  General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Noosa, QLD

Salary: $1,500 daily rate

Additional benefits: Flights and accommodation allowance, 2 weeks on - one week off roster

 https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-fifo-gp-noosa-3233537/?wpv_post_search=Noos&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv-lifestyle-location=0

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings (70% of billings first 3 months initial guarantee)

Additional benefits: Occupation Health training provided, Monday - Friday role, full patient base

 https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-occ-health-gp-3224070/?wpv_post_search=cairns

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: April/May

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Rainbow Beach, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings or $1200 initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Monday - Friday role, 10 appointments, Busy practice

https://www.cmr.com.au/job/doctors-gp-3228395/?wpv_post_search=rainbow%20beach

 

Job title: GP/VMO

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cobram, VIC

Salary: 70% of bulk and mixed billings at the clinic and 100% of billings for hospital VMO work. 

Additional benefits: Relocation fee negotiable, Escape the busy city life

General Practitioner - Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr.com.au)

 

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: South Brisbane, QLD

Salary: Potential $250,000 per annum

Additional benefits: Ability to earn $180 per hour for any supervision, Private car parking.

General Practitioner- Southside Brisbane - Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr.com.au)

Latest news from @Carl De Wet

COVID-19 vaccines, anaphylaxis and periods of observation

• We received several queries yesterday about COVID-19 vaccines, anaphylaxis and periods of observation, and we aware of social media interest in this topic.

• Please note that we received official, written confirmation today that Queensland Health vaccination processes will continue in line with guidance provided in the product information (PI) and issued by ATAGI.
• This means people with a history of severe allergies or anaphylaxis should be observed for 30 minutes following vaccination, and other people should continue to be monitored for 15 minutes following vaccination.
• In other words, there has been no change to ATAGI guidance, to Queensland Health processes, and no change (at this time) to how we implement COVID-19 vaccination services in general practice from next week
• For interest, an excerpt from the TGA’s initial advice:
  • “All of the Queensland reports related to vaccine from a single batch. TGA testing of the batch prior to release confirmed that it was compliant with all requirements. The TGA has confirmed that there were no temperature deviation for the batch during importation. TGA and UK have both conducted laboratory testing of the AstraZeneca vaccine prior to release as an extra safeguard. This testing has confirmed that the particular single batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine being used in Australia and administered at these Queensland sites is compliant with international standards, and is consistent with other batches of AstraZeneca vaccine supplied in Australia and safe to use.”

 

TGA reassurance about rates of Venous thromboembolism

• The TGA provided an update this week on the rates of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in those receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• Reassuringly, to 15 March, the TGA has not received any reports of VTE following the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• Other reported rates of VTE internationally following vaccination appear to be lower than that expected in the general population.
• In Australia at least 17 000 patients develop VTE each year. This compares with the 30 cases reported in the 5 million people vaccinated in the European Economic Area and no additional (to baseline rates) in the more than 11 million doses administered in the UK. 
• As of this time there is no indication of an increased rate of blood clots happening or cause and effect with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia

 

Resources

• A summary of the key messages from the GP onboarding pack is attached for interest
• Please regularly check your local PHN website for COVID-19 related resources. The Qld PHN COVID-19 Working Group recently endorsed four checklists to help practice teams prepare for implementing and delivering a COVID-19 vaccination service. The checklists are practical, easy to use and includes links to the most relevant resources and information.

​

GPs Onboarding Pack – Key Points

Vaccine Information and Booking Service - The COVID-19 Vaccination Information and Booking Service is based on the existing National Health Services Directory (NHSD).  All approved COVID-19 vaccination clinics must be listed on the NHSD and should accept bookings from all eligible people. If you have an online booking system you intend to use, Healthdirect will work directly with the booking service to ensure your booking profile is integrated. Practices do not need to change their existing booking process (ie, telephone, online etc). Patients can still phone your practice and book in for their vaccination or register in your online booking as usual.

- page 10

Proof of eligibility - Practices should only book patients who meet the eligibility for each phase (or the preceding phase of the roll-out). Once Phase 1b commences, this means Phase 1a and Phase 1b priority populations will be eligible. Patients will need to prove their eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to receive the vaccine in Phase 1b. Individuals and health professionals can use the COVID19 vaccine eligibility checker to see if an individual is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Practices should confirm that proof of eligibility meets one of the accepted types for the first dose (this is not required for the second dose as long as the first dose is registered in AIR) and make a simple record of proof. If a patient does not have proof of their underlying medical condition, they may complete a Phase 1b declaration form. This form will be available from the Department’s website. – pages 12/13

