GP shortages - any stories?

The following is a message from the college that we feel Northland GPs may be interested in:

As you know the College is actively engaged in a campaign to raise awareness of the looming shortage of GPs and the inequities of the current funding system.

We’ve had a good run of media coverage recently and we want to continue this, but we need more story leads. We’re hoping that you and your Faculty and Chapter members may be able to help us source some stories – in particular we need examples of communities that are short of GPs, perhaps practices that have closed their books, maybe GPs facing burnout due to extra workload and no back up. We’ve got some leads to follow, but we want more from around the regions.

By way of an update, our campaign also includes plans to develop digital postcards for you to send directly to the Minister of Health outlining your concerns for other health sector. We are also going to set up a Facebook page where members of the public can learn about the GP shortage and can share their experiences. There is also a proposal to hold a health summit with political party’s spokespeople.

We have made some good progress, but we’re keen to keep the momentum going, so any suggestions would be gratefully received.

If you have any stories that may illustrate the issues of GP shortages or increased workload then please let us know by emailing Tanya Quin

Postponement of leadership course

There has been a lot of interest in the GP Leadership Programme scheduled to start this coming Monday. However, Manaia PHO, in partnership with Northland DHB and E3 Leadership, wishes to ensure that they have as many people as possible attend this valuable learning opportunity. Subsequently they have decided to postpone the first session to Monday 10th April. This will allow the PHO and DHB to answer any questions and promote this course to the widest possible audience.

The Leadership Programme is free to participants, has been developed from a programme already delivered to General Practice in other PHOs in New Zealand by E3 Leadership and is highly recommended for all those wishing to lead teams effectively through these changing and challenging times.

Please register for this Leadership Development Programme commencing next month. Any questions contact Mihi – mihis@manaiapho.co.nz

Leadership course

The Leadership programme for GPs as presented by Nick Chamberlain at our Dargaville Symposium last year is now ready for registrations. This starts on the 16th March 2017 requiring 3 hours a month of session time plus some online learning for the year in a free leadership program that will extend and develop leadership skills and opportunities for your business and your governance needs, here, in Northland. Please contact Mihi Stephens at Manaia PHO and checkout Manaia's website or Te Tai Tokerau PHO's website or this link for more details.

Welcome to new registrars

The Northland Faculty would like to extend a warm welcome to the seven new GPEP1 registrars working this year in Northland. Their brief bios are as follows:

Dr Emma Clare: Emma is spending the first attachment at Kerikeri medical centre with Ezra Madibikama as her teacher. She has spent the past four postgraduate years working in Auckland. In preparation for this year she has relocated with her fiance to his family's rural property. Her interests include travel, music, hiking, fishing and gardening.

Dr Jono Ussher: Jono is at Bream Bay Medical Centre for his first attachment with Sue Hancock as his principal teacher. He has just completed his first three postgraduate years at Whangarei hospital including a three month attachment at Dargaville Medical Centre. He was raised in Taranaki. His interests include tennis, surfing and church related activities.

Dr Josh Griffiths: Josh spent his childhood in Kaikohe and his first attachment is in Dargaville with Liz Humm. He has just completed the second year of rural medicine training programme and is keen to hold dual Fellowship. He and his wife have three children; both their families reside in Northland. His interests include soccer and other sports plus church related activities.

Dr Bryony Te Hui Hui Kapo: Bryony originates from Taranaki with her iwi being Te Ati Awa. She is now in her first attachment at Broadway Health Centre with her teacher Shane Cross. She spent three years as a house surgeon spread between Taranaki, Counties Manukau and Auckland. However recently she has returned from a good break from medicine working in a cafe ensuring that Londoners received decent coffee. Her interests include travel, cooking, yoga and outdoor activities.

Dr Samuel Ah Mu: Sam moved up from Auckland to do his two years postgraduate at Whangarei hospital and has family in the region. He and his wife are expecting their fourth child in March 2017. He is spending his first attachment with Dave Bawden at Primecare. Interests include sports such as surfing, rugby and basketball plus involvement in church related activities.

Dr Ee Ling Loo: Ee Ling is doing her attachments part-time this year as she has just returned from maternity leave with her husband now taking time out from his medical specialist training to care for their nine-month-old son. Prior to that she was working at Whangarei hospital and did her medical degree in a combination of Dublin and Malaysia medical schools. Ee Ling’s first attachment is with Simon Wilkinson at Bush Road Medical Centre. Her interests are home crafts, church related activities and cultural enrichment.

Dr Ni Ni Wynn: Nini is settling in to life in Hokianga Health with Claire Ward as her main teacher; she is here as part of the special Cook Islands government medical exchange scheme. Her second attachment will be down in Wellsford with Tim Malloy. Nini is from Myanmar but has spent the last 13 years working in Raratonga. She is married with three children; her husband and 14-year-old came over for Christmas; one daughter works in Adelaide and the other is studying architecture at Victoria University. Her interests include crochet and watching television.

A great day at Dargaville

Thank you to the attendees, at the Dargaville hosted Northland GP symposium held last month, for submitting images of their past times. We have creative, fit and interesting GP's who clearly enjoy the benefits of living in Northland. Medical projects and post-graduate ideas were shared with encouragement to consider remote medical relief. For those feeling inspired University links have been made available on the website for Otago and Auckland post-graduate studies. A fitting tribute to Dargavilles late Dr Matich opened the symposium where Northland GP's were challenged to step up into leadership roles. Training is available via the DHB for interested members. As well as introducing the valued role of a clinical pharmacist facilitator, the Fusion Centre was introduced as a unique Northland information sharing forum, about patients and communities of concern, that GP's can contact and be contacted by. There was discussion around neighbourhood health homes as well as frustrations about bowel cancer screening plus simplification of new Hep C treatment regimes found in clinical pathways. Again the registrars presented thorough audits to challenge our prescribing. There was a great show of support from Dargaville medical staff, only out shone by the fabulous food from local caterer 'Kim's Cuisine'. Gifts for the speakers were purchased from the Dargaville museum. Suggestions of local Northland venues for future symposiums will be gratefully received. Moving away from corporate venues means that we can provide low cost CME, support local organisations and enjoy dessert!! Presentations are available through this link and photos of GP's hobbies are available on our website. Don't forget to save the date for our May conference and AGM in Russell - 20th May 2017, see you there.

