The secret list: part 2
Remember the secret backscratch list of top referring GPs allegedly held by radiology practices (from last month)? We received another anonymous tip-off from an “allied health worker”. Our mole provided us with the names of two GPs – one allegedly on the list of an eastern suburbs radiology practice and another who wasn’t. Medical Forum staffers made bulk billing enquiries that resulted in the same answer: “just bring along your health care card and we can bulk bill you.” The referring GP made no difference. Intriguingly, this second tip-off was for a different radiology company not connected to the first complaint.
Ed. Medical Forum values ethical journalism and will not publish news stories unless we can verify facts and get two or more affected parties to go on the record.
No boardroom Divisions?
Divisions politics has been quiet of late – too quiet? With biennial elections, most Division boards in WA are up for re-election this year, but only if there are a greater number of candidates than board positions. The last major Divisional stoush was at Osborne in GPDWA’s wake three years ago and angst at the coalface about Divisions appears low. Could this reflect member satisfaction or apathy? The Perth & Hills and GP Coastal merger could be a good litmus test. We’ll keep you posted.
C3 on the CV
Perth biotechs Visiomed and Clinical Cell Culture (C3) plan to merge. Under the scheme of arrangement, Visiomed shareholders will receive 5 C3 shares for every 7 Visiomed shares held. Once merged, Visiomed shareholders will hold 53% of the expanded company, with 47% owned by C3 shareholders. C3 has had a rough trot of late but Visiomed enjoyed a brief market flutter following the announcement of a patent in China (adding to its US patent).
Garside cashes in
Former Endeavour HealthCare boss Garry Garside’s property development group Watersun is soon to reap the benefits from luxury apartments being built in North Fremantle. The development will be worth $110 million and includes 58 apartments, a gym, swimming pool, and café. This, and the old Swanbourne hospital site, are among several developments Garry has had his hand in since leaving Endeavour. He also retains ownership of Prime Psych and Prime Specialists.
Doctor for sale: $100k
For those wanting to do medicine but not qualifying for a government-funded place, the cost of tuition for a full fee paying student at Notre Dame Uni has topped $100,000. Most of Notre Dame’s places are government-funded but there are still 10 places for those ready to foot the bill. Apparently, there is still a reasonable number of applicants even at that price but full fee-paying graduates are unlikely to stay in WA or service the bush, NDU intimated.
Baby boom
To cope with the recent WA baby (and premmy baby) boom, KEMH plans to increase neo-natal intensive care cots from 80 to 100 by 2010 (a near doubling of available cots from 2003). KEMH caters to virtually all neo-natal intensive care cases in WA.
Bush hospitals sprouting
While metro public hospitals get all the publicity, regional facilities are having a flurry of activity, all due for completion next year. Broome hospital’s current $42m transformation includes two new operating theatres, seven new consulting rooms and a specialist centre. Morawa is getting a $10m health facility focussed on aged care, palliative care, and allied health services. Denmark’s new $18m hospital will have 32 beds (22 aged care beds and 10 acute beds), plus a new ED and an expanded allied health services area.
Down in the bowel
The bowel cancer screening program for 55-65yos has generated only lukewarm interest. In WA, only 35.9% of those “invited” to participate have done so (nat avg 35.3%). Of those, 7.1% have returned a positive faecal occult blood (nat avg 6.8%). Actual cancer discovery figures are not yet available. With an evaluation due in 2008, the bean counters will be whipping out their abacuses for the cost benefit analysis on this one.