Consent - Informed consent is required before administering each COVID-19 vaccine dose and providers are required to document it in a patient’s medical record. Verbal or written consent is acceptable. Patients are to be advised that their vaccination details must be reported to the Australian Immunisation Register. This will include some personal information. An optional written consent form has been developed as an aid for those providers who choose to use it. – page 15

Stock management - Stock control measures will be in place with tiered caps on allocation based on estimated throughput and priority population distribution and reach. The maximum allocation provided to each site may be reviewed as vaccine availability expands and supply stabilises. Clinics should consider arranging bookings to allow a period of flexibility around vaccine delivery. For example, by not booking appointments that rely on new stock within 48 hours of anticipated delivery. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HOLD BACK STOCK FOR THE SECOND DOSE. The online stock management portal will support sites to manage their vaccine stocks. - page 16

Ordering stock - Sites will be able to place orders via an Online Order Form up to their maximum allocation (minimum of 100 doses to be ordered at a time) via the online portal once a week. Orders will need to include a point of contact for delivery acceptance and notifications.

Orders should be placed 14 calendar days in advance of the requested delivery date. Orders for the first three weeks will be limited to your allocated vaccine cap, and you should place your first order as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery. Orders can be changed or cancelled through the online portal up to 7 days in advance of the requested delivery date. If you wish to make a change within this timeframe, you will need to contact the VOC on 1800 318 208. – page 17

Managing stock - Sites will be required to report stock levels to the VOC via the online portal. The Vaccine Stock Management Form should be completed weekly. It is critical that cold-chain storage and handling requirements for the Vaccines are maintained at all times and not breached during the stocktake process - page 18

Government contact details - Australian Department of Health Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC): 1800 318 208 or email COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@health.gov.au Note: The VOC hours of operation are between 7am to 10pm - page 21

FRACGP’s without Ahpra speciality recognition must apply for it by 16 April 2021 or will lose access to A1 rebates

Recent legislative changes have simplified recognition of General Practitioners (GPs) as specialists, streamlining access to higher Medicare rebates for your patients. GP access to Medicare will be determined by continued registration status with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Medical practitioners who have been awarded fellowship must be registered as a Specialist GP with Ahpra for continued access to these rebates.  

Fellows who do not hold specialist registration with Ahpra 

If you have gained fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and are not registered as a specialist with Ahpra, you must apply to update your registration status with Ahpra by 16 April 2021 prior to expiry of the transition period. Current Fellows of the RACGP and ACCRM who do not hold specialist registration with Ahpra AND do not complete an application for specialist GP registration in time will lose access to the higher rebates. You can check if you fall into this group by: 

1. Checking your current registration status with Ahpra by clicking here.
2. Type in your Surname and Christian name and click on the ‘Search’ button.
3. If there are multiple entries, scroll until you find your details and Click on ‘View Details’
4. Scroll down the page to ‘Registration Type’.
5. If you are a fellow of the RACGP or ACRRM, you should hold Type:  Specialist registrationand Specialty: General Practice 
6. If you hold General Registration only you will have to apply for specialist registration with Ahpra before 16 April 2021 by clicking applying to update my registration status
7. If you need assistance to submit your application, please contact Ahpra on 1300 419 495

Doctors who were previously on the Vocational Register 

GPs who were previously listed on the Vocational Register and wish to be re-instated and recognised as a GP by Medicare, will need to complete an Application for Vocational Registration for General Practitioner form.  Forms must be submitted to Services Australia by 30 April 2021. There will be no opportunity to return to the Vocational Register after 15 June 2021. 

If you no longer need access to specialist GP Medicare items no further action is necessary. If you are already registered as a specialist GP with Ahpra no further action is necessary. 

Please see latest email from @Carl De Wet below.
The risk of COVID-19 community transmission in the Queensland primary care setting was reviewed today and revised to ‘low’. The practical implication is that the ‘low’ PPE requirements are now again in force in all areas in Queensland in primary care settings. Please note that the additional PPE provisions in the Greater Brisbane area in hospitals, RACFs and disability settings were extended for a further 72 hours and therefore remain in place.​​​

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: 15/03/21 - 8/8/21

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Rockhampton Region, QLD

Salary: $1,800 daily rate

Additional benefits: Accommodation and car hire provided, Coastal location

 

Job title: Medical Officer 

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Gold Coast, QLD

Salary: $200,000 per annum

Additional benefits: Monday - Friday role; Relocation assistance considered

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner 

Dates: Immediate

Type of Contract: Locum or Permanent

Location: Adelaide, SA

Salary: 75% Bulk Billings

Additional benefits: Monday - Saturday role

 

