Member profile: Steve Hambleton, Vice-President of Federal AMA

Why did you choose your specialty?

I initially planned to be a radiologist but my country-relieving terms in Dirranbandi and Texas, Queensland changed my mind. The ability of a GP to connect with patients and their families was a privilege I really enjoyed. I could see my future as a family doctor and hope I've been able to fulfil my aspiration for my patients.

What do you see as the important issues facing the profession today?

To prevent poorly-informed governments from making kneejerk reactions to existing problems! Australia's health system is under pressure from the 'just in time' mentality of big business and recent governments. We have cut hospital funding and doctor training to the bone. Inevitably the sins of past governments were always going to catch-up. NSW seems to want to optout of health altogether, surprising given the percentage of its overall state budget. Short-term solutions like task substitution will not fix the problem. GP Superclinics are not the answer to emergency department overcrowding. Down-scheduling of medication to allow OTC or S3 use will not help. Our primary-care based GP led health system has served us well so let’s bolster and support it with better use of practice nurses.

 
How do you feel the AMA contributes to resolving these issues?

The AMA has always been at the table. It's a professional organisation that unlike a union defends patients' interests and those of the health system. Every doctor has a responsibility to be a member. Government ministers don’t necessarily lie in bed awake at night dreaming of ways to ruin the health system but they will if they remain uninformed. The AMA provides access to quality information for better decision-making.

 
What is the GP Campaign Committee about?

The AMA is serious about protecting GP members, their practices and patients, hence the commissioning of a GP Taskforce by our federal president. All states and territories are represented on the committee for a united national approach. We are commissioning research on key issues for GPs and will use multiple modes of communication to gather and release information. We will ask patients what they want, remind them of the high-quality care GPs provide and inform them of any adverse consequences from proposed future changes. The AMA will be ready for the 2010 election.

 

When Australians are sick they want to see their doctor, freedom to choose their doctor and access when they need them. They want their doctor working in their best interests and not distracted by a third party, external rules or red tape. GPs are held in high-regard by patients and potential reform agenda must build on this. GP Superclinics springing-up around the country are in many cases more likely to be in competition with rather than enhancing existing general practices. The AMA in its Priority Investment Plan has called for $830 million over the next three years to enhance infrastructure. This could support more community-based training, on-site collaborative care, virtual consolidation and coordination with other services, and practice nurse services.

 

Nurse practitioner and midwife access to MBS and PBS funding is now a reality. The AMA has been working hard to ensure the close collaboration that has existed between healthcare professionals is enhanced and that fragmentation of care, which is cost inefficient and the enemy of quality care, is prevented from being allowed to occur. Self-interested radical elements cannot be allowed to unpick the fabric of our health. It is early days but the AMA has made this campaign a priority.

How do you spend your spare time?