Update to symposium programme

The programme for the symposium has been updated as below. Looking forward to seeing you all in Dargaville!

0900 Registration
0915: Steve Thrupp: opening address
0920: Vanessa Blair: Northland Homegrown surgeon 'Controversies in
Breast and Bowel Cancer Screening'
0940: Registrar 1 audit presentation Ang Liu 'Hepatitis B
Screening'
0950: Registrar 2 audit presentation Sophie Hiesling 'Dabigatran
monitoring'
1000 Morning tea
1030: Tania Papalii: Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Kaiwhakamanawaroa – Programme Lead, Resiliance 'Information sharing'
1045: Nick Chamberlain: 'Time with Nick'
1100: Andrew Miller: 'Neighbourhood Health Homes'
1115: Kathy Bakke: 'The US Comparison'
1130: Panel discussion 'Models of care'
1150: Registrar audit presentation 3 Beth Robertson 'Chronic care
management tool'
1200 Lunch
1300: Kaye Logan Hepatitis C antiviral prescribing in general
practice
1340: Conlin Locke: 'Fluoridation programme at Raumanga Medical
Centre'
1355: Norma Nehren: 'Aviation Medicine in GP'
1410: Kyle Eggleton: 'Fighting the fat: A Kaupapa Māori weight loss
programme'
1425: Panel discussion 'Projects, postgraduate work and
sabbaticals'
1440: Drs Bev and Neil Hopkins 'The Last Say'
1500 Finish

Homegrown GP Symposium

Hello all!

Dargaville is hosting our faculty symposium at their delightful museum conference room.

This year you will see on the registration form, http://www.northland-rnzcgp.org/dargaville-symposium-2016, a request for your out-of-medicine interests.

Closer to the date we will ask for a photo of that activity to share at the symposium.

This is in the spirit of collegiality with a touch of competitiveness as there will be prizes! Look forward to seeing you there!

Dr Tanya Quin and the Board.

Fantastic inaugural Kapa Kaiaka event

Fifteen GP registrars and new GPs recently attended a 'Speed Dating Skills Session' run by the Northland Faculty. Attendees were taught a range of skills by a number of experienced GPs including punch biopsy techniques, cortisone injections around the wrist, joint injections, removing foreign bodies from eyes and removing fish hooks from places that they shouldn't be! This was a fantastic session organised by Gabby Montgomery, the Northland Faculty Kapa Kaiaka Coordinator. More sessions are planned for the future. For GP registrars and new Fellows wishing to enter into a mentoring relationship with more experienced GPs, through the Kapa Kaiaka programme, please contact Gabby. More information on the Kapa Kaiaka programme is available on this link

The next education session planned by the Faculty is the 'Homegrown' GP symposium held on the 15th October at Dargaville. Registrations for this event are now open on the Faculty website.

Reminder of speed dating skills session

What

This is a reminder about the Kapa Kaiaka 'speed dating' skills session. This is session aimed at new GPs and GP registrars. The session involves attendees moving around tables in groups of 2 or 3 and been taught a particular skill by a GP with a special interest.

Stations are:

Station One: Mirena insertion/FB eye removal
Station Two: Carpal tunnel/trigger finger treatment
Station Three: Punch biopsy/skin tag removal
Station Four: Joint aspiration and injection
Station Five: Toenail wedge resection. Local anaesthetic tips and trick

When

4th August 6pm-8pm. 6pm drinks and nibbles. 6.30 - 8pm skills stations

Where

Manaia PHO, Ratu room.

How to register

Please email Gabby Montgomery, Kapa Kaiaka Coordinator

Kapa Kaiaka 'speed dating' skills session

The Northland Faculty is pleased to announce a Kapa Kaiaka medical education session - 'Speed dating' skills session

When

4th August 6pm-8pm. 6pm drinks and nibbles. 6.30 - 8pm skills stations

Where

Manaia PHO, Ratu room.

What

A 'speed dating' skills session. Consists of a number of tables around a big room with attendees moving around the tables in groups of 2 or 3. At each table is a GP that is willing to do a bit of an update on a special skill for 15min.

Indicative stations are:

Station One: Mirena insertion/FB eye removal
Station Two: Carpal tunnel/trigger finger treatment
Station Three: Punch biopsy/skin tag removal
Station Four: Joint aspiration and injection
Station Five: Toenail wedge resection. Local anaesthetic tips and trick

Who

Aimed at GP registrars and new GPs

How to register

Please email Gabby Montgomery, Kapa Kaiaka Coordinator

Reminder of the Russell Conference

Just a reminder to register for the Russell Conference. This will be on the 21st and 22nd of May at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel. We are expecting another successful conference. Topics include neurology updates, a discussion on the link between rheumatic fever and rotten teeth, plastic surgical tips, orthopaedic tips for GPs, physician assisted dying, breast cancer management and working as a doctor in the Third World. In addition we are holding a medical student poster competition again.

The full programme, speakers and registration details are found on this link.

Register now!