Job title: General Practitioner AMS

Dates: Immediate Start, 3-4 weeks

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Domadgee, QLD

Salary: $1,500 daily rate

Additional benefits: Flights, accommodation and shared car provided.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: 25/3/21 - 9/4/21

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Inverell, NSW

Salary: $1200 daily rate

Additional benefits: Accommodation, car and travel provided

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Flexible

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Nundah, North Brisbane QLD

Salary: 65% of mixed billings or $150 per hour initial guarantee for 3 months

Additional benefits: Established patient base, flexible work hours.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate - 2 week cover

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Melbourne, VIC

Salary: $150 per hour

Additional benefits: Accommodation provided; Flights covered based on discussions

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Aberfoyle, SA

Salary: 65 % of billings 3 months initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Located 30 mins from Adelaide city, Full nursing support provided.

Latest information from @Carl De Wet

Epidemiology

• Globally, approximately 117 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including 2.6 million deaths.
• Queensland has had 1,325 confirmed cases of COVID-19. It has been 61 days since the last confirmed community transmission.

 

Public Health Directions

• From 8:00am, 8 March 2021, the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No.15) was updated to allow up to 200 people or one person per 2 square metres (whichever is greater) to attend a wedding ceremony or funeral service conducted under the COVID Safe Framework.

 

Updated – COVID-19 Series of National Guidelines (SoNG) 

• Version 4.3 of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) SoNG was published on 4 March 2021 and includes revisions to: The Disease, Case Definition, Testing, Case Management, Release from Isolation, Close contacts, Outbreak investigation and management in high-risk settings, Special situations, Appendix B and Inclusion of a new section: Appendix C. This latest version can be viewed online.
• The one-page GP assessment and management of patients with suspected COVID-19 has been updated (thanks Meg) - https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0036/951858/gp-management-suspected-covid-19.pdf

 

COVID-19 vaccine program

• >5500 Pfizer vaccines have been administered in Queensland
• Astra-Zeneca hubs opened yesterday at Bundaberg and Logan hospitals. Today, AZ hubs will open in Rockhampton and Ipswich hospitals. Additional hubs will open later this week across Queensland
• The first JCU medical student has been vaccinated (thanks Peta-ann)
• In towns with <2500 residents, the current approach in Queensland will be to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all eligible, local residents, rather than strict enforcement of priority groups.

 

Resources

• The QH COVID-19 vaccination information for healthcare workers webpage has been updated (great FAQs) - https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/novel-coronavirus-qld-clinicians/covid-19-vaccination-information-for-healthcare-workers
• Health Consumers Queensland recently invited First Nations community members (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) to join Dr Jeannette Young and Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer, Ms Haylene Grogan to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This important resource is now available online
• Three pre-peer review, pre-print manuscripts are attached for interest (thanks Bav). The overall findings support the effectiveness of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, including in elderly patients.

 

Events

• The Gold Coast PHN is hosting a webinar for general practice teams and staff tonight: ‘CQI and the COVID-19 pandemic – get ready for vaccination’. https://gcphn.org.au/events/cqi-and-the-covid-19-pandemic-get-ready-for-vaccinations/

​

Job title: Indigenous General Practitioner 

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Brisbane, QLD

Salary: $260k per annum

Additional benefits: 4 weeks paid annual leave, 2 weeks sick leave, Super on top 9.5%, 10 days paid training leave 

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings (70% of billings first 3 months initial guarantee)

Additional benefits: Regular GP or OCC health position available, All training provided for doctor interested in Occ Health

 

Job title: VR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Aberfoyle, SA

Salary: 65 % of billings 3 months initial guarantee

Additional benefits: Located 30 mins from Adeliade city, Full nursing support provided.

 

Job title: Junior Emergency Doctor

Dates: Various

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Port Lincoln, SA

Salary: $120 per hour

Additional benefits:  Self-contained Accommodation, return flights and car hire provided; Coastal location

 

Job title: COVID-19 Screening Doctor

Dates: 22/03/2021 – 30/06/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Gold Coast & Robina, QLD

Salary: $116.50 per hour

Additional benefits: Flexible working arrangements

 

Job title: ED HMO 7/7 roster

Dates: 26/04/2021 – 07/02/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Echuca, VIC

Salary: $120 - $140 per hour

Additional benefits: Flights and accommodation provided

 

Job title: FIFO GP VMO

Dates: Immediately until June

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Port Lincoln, SA

Salary: $200 per hour

Additional benefits: Sole accommodation, return travel and car hire. Accommodation is suitable for bringing families

 

Job title: General Practitioner 

Dates: 8/3/21- 2/4/21

Type of Contract: Locum

Location:  Wadeye, Remote NT

Salary: $1500 per day

Additional benefits: Travel and accommodation provided. Weekly travel to Darwin on weekends.

