Prof. Dobb re-elected AMA (WA) President

July 5, 2007

Prof Geoff Dobb has been re-elected President of the Australian Medical Association (WA).

Prof Dobb is an intensive care specialist at Royal Perth Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of WA.

He is a past President of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society and the Asia Pacific Association of Critical Care Medicine, past Treasurer of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and current editor of international medical scientific journals.

Prof Dobb said while the focus was on the Prime Minister's Northern Territory Indigenous initiative, the AMA (WA) was keen to work with the WA Government in addressing major concerns about Aboriginal health in this State.

"We have put a plan to Health Minister Jim McGinty which we hope will provide long-term solutions," he said. "Importantly, we need to also consult with the Opposition to establish a bi-partisan approach."

Prof Dobb said other issues the AMA (WA) would pursue included:

• A ban on smoking in cars and alfresco dining areas.
• Prison health being moved under the Health portfolio.
• Ensuring adequate facilities and resources are available to teach the growing number of medical students.
• Improved primary health care in rural WA.
• Replacement of out-dated medical equipment in hospitals.

"At the same time the AMA will be vigilant in monitoring the restructure of the public health system to ensure the new hospitals being planned meet community needs for the next 20 years," he said.

"We also have on-going problems such as overcrowding in emergency departments and elective surgery waiting lists that need to be addressed. These and many other issues impacting on the welfare of patients will continue to be the focus of the AMA."

Tonight's AGM re-elected Dr Richard Choong and Prof Gary Geelhoed as Vice Presidents.

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