Surgical News | Volume 21 | Issue 05
for all political parties to demonstrate leadership in this area and to detail their plans to eliminate these types of tragic incidents in Queensland.”
statement, which had been sent to all political parties. In total, RACS requested that each political party provide responses to 19 key questions.
proposed building would not be big enough and that there would not be enough operating theatres for the required number of operations by the time of completion.
Australian Capital Territory election priorities included the SPIRE hospital building, workplace culture and alcohol related harm
Another key issue outlined in the statement was the need to improve the culture within the ACT health system. This followed the release of the Independent Review into the Workplace Culture within ACT Public Health Services in 2019. The findings of the review identified several cultural issues within the ACT health system and made 20 recommendations for improvement.
The current plans didn’t indicate how emergency situations in other parts of the hospital (i.e. maternity ward) would have direct access to the new building and emergency operating theatres. Professor Smith welcomed the state Government’s investment in the health system but stressed the importance of future-proofing the proposed SPIRE building so that it could support the ACT’s steadily growing population.
In October we wrote to all contesting political parties in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) seeking responses to a number of critical issues for ACT surgeons. Among the concerns raised was that the new SPIRE building to be constructed as part of the Canberra Hospital expansion risks being too small. RACS ACT Chair Professor Paul Smith said that it was important all political parties were aware of clinical concerns, and given the opportunity to address them before the election on 17 October 2020.
RACS ACT has been advocating for some time for the ACT Government to commit to providing a permanent space that would encompass state-of-the-art facilities for all medical professions. It would be used for education, training and practising skills and would put ACT on the map as a desired place for Trainees to come and stay following transition into Fellowship.
Professor Smith noted there were predictions from clinicians that the
The concerns about SPIRE were raised as part of the RACS ACT Committee’s election
Professor Smith also used the election statement to urge the next ACT government to take a tougher stance on alcohol harm minimisation policies. He noted that a 2019 alcohol policy scorecard awarded the ACT a ‘Fail’ for policy efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm, and called for stronger leadership and a clear strategy to reduce the effects of alcohol-related harm across the state.
South Australian Annual Dinner &
R P Jepson Medal
2020 Anstey Giles Lecture
&
Justin Miller Prize Presentations
Friday 6 November 2020
Friday 6 November 2020 • • • • • • •
Abstracts must not exceed 250 words. All abstracts must be typed, single spaced, with a clear typeface. Title should be in capitals and underlined, and placed at the top of the abstract. Author’s name should be in capitals, with the name of the presenter indicated by an asterisk (*). Degrees and positions in departments should not be included, but the origin of the work should be stated. The abstract must be clear and brief. Statements should, in general, be impersonal and the first person “I” and “We” avoided. The abstracts will be presented at the meeting as a Power Point presentation.
The abstract should be organized as follows:• 1. Purpose of study • 2. A brief statement of methods • 3. A summary of the results adequate to support conclusions • 4. Conclusion
Important Dates:
4 September 2020
18 September 2020 6 November 2020
Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo
2020 Sir Henry Newland A ward recipients Anstey Giles Lecture Adjunct Pr of Franklin and Prof Pe Bridgewater AOM presented by ter Reilly A O to be awar ded at the dinner Natasha Stott Despoja AO $160 pp
“The Shadow Pandemic - inequality and violence”
Natasha Stott Despoja AO is a multi-awarded role model and leader for the rights of girls and women • •
Founding Chair of Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children) Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls (2013-2016) Author of On Violence (MUP, 2019) Served on World Bank Gender Advisory Council
•
• •
In May 2018, was named one of the Top 100 Global Influencers on Gender Policy Member of Board Agenda 50:50 by 2030 Advisory Group Member of the UN High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents
Closing date for abstracts
• •
Submission of presentation
Dinner will be preceded by the R P Jepson Medal & Justin Miller Prize Presentations and the winners announced at dinner
Notification of acceptance
Submit abstract to college.sa@surgeons.org
Winners of the RP Jepso n Medal & Justin M will be aw iller Prize arded at the Annual Dinner
Followed by the South Australian Annual Dinner & Anstey Giles Lecture The Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Telephone: 08 8239 1000
Dress: Lounge suit RSVP: 20 October 2020
6:30pm for 7pm
Guidelines for Abstracts:
Email: college.sa@surgeons.org
Website: www.surgeons.org
Register at https://surgeons.eventsair.com/saad20/onlinebooking
Telephone: 08 8239 1000
Email: college.sa@surgeons.org
Website: www.surgeons.org
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