Here's the latest update from @Carl De Wet
COVID-19 vaccination program

• By the end of this week, all six Pfizer hubs in Queensland will be operational. It is one of those welcome instances where we are slightly ahead of schedule in healthcare; well done to everyone involved!
• In the next fortnight, Astra-Zeneca hubs will be established in every HHS in Queensland. It is anticipated that the Astra-Zeneca hospital hubs will begin vaccine administration as early as next week.
• It remains unclear when general practices will receive the first Astra-Zeneca vaccines for administration. At this time, the earliest estimated date is 15 March 2021. Please note that this is NOT the confirmed date – it is simply an indication of timelines to help practice teams plan and prepare.
• The Gold Coast PHN will be hosting a ‘CQI and the COVID-19 pandemic – get ready for vaccinations’ webinar on 9 March, commencing at 18:00. Registrations are free.
• The PHNs are currently exploring the possibility of an interactive COVID-19 Adverse Events from Immunisation (AEFI) template integrated into (some) GP software programs. We will keep you informed of developments.

 

Resources

• Queensland Health recently published a COVID-19 vaccination program ethical framework (attached). It is informed by six principles (page 4).
• Consent forms for COVID-19 vaccination in different languages: https://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcht.nsf/PresentDetail?Open&s=Consent_form_for_COVID-19_vaccination

 

Public Health Directions

• From midday, 4 March 2021, updates to the Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for International Air Crew (No. 8) will come into effect. Changes under the Direction will:

• introduce a mandatory requirement for all international air crew to complete the Queensland International Arrivals Registration.
• provide that a person may only open the door to their allocated room at a government-nominated quarantine hotel for a permitted purpose or when permitted by a quarantine facility worker
• provide that when the door to an allocated room in a government-nominated quarantine hotel is open, all quarantined persons in the room must be wearing a surgical mask
• provide that any travel when a person leaves (and returns to) quarantine to receive medical care at a hospital is by ambulance
• provide that any travel to leave quarantine for another permitted purpose must be either in an emergency services vehicle or by transport arranged by an airline operator.    
• introduce the concept of a ‘member of positioning crew’ and evidence requirements for these crew members including a Member of Positioning Crew form
• prohibit Queensland-based air crew from quarantining at home if they live with a ‘designated worker’ such as a person who works in a residential aged care facility or hospital
• introduce an Operational Guideline for International Air Crew outlining infection control and home quarantine requirements for Queensland-based air crew
• allow domestic pilots operating crew-only flights that are repositioning international air crew, to be exempt from quarantine on return to Queensland if they have been segregated from international air crew for the duration of the flight
• require that international air crew must be tested for COVID-19 on arrival to Queensland
• introduce the concept of a ‘ferry flight’ as an inbound flight to Australia transporting essential crew only with no passengers on board. Ferry flights are permitted to land in Queensland and on travel to another destination in Queensland or another State or Territory provided certain criteria are met.

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Our corporate partner, Credabl, is hosting a three-part virtual event series this March to share the powerful stories, insights and experiences of Women in Medicine. From thoughts on entrepreneurship, to pioneering change, making an impact in the community, balancing careers with motherhood and more, you will be motivated by these women and their courage. 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: 01/03/2021 – 12/03/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Keith, SA

Salary: $1,300 per day

Additional benefits: Travel, car and accommodation provided. Solo GP practice and on-call to urgent care.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: 06/03/2021 – 16/03/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Coonamble, NSW

Salary: $1,500 per day

Additional benefits: Travel, car and accommodation provided; Monday – Friday hours.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: 15/03/2021 – 11/04/2021

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Inverell, NSW

Salary: $1,200 per day

Additional benefits: Travel & accommodation provided

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediate. Flexible dates  - 4 to 6 week placements at a time

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Tennant Creek, NT

Salary: $1,500 per day

Additional benefits: Flights, accommodation and car hire provided. NO AMS experience required.

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: April or May for 4 weeks

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Coastal QLD

Salary: 65% of mixed billings or $150 per hour

Additional benefits: Flights, accommodation and car hire provided; Tropical coastal location

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Flexible

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Galston, NSW

Salary: 70% of mixed billings + $150 per hour initial guarantee

Additional benefits:

 

Job title: General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Locum

Location: Tuggerawong, NSW

Salary: 70% of billings + $150 per hour

Additional benefits: Flights and accommodation included

 

Job title: GR General Practitioner

Dates: Immediately

Type of Contract: Permanent

Location: Cairns, QLD

Salary: 65% of billings (70% of billings first 3 months initial guarantee)

Additional benefits: All training provided for doctor interested in Occ Health. Full books from day 1, Must be unrestricted