How can GPs best prepare for – and respond to – disasters? Limited communication between emergency-response teams and primary care means GPs should independently plan for natural disasters, Dr Penny Burns told newsGP.
Changes to restrictions on medicines for COPD and asthma Dr Kerry Hancock, Chair of the RACGP’s Respiratory Medicine Specific Interests network, examines the reasons behind recent changes to the PBS and what they mean for GPs and patients.
‘Sneezers and wheezers’ at risk of thunderstorm asthma, expert warns With spring – and pollen – in the air, GPs are being asked to prepare their patients for the upcoming thunderstorm asthma season.
Thunderstorm asthma: What can GPs do to help patients? Ten people died in the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne in 2016. What can GPs do to help their patients if such an event occurs again?
Restrictions to apply to fixed-dose combination medications for people with asthma The Federal Government is set to restrict the prescription of fixed-dose combination medications commonly used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in an effort to encourage GPs to initially try corticosteroids.
Older people over-represented in emergency departments A new study has found that large numbers of older people are often presenting to emergency departments when they could instead be seeing a GP.
New resource for emergency management of hyperglycaemia The RACGP and Australian Diabetes Society have collaborated to release a new resource designed to assist GPs and practice teams in the assessment and management of hyperglycaemic emergencies.
New asthma resources to help address incorrect inhaler use Nine out of 10 people with asthma or COPD are not using their inhalers correctly. What can GPs do to help?
Mental health patients make up 3.6% of all Australian ED presentations A new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report found close to 300,000 people who presented to Australian emergency departments did so due to an issue of mental health.
GPs vital in ongoing response to Australia’s natural disasters: RACGP President General practices in Victoria’s south-west, NSW’s south coast and Australia’s top end must be prepared to provide essential healthcare services following major natural disasters in recent days, RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel has told newsGP.