BREAKING NEWS
NASOG announces 2010 Conference
When the rules of the game are changing, Obstetrics and Gynaecology - What's Next? will be a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our speciality in the second decade of the 21st Century. Held in Melbourne between 9 and 11 September 2010, you can download the conference flyer and preliminary program, and reserve those dates in your diary.
Abstract Submission Deadline Extended
The XXII European Congress in Perinatal Medicine to be held in Granada Spain - May 26-29, 2010 advises NASOG members of an extension to the Abstract submission deadline through to January 30, 2010. Further information can be found by downloading the Congress brochure, or by visiting the website www.ecpm2010.org
Changes to Medicare Safety Net
The government has made major cuts to the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) in the 2009 budget with significantly reduced or capped rebates available to patients for many obstetric services. In spite of extensive lobbying by NASOG and other bodies, legislation was passed by the Senate in September 2009 and the changes come into effect on 1st January 2010. There will be changes to obstetric item numbers and severe caps on the EMSN benefits available to patients accessing those services.
Details of these changes have been sent to NASOG members. How each patient will be affected depends on her individual circumstances but AMA modelling indicates that the majority of patients will be substantially worse off. This may place a further burden on our already overstretched public hospital services.
Further information is available from the Medicare website
NASOG Council has put enormous effort into discussion with the government, MPs of all parties and the health department in the lead up to passage of this legislation and has clearly voiced opposition to these cuts to patient benefits. Discussions continue about how to support patients who wish to have comprehensive obstetric care with the doctor of their choice. Patients needing IVF services had some success in amending the cuts to the Safety Net for assisted fertility services, largely because of their united and vocal patient lobby group. For pregnant women the reality of the legislation is only now apparent, as those who will be affected, whose babies are due after 20 May 2010, are only now pregnant and accessing pregnancy care. We encourage patients who will be affected to discuss this with their local federal member of parliament. The voices of patients, consumers, voters are heard more clearly than those of care providers.
To find your local member of the Commonwealth Parliament and their contact details log on to http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/ where you can search for the name of the electorate you live in by suburb or postcode. Once you know the name of your electorate your member’s contact details can be found by logging on to http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-elctr.asp . If you click on the electorate name it will bring up your local member’s name and their contact addresses, phone, fax and email.
About NASOG
The National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NASOG) is a not for profit professional association representing specialist obstetricians and gynaecologists, the leading providers of specialist women’s health services. We aim to inform public debate and government policy in all areas of women’s health and play a complementary role to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) which is involved in education, training and standard setting in women’s health and the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
NASOG has campaigned actively in support of consumers and providers to achieve better access to all aspects of gynaecology, reproductive and obstetric medicine.
Obstetricians and gynaecologists are doctors who have completed a further six or more years of specialist training on top of a five or six year medical degree to provide comprehensive care for all aspects of women’s health. Obstetricians and gynaecologists care for women from adolescence through their reproductive years and beyond. We support women through fertility issues and pregnancy, caring both for healthy women and babies as well as those who face complications of infertility, pregnancy and birth. We help women with hormonal and contraceptive issues and period problems; those requiring simple and complex pelvic surgery and those facing cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. We work closely with GPs, midwives, nurses, physiotherapists and other health professionals to provide comprehensive care for all aspects of women’s health.
Australia is recognised as one of the safest countries in the world to give birth or to be born. NASOG strongly endorses our collaborative, proactive model of obstetric and midwifery care for all women giving birth in Australia. The safety of this existing model of care is confirmed by research from Australia and around the world.
NEWS
Dr Hilary Joyce has been elected president of NASOG
in June 2009. Hilary Joyce is a gynaecologist with special interest in endoscopic surgery, infertility and ultrasound and has practices in Bowral and Sydney. She takes over leadership of NASOG from Dr Andrew Pesce who has led the organisation since 2007.
NASOG congratulates Dr Andrew Pesce
on his election to presidency of the Australian Medical Association (AMA). Andrew Pesce has led NASOG since 2007 and his diplomacy, negotiation and leadership skills have been recognised in his election to the leadership of the Australia’s peak medical body.
H1N1 Influenza and Pregnancy
See the RANZCOG statement on this issue.
Current Activity
NASOG is actively involved in discussions regarding implementation of the Maternity Services Review and proposed changes to patient rebates for women’s health services through the Extended Medicare Safety Net.
Maternity Services Review
The Maternity Services Review reported to the Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, in December 2008. NASOG was involved in the consultation process and presented a submission to the review. Implementation of the recommendations is beginning and NASOG is actively involved with RANZCOG in the consultation and implementation process. NASOG supports the Review’s recommendations of collaborative care and increased involvement of midwives in the context of collaborative care arrangements in a clinical setting.
About this Website
Although all are welcome to view the public areas of this website, it is primarily designed for NASOG members.
The members area is password protected.
If you are a member of NASOG, and wish to access the members area, then please go to the registration section and apply. When successful, you username and password will be emailed to you.
About Membership
Download, complete and mail/fax the application form (PDF 108kb)
Membership fees cover the period from 1 July to 30 June
- RANZCOG Fellows $440 (incl. GST)
- Trainees or retired fellows $154 (incl. GST)
|
