RACS Complaints Process Updated It's a Great Life out There! Volume 21
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Volume 21 | Issue 02 Surgical News Volume 21 | Issue 02 surgeons.org surgeons.org Page 6 Spotlight on | Page 14 RACS complaints process updated It’s a great life out there! Financial advice that’s as free from self-interest as you are Doctors Wealth Management is part of Avant, Dr Chris Hughes the mutual owned by doctors for more than Avant member 125 years. So when it comes to understanding the financial complexities of doctors and their families, our advisers couldn’t be in better company. That’s not the only reason you can look forward to financial advice that’s more relevant, more insightful and more attuned to your individual needs as a doctor. As salaried employees of an organisation owned by doctors, you can be sure our advisers are always working in your best interest. Over 50% of Australian doctors trust Avant with their professional reputation. Now, you can trust us to look after your financial wellbeing too. To learn more about the difference that financial advice tailored for doctors can make to your financial wellbeing, book an appointment today. Contact us 1800 128 268 avant.org.au/doctorswealthmanagement Always in a doctor’s best interest Important disclaimer: The material contained in this publication is of general nature only. It is not, nor is intended to be legal, accounting, tax or financial advice. Doctors Financial Services Pty Ltd (DFS) and its related entities have not considered your individual objectives, financial situation and needs in providing this information. If you wish to take any action based on the content of this publication we recommend that you seek appropriate professional advice. While we endeavour to ensure that this information is as current as possible at the time of publication, we take no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances, information or material. DFS and its related entities will not be liable for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), that may be directly or indirectly suffered by you or anyone else in connection with the use of information provided. Doctors Wealth Management is a registered business name of Doctors Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 56 610 510 328, AFSL 487758. Doctors Wealth Management Financial Advisers are Authorised Representatives of DFS. DWM0070_1120 Surgical News | Volume 21 | Issue 02 3 RACS leadership President’s perspective 4 RACS complaints process updated 6 Spotlight on Embracing diversity International Women’s Day at RACS 10 It’s a great life out there! 14 Cover image: Byron Morning 20x30 cm. The two of us 18 Watercolour on Fabirano paper. Australia’s first female paediatric Artist: Professor Mohamed Khadra, Urological surgeon 20 Surgeon, NSW, Australia. Professor Wood talks about her work 22 “COVID 19 has given us all a chance to see our country through different lens. Instead of Bali and Fiji, our holidays have been in Australia. Articles of interest This was an early morning in the Byron Bay Full steam ahead for the RACS ASC 8 hinterland near Bangalow. The yellows of the dawn sky combined with the layer upon layer College Name Change Working Group 24 of the foreground inspired me to think of the Use of name Aotearoa in New Zealand 25 possibilities ahead and the joy of the new day and the sun’s promise of warmth.” Meet our new surgical advisors 27 Five years of JDocs 34 Professor Khadra’s art will be part of a virtual Australia and New Zealand 54 gallery that will be displayed during the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Operating at the cutting edge 40 Scientific Congress 2021. The Congress has the New draft road safety strategy 46 theme of ‘Celebrating the art of surgery in a time of disruption’. It combines the science of The American College of Surgeons 46 medicine with the creative elements required Who should use the title ‘surgeon’? 47 to become a great surgeon. The theme also celebrates the important contribution to the Good reading 52 arts by surgeons, who continue to excel not only with a scalpel but also in music, painting, design, sculpture, writing and other creative Scholarship Historical pursuits. Microsurgery in Australian hospitals 33 Surgeons of Vanity Fair: Oscar Clayton 42 Correspondence and letters to the editor for Surgical News should be sent to: [email protected] Game changer in prostate cancer 37 Archibald Watson’s surgical diary 50 Editor: Abderazzaq Noor T: +61 3 9249 1200 | F: +61 3 9249 1219 Contributing writers: Sharon Lapkin, Saleha Singh, Rachel Corkery Global Health www.surgeons.org Voices from the Pacific 12 ISSN 1443-9603 (Print)/ISSN 1443-9565 (Online). Hearing care for all 30 © Copyright 2021, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. All rights reserved. All copyright is Global Health at the RACS ASC 38 reserved. The editor reserves the right to change material