W.A. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – Dr Michael Veltman

Committee Changes -Major changes this past year include the following:

Dr Suzanne Bertrand took over the position of REO in June 2007, and I am grateful to her for taking on this very important role. Dr Bertrand is at present on Maternity leave and thanks need to be extended to Dr David Vyse and Dr Soo-Im Lim who have both taken over responsibility for the REO duties until Dr Bertrand returns in the middle of the year.

The increasing size of the training program in WA has prompted a reorganisation of REO’s role.  Previously the REO also held the position of rotational officer, but with the increasing workload over the last few years a decision was made to separate the positions. Dr Soo-Im Lim also commenced in June 2007 as Rotational Officer, a position previously combined with the REO, and I am also grateful to her for offering her time to co-ordinate all the trainees’ rotations in WA.

Dr Alison Corbett also took over the role of CME Officer in late 2007. I am grateful to her for taking on such an important role. Thanks are extended to the outgoing CME Officer Dr David Wright who contributed extensively to the success of the WA CME activities during 2006 and 2007.

Secretariat

The Secretariat Office has been on the campus of the University of Western Australia at the Simulator Centre for the past couple of years but pressure for space in the CTEC building has required us to recently move out. The new offices are located at Suite 21, 18 Stirling Highway, Nedlands. The new offices include space for meetings, examinations and workshop and Fellows and Trainees are welcome to visit. The office is opened Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9am to 5 pm.

Communications with ANZCA Council

ANZCA continues to improve the communication with the regional committees under the current Federal Council.  Teleconferences with the regional chairs have after meetings occur several times a year and the college is looking to increase the frequency of “face to face” visits with the regional chairs.  Further suggestions have been made by councillors to increase the communication at regional meetings with the whole regional committee which will be discussed shortly. We are also fortunate to have two Councillors from WA, both of whom attend our two monthly meetings when possible.

 Relations with the ASA

We continue to work closely with the ASA. Between our two monthly Regional Committee meetings, a joint meeting (convened as “Anaesthesia WA”) is held with the WA ASA Committee where common issues are discussed. These are usually education related to enhance co-ordination of CME meetings in WA. As Regional Committee Chair I then attend the ASA meeting which follows as a third meeting for the night. I also meet with the Chairman of the WA Section of the ASA on a fortnightly basis.

 CME Committee

Due to the increase in the workload for CME in WA, a combined CME committee has been formed in conjunction with the ASA to organise all CME activities for WA.  To date this has proved very successful in allowing rapid progression of all CME activities in the state, with reports being submitted to ANZCA and the ASA at their meetings. See separate CME report from Dr Alison Corbett for further information.

WA Surgical Audit

The College of Surgeons has established a Western Australian Audit of Surgical Mortality (WAASM) and has requested our participation at the related meetings. Dr Nedra vanden Driesen has represented us and provides them an anaesthetic perspective when appropriate. We have declined to integrate our State Anaesthetic Mortality Committee with theirs, ours being long established both via State legislation and in fact. However, the Surgical Audit is promising and we will remain in communication with them.

Manpower

While our registrar numbers keep steadily increasing, specialist shortages in anaesthesia remain in rural and regional Western Australia. The ANZCA (WA) secretariat continues to field a regular number of calls each year from hospital administrators seeking help. There have been significant difficulties in finding and retaining anaesthetists in all teaching and non-teaching hospitals in WA.

The current plan for WA health is the commissioning of a new teaching hospital, the Fiona Stanley Hospital. This aims to serve the needs of Perth’s rapidly growing southern corridor. Major expansions of peripheral hospitals including at Armadale, Midland and Joondalup will also require substantial anaesthetic manpower. Workload issues will remain a significant issue for the state as WA grows over the next decade.

Training Scheme

The West Australian Inter hospital Rotational Training Scheme continues to grow in size, with an increasing burden of workload, particularly on the Regional Educational Officer.  This has already necessitated changes to separate out roles. There is now a separate Formal Project Officer and a separate Rotational Supervisor to reduce the workload of the REO.

The decision to replicate the primary course into two twelve month courses running simultaneously, one commencing in January and the other course commencing in July will continue again for 2008.

Options for providing further formal training have been discussed including the creation of a formal short course in WA for the primary and fellowship exam.

Election of Trainee Representatives is progressing and we look forward to further interaction with the trainees in WA.

Australian Resuscitation Council – WA Branch

Dr Mary Pinder has represented WA Anaesthetists on this Regional committee. The committee continues to review ARC policy documents, provide feedback to the Federal body and assist with the implementation of any recommended changes where required.

Faculty of Pain Medicine ANZCA

Dr Roger Goucke represents the Faculty on the WA Regional Committee.

Faculty of Intensive Care ANZCA

Dr Mary Pinder has represented the faculty on the WA Regional committee

Western Australian Anaesthesia Mortality Committee

Dr Neville Gibbs is chairman of the WA Anaesthetic Mortality Committee and has embarked on a process of increasing the awareness of the anaesthetic community of the function and workings of the committee.

Acknowledgements

Managing all of this is made possible by the efforts of many people.  In particular I would thank Ms Sandra Box for her tireless efforts for the college. It would not be possible to function in this position without her assistance. I continue to be grateful for the advice of the past chair, Dr Simon Maclaurin. I know that every member of the committee has taken time out of their work and home lives to maintain the college’s role in WA, and I also thank each and every one of them for this.

Dr Michael Veltman, Chair, Western Australian Regional Committee