That would be good train-

ing in humility for any budding specialist .

Dr Christina Port GP , Melbourne , Vic

’ Hung , drawn and quartered ’: Has the HCCC become a Kangaroo court ?

I am appalled . Dr Simon Holliday was trying to

protect those who had succumbed to dangerous misinformation around vaccination .

He should be praised and supported , not sent this outrageous warning letter by the Health Care Complaints Commission ( HCCC ).

It is not a level playing field for doctors when vexatious claims are made against us .

Professor Connie Katelaris Immunologist , Campbelltown , NSW

RACGP president to run workshop on how to cut bulk-billing

Wonderful idea , and it ’ s great to see this issue is now being discussed at college level .

As a practice owner , I started having the conversation with my doctors on ways to increase private billings .

We all expect patient numbers will drop , but they would rather see

May I thank Dr Craig Lilienthal for the time , insight and energy he has put into writing this article about my case .

I would also sincerely like to thank my colleagues for their support .

We often feel so isolated in our roles , and so it is important we can stand together .

For a doctor , who is so invested in their profession , it is a major life crisis to find yourself targeted by any health regulator . In my case , I felt shock . I did question myself . Initially , I thought about doing nothing , hoping it would go away and that no-one would notice .

Then I listened to that small voice from my inner grumpy old man and became cranky .

A standards regulator should not be undertaking baseless attacks on doctors .

In fact , the anonymous person who filed the complaint against me provided the HCCC with the necessary evidence to show that I did not make the comments I was said to have made .

I feel that the HCCC ’ s threat of censure could restrict doctors ’ free speech .

I have read and re-read everybody ’ s comments on the AusDoc website .

Whether you call what the commission did gaslighting or a threatening censorship , your opinions have been much appreciated .

Dr Simon Holliday GP , Taree , NSW

Looking back at two larger-than-life doctors

The doctor who immediately springs to my mind is Dr Vernon

Howarth , who was head of urology when I was a doctor in training at the old Royal Newcastle Hospital back in the late 1960s .

To this day , I have no knowledge of his surgical prowess other than my personal experiences as his RMO and the odd , apparently well-founded , rumour .

However , I will remember him until the day I die .

Dr Howarth had a justifiable reputation of being a cranky old man , and I suspect this was because he had the dubious honour of running a busy department on his own .

What I loved about him was his silent , no bullshit manner ; his general cynicism ; and his black humour .

He was very time poor and invariably commenced cystoscopies before the patients were fully anaesthetised .

On one occasion , his resident unwisely told him that the patient ’ s toes were turning down . Vern ’ s response was : “ Son , only bother me when the patient ’ s toes turn up .”

I don ’ t remember ever falling foul of him and can only assume he tolerated me because I followed his instructions to the letter .

Dr Craig Lilienthal GP , Sydney , NSW

My GP workday never seems to end — it ’ s invading my home

Thank you for your article , Dr Rachel Lakemond .

I am a solo bulk-billing GP

working in a socially disadvantaged area . Most of my patients are elderly , with complex medical diseases and social problems .

During the pandemic , I have become really burnt out . Patients are frustrated , aggressive and assume I am there to do everything for them .

I end up taking most consultation notes home with me , along with all the red-tape work .

I wish I could go back to ‘ simple doctor work ’.

My family thinks I should cut my hours , but it ’ s hard .

Sometimes I finish my workday at midnight .

I tell my patients how to sort out problems , yet I don ’ t know how to sort them out for myself .

Dr Ohnmar Gaing GP , Wollongong , NSW

Greg Hunt has reneged on $ 450- million pledge for GP patient enrolment , says AMA

It ’ s a relief to see another barrier will not be erected between individual doctors and their patients by creating a formal registration scheme .

It was always going to reward the bank accounts of practices rather than support the doctor – patient relationship .

I find it hard to believe that general practice — the one part of medicine that places no pressure on the budget and yields positive health outcomes — was going to be devalued in favour of capitation .

I hope it never resurrects .

Dr Louis Fenelon GP , Gold Coast , Qld

Louis , I ’ m not in favour of a UK-style registration program , which is really just a way for the government to simultaneously constrain consumer choice and medical independence .

But I do believe there should be registration for Medicare-funded care plans and the like .

The rules that mean telehealth rebates can only be claimed by patients who have an existing relationship with the practice work in this way , but they have been very poorly implemented .

There also needs to be a side door for vulnerable groups , like the homeless or those escaping domestic violence .

My one concern is that our political leaders lack the capability to implement a decent system . It seems to me the major KPI in any new project is for a party donor to be handed unnecessary , yet vastly overpaid , contracts .

Dr Chris Lawson GP , Sunshine Coast , Qld

Should all doctors spend a year in general practice ?

I think a year ’ s compulsory work in general practice , say with six months in a rural area , is a good idea . It is about exposure to general practice work : the challenging nature of the medical work involved and the administrative difficulties GPs face .

less patients and spend more time with their families .

Dr Sheng Chao GP , Perth , WA

I hear what the critics are saying , that the RACGP should be above this , but the other specialist colleges don ’ t have to run these workshops because their members don ’ t bulk-bill at all .

As GPs , we are providing care to people at less than the cost of other specialist colleagues .

Dr Karen Price , as president of the RACGP , you are doing a good job .

Dr Jitendra Nath GP , Sunshine Coast , Qld

Senator ’ s message to burnt-out GPs : ‘ You ’ re completely self-serving ’

This makes me see red . How much money is Senator Hollie Hughes ( and her staff ) paid ? Is she value for the taxpayer ? Perhaps she should research Medicare rebates .

Dr Sally-Anne Parsons GP , Adelaide Hills , SA

Many of the GPs I work with are trained overseas — even more so lately .

In fact , that goes for specialists as well ; many are trained overseas at least for their first degree .

The Australian Government has been too tight to train our own .

So thank goodness for the overseas doctors . This country would certainly be up the proverbial creek without them .

Now the government complains . Too late .

Dr Marilyn Efimoff GP , Brisbane , Qld