Dr Tim Read MP Profile picture
Mar 7, 2020 7 tweets 2 min read Read on X
Victoria’s health minister inadvertently stepped on a minefield yesterday by saying she was flabbergasted a GP worked with upper respiratory symptoms, later found to be #COVIDー19, thread. #SpringSt #auspol #coronavirusaus
This highlights a deep flaw in our health system. States and state health ministers have almost nothing to do with primary care. State health departments offer advice and a lot of rules to GPs, but no funding. When a health emergency strikes, the state has limited influence.
GPs are self-employed or, contractors to health care chains (run by sharp financial operators), or to other GPs. GPs and private specialists are paid a fee for service by Medicare (federal), often plus private patient fees.
General practices are responsible for buying their own supplies like masks and gloves. It's a business and costs must be managed.
There's no sick leave for private docs. Public hosp staff feel guilty for taking it. Catching the latest virus is part of healthcare work (& teaching, child care). It’s no surprise doctors work with mild respiratory symptoms, nor that a state health minister doesn’t quite get it.
Responses to large scale health crises must overcome the public/private state/federal gaps in our healthcare systems. There is no one e-mail that all doctors read. A GP in Melton and a hospital doctor in Sunshine hear from different governments, different medical colleges.
Some solutions to consider: 1. National Centre for Disease Control to do much of the work of the many state Chief Health Officers, 2. a federal review of general practice – Medicare is harvested by big companies employing doctors – is this the best way to run primary care?

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More from @TimRRead

Dec 2, 2022
The Victorian Government must protect our hospital system by curbing the spread of COVID, now that hospital inpatient numbers have hit 550, after a lull in October.

With six consecutive weeks of increases in COVID hospitalisations, we’re clearly in another wave. (thread)
The govt must promote masks in crowded indoor spaces including public transport and promote improvements to indoor air quality where people mix, using open windows and air purifiers.
Hospitals will be getting busier with COVID cases occupying this many beds and we can’t afford to ignore this. We should also be prepared for other measures the CHO may recommend such as density limits or compulsory masks on PT.
Read 7 tweets
Oct 2, 2020
I’m seeing justified concern about the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) etc Bill, but I fear some is misdirected. I’ll try to clear some of that up in this thread, to aid the discussion on how it should be amended. #SpringSt theguardian.com/australia-news…
Like most Omnibus bills it’s a varied menu of dubious items alongside necessary and uncontroversial measures which the Victorian government should split into another bill, rather than subjecting parliament to the “no dessert if you don’t eat your veggies” tactic. #SpringSt
The least palatable item on this menu would change the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (PHWA) in two respects. The first broadens who can become an “authorised officer” and give health directions, including using the power of detention. Currently they must be public servants.
Read 11 tweets
Sep 26, 2020
I wish Jenny Mikakos all the best for her future. I’m sure she worked hard and to the best of her ability in the health portfolio and in managing the response to the pandemic. #SpringSt (thread)
We need to be aware that the farcical collective evasion of responsibility for the viral transmissions sparking the hotel Q outbreak that led to Victoria’s second wave, distracts us from other important failures, which had more to do with bad management than bad luck.
Over 3000 health workers became infected in Victoria, despite their training in infection control, so we can’t be certain that using police, defence personnel, or even nurses instead of security guards, however inept, would have prevented the hotel quarantine outbreak.
Read 6 tweets
Sep 16, 2020
#Greens will amend the Omnibus bill in #SpringSt today, so police, PSOs, security guards are not given power to decide who gets detained under health emergency powers. Currently health officials decide and police enforce. Too much power for one police/PSO to be judge and jailer.
People from communities with a poor experience of policing won't want to increase their risk of contact with the police, so this could mean fewer will get tested. Let's not mess with the current health-led response. #SpringSt
The bill doesn't create new powers, but gives police, potentially PSOs or security guards, power to preemptively decide someone is unlikely to comply with isolation orders and must be detained. Recent episodes show this is too much power and responsibility for one police officer.
Read 4 tweets
Aug 10, 2020
The #PAEC inquiry is now being livestreamed by Vic Parliament #SpringSt. Andrews grilled at Vic virus inquiry aap.com.au/andrews-to-be-…
You can watch the Premier, Health Minister, CHO and others respond to questions today from Victorian MPs. It's a bit like a prolonged question time with no interjections. All online of course. parliament.vic.gov.au/video-and-audi… #SpringSt #COVID19Vic #PAEC
Between the Dorothy Dixers (how is the ADF helping us Premier?) and the accusatory (will you apologise?) interesting information does emerge. The real importance of #PAEC is that Govt knows that a hard question MAY be asked. Oversight leads to better government. #SpringSt
Read 16 tweets
Jun 3, 2020
Uncomfortable truths from @TaniaMaxwell14's motion in the Vic Legislative Council: Victoria's prison population booming, reoffending very high: 43% return to prison within 2 yrs. So corrections system failing to correct. Govt admits changed bail laws contribute. #springst
So it's high time we reformed bail laws to correct this. Prisons are bursting at seams with unsentenced prisoners. Accused should get bail unless unacceptable risk to public safety. Govt knows this, so let's not delay bail reform. #SpringSt #Greens
Enver Ergodgan for Andrews Govt is justifying their big build of prisons, with the jobs it will create! Celebrating job creation is not how we should respond to the growing numbers of Victorians behind bars. You could maybe, I dunno, think about human rights. #SpringSt #Greens
Read 7 tweets

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