Australian Doctor 6th Dec Issue | Page 5

NEWS 5
ausdoc . com . au 6 DECEMBER 2024

NEWS 5

Anaesthetists erupt over fraud claims

Carmel Sparke A LEADING anaesthetist has
signing up to no-gap fee schemes with health insurers .
resigned from her post at the Aus-
Professor Sutherland , a former
tralian and New Zealand College of
member of the MBS Review Task-
Anaesthetists after speaking out
force , told The Age newspaper : “ If
about potentially fraudulent billing
these allegations are found to be true ,
practices within the specialty .
in my view , that ’ s outrageous , unethi-
Associate Professor Joanna Suth-
cal and it would be unacceptable .
erland was asked to quit as chair
“ Consumers are ripe for
of the Australian and New Zealand
exploitation .”
College of Anaesthetists ( ANZCA )
She reportedly said rumours
Safety and Quality Committee in an
of unethical billing by anaesthe-
email written by
tists had swirled
the president of the college .
In the email sent to her last month , Professor David Story claimed anaesthetists felt their reputation had
‘ The language you chose implied anaesthetists are not practising ethically .’
for years , adding : “ The way it ’ s set up , there ’ s an asymmetry of knowledge so that the clinicians , the doctors , understand the system
been “ slurred ” by
and they can work
her comments .
it to their advantage .”
The request came a day after Professor Sutherland was quoted in a news story about a group of 50
But Professor Story said she had immediately offered her resignation when asked to do so by him .
Associate Professor Joanna Sutherland .
anaesthetists and surgeons who
In his original email to her , he
had been accused of billing private
said her comments had offended
“ It does not help our vulnerable
“ The response from the college
potentially illegal … In the absence
patients hidden gap fees .
many college members .
patients to have the false idea that
has been to close ranks and protect
of a constructive response from the
The allegations , lodged with the
“ They are angry that their repu-
the anaesthetist caring for them is
the profession ,” Professor Suther-
profession , I don ’ t think these alle-
Department of Health and Aged
tation has been slurred by a member
fraudulent .”
land said after receiving Professor
gations will go away .”
Care , had been made by a practice
of a major college committee .
Professor Story ’ s email said she
Story ’ s request to stand down .
Professor Sutherland , an anaes-
administration worker who claimed
“ No-one condones fraudulent
had not notified the college of her
“ There have been allegations
thetist in Coffs Harbour on the
that specialists at the clinic had
practice , but the language you chose
plans to speak to The Age . But Pro-
about fraudulent billing , includ-
NSW North Coast , has been chair of
been charging up to $ 5000 in “ book-
to use implied that many anaesthe-
fessor Sutherland said she was
ing billing by anaesthetists that
ANZCA ’ s Safety and Quality Com-
ing and administrative fees ” despite
tists are not practising ethically .
speaking in a personal capacity .
would appear to be unethical and
mittee since 2022 .

GP finds a new mission on the streets

Rachel Fieldhouse AS a youngster in Perth ’ s middle-class suburbs , Dr Andrew Davies wanted to be “ some kind of professor of medicine ”.
“ My mother was an obstetrician and gynaecologist , and I was brainwashed into the fact I had to be a specialist .
“ I went through the hospital training system , but I got sick of that .
“ So I went into general practice — it was either that or architecture .”
He first met people who were homeless after starting with Street
Doctor , a clinic offering free medical care out of a van .
He enjoyed the work , finding it fulfilling , but became frustrated seeing the same patients again and again because Street Doctor lacked the capacity to treat the underlying issues .
“ What the hell do you do for a person who has diabetes and needs
‘ What the hell do you do for a homeless person who has diabetes and needs insulin ?’
HOMELESS HEALTHCARE / FACEBOOK
Dr Andrew Davies ( left ).
insulin , which needs to be stored in a fridge , when they are living on the street ?”
So 15 years ago , he started his own clinic : Homeless Healthcare .
It began two days a week at a drop-in centre , a place where people who were homeless could get meals , showers and laundry services .
After just three months , Homeless
Healthcare was full-time .
Nine GPs , three nurse practitioners and dozens of nurses work across mobile clinics , a 20-bed respite centre for patients discharged from hospital , and outreach teams that treat patients on the street .
Dr Davies calls it “ general practice on steroids ”.
Three years ago , a study of 2000 Homeless Healthcare patients showed that 40 % had three comorbidities and 27 % had more than five comorbidities .
“ There is a lot of trauma and PTSD ,” Dr Davies says .
“ People do not have long concentration spans , so you have to prioritise and get them engaged . “ Also , there is a lot of paperwork . “ I know that every GP will tell you they do a lot of paperwork , but we are doing so many housing applications , disability support pension applications , National Disability Insurance Scheme applications .”
He points out that , under Medicare , typical rebates , such as item 23 , must be at the doctor ’ s consulting rooms , “ so you cannot bill for a consult out on the streets ”.
It has been a long journey of discovery for Dr Davies — but one that has enriched his life .
“ Before I started with the Street Doctor van , I basically had no idea homelessness existed .”
Earlier this year , the RACGP called on the Federal Government to better remunerate GPs working with patients who were homeless .

Urgent care clinics reviewed

FROM PAGE 1 had attended the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Ipswich , Queensland .
“ I have literally page after page of positive Google reviews ,” Mr Butler said .
“ I only have time to name a couple of them , but Esther said , ‘ Went in on a Saturday night and saw someone within 10 mins ; out the door in 20 . Happy and friendly staff … This is a great substitute to the ER or waiting days to see a GP .’
“ And Kerry said : ‘ Went in for a suspected broken foot . I was seen by triage within 15 mins … and had my results back all within an hour .’
Mr Butler said he “ could go on if standing orders allowed me to ”.
Mark Butler .