submitted. The College privacy policy and A trilogy of world pandemics 42 disclaimer apply – www.surgeons.org. The College and the publisher are not responsible for errors or consequences for reliance on information in this publication. Statements represent the views of the author and not necessarily the College. Information is Research not intended to be advice or relied on in any particular circumstance. Advertisements and products POSTVenTT 29 advertised are not endorsed by the College. The Case note review 48 advertiser takes all responsibility for representations and claims. Published for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons by RL Media Pty Ltd. ACN 081 735 891, ABN 44081 735 891 of 129 Bourverie St, Carlton Vic 3053 4 RACS leadership President’s perspective Due to the lockdowns across Victoria, the notice, was no small feat and I would like The previously approved plans agreed on February meeting of Council was held to thank the many people, especially staff before the onset of COVID-19 have been predominantly outside Melbourne for in Melbourne and Adelaide, who ensured put on hold and our position needs to the first time in the history of the Royal that the meeting ran smoothly. be reassessed. Many of our Melbourne Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). At the meeting, elections were held for staff have begun returning to work, but Our brand new South Australian office office-bearing positions. Congratulations we expect the working environment to was the meeting point for the majority to Dr Sally Langley who will be the next look significantly different to 18 months of the Councillors, with small hubs in RACS President, and to Dr Lawrie Malisano ago. As such, Council has decided to our offices in Wellington, Melbourne and who will take on the role of vice president. re-evaluate the whole project and we Sydney, where others assembled to join Sally and Lawrie will commence their expect that any new proposals will differ the meeting. leadership roles during the RACS Annual significantly from what was originally While we have held many face-to-face Scientific Congress (ASC) in May. envisaged. meetings over the years and have also During the meeting, the RACS Business The meeting also saw the renaming of become accustomed to virtual meetings, Plan for 2021 was approved. This includes various boards and committees, and the hybrid approach used for this Council information on the planned upgrades to the establishment of a new Health meeting was another first. Arranging the the Spring Street offices in Melbourne. Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC). logistics of this, particularly at such short The New Zealand National Board will Surgical News | Volume 21 | Issue 02 5 now be known as the Aotearoa New I hope this type of visibility will inspire Zealand National Committee (AoNZNC), the next generation of female surgeons and the Professional Development and and help us achieve the goals we aspire Standards Board has been renamed to towards. the Professional Standards and Advocacy I would also like to announce that the Committee. The name changes reflect a President’s Meeting Room in Melbourne decision in recent years to move away is to be renamed the Anne Kolbe Room, from using the term ‘board’ to describe in honour of our first female president. our various governing bodies, with the More changes are being discussed to exception of the Board of Council. recognise our diverse Fellowship. The role of HPAC will be to identify I would like to draw your attention to our and advise on advocacy initiatives and updated complaints process. As many priorities. It will ultimately work with the of you know, our position as a member offices of the president and vice president organisation does not provide us with the in managing health policy and political powers that a hospital or medical centre advocacy. The committee will meet that employs surgeons has, or that a regularly, and it is expected that there will regulator such as the Medical Council of also be a significant amount of out-of- New Zealand (MCNZ) or the Australian session work. This will allow the College Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to generate content quickly and respond (Ahpra) holds. to the often very short turnaround times Images of government consultations. With this in mind, we have taken steps to Above: revise our approach. We learned from the Associate Professor Phillip Carson, Associate Professor Julie Mundy and Dr Tony Sparnon. Another flagship area of our Business Plan way we used to address complaints. We is the Rural Health Equity Strategic Action have developed a process that supports Over page: Dr Sparnon with Councillors. Plan. For those who are unaware, the professionalism in surgery and makes Strategic Action Plan embeds actions for Front: Mr Adrian Anthony, Dr Sarah Coll, Associate sure that all complaints and concerns Professor Julie Mundy.