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\n Dissatisfaction with processes for filtering out frivolous notifications has been growing, the review notes.
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\n The suggestion was among 26 recommendations for an \u2018ambitious\u2019 suite of reforms in a review of the regulation of health professionals.
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\n Dissatisfaction with processes for filtering out frivolous notifications has been growing, the review notes.
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newsGP weekly poll
\n Minor complaints against GPs would no longer be handled by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) under reforms proposed in a newly released review.
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\nThat is among the 26 recommendations put forward within the \u2018Transforming Health Professions Regulation in Australia\u2019 report<\/a> released last Friday, the culmination of the so-called \u2018complexity review\u2019 set in motion last year.
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\nIf the recommendations are put in place, notifications against health professionals will ultimately all go through a \u2018single front door\u2019 in each jurisdiction, with only more serious allegations raised to AHPRA.
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\nThe reforms proposed in the review, which was led by former New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commissioner Sue Dawson, are described as an \u2018ambitious transformation program\u2019.
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\nThey also recommend the AHPRA Board \u2018immediately improves timeliness and quality of investigation processes and decision making and the availability of clinical advice across all regulatory functions, with specified actions to achieve this\u2019.
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\nAn audit of all AHPRA investigations that have been open for more than a year should also take place within three months, its authors stated \u2013 while also noting growing dissatisfaction with processes for filtering out vexatious or frivolous notifications.
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\n\u2018Practitioners understandably object to the frequency with which notifications are made and subject to lengthy consideration even when in 85% of cases there is no further action required,\u2019 the report states.
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\nRACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman said the notifications process had long been a concern.
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\n\u2018Many GPs want to see significant improvements to the complaints processes, and we welcome the publication of detailed recommendations for how that should happen,\u2019 she told newsGP.
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\n\u2018For years, we have voiced serious concerns about the impact of vexatious complaints and delays in the resolution of notifications \u2013 and it is pleasing there has been progress in timeliness recently.
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\n\u2018We will be looking closely to see that any actions prompted by the report do reduce delays and minimise distress as promised.
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\n\u2018It is essential the system is fair and responsive for people who are under investigation and acknowledges the stress and harm that it can cause.
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\n\u2018We will consider each of the suggestions in the report in detail and continue to advocate for the clearest possible regulation that both protects patients and minimises the impact on our members.\u2019
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\nThe independent \u2018complexity review\u2019 analysis\u00a0began in April 2024<\/a>, with detailed policy suggestions\u00a0released in a 122-page document<\/a> earlier this year after an initial consultation paper.
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\n\u2018It would be hard to overstate the breadth and depth of dissatisfaction with the current complaint handling and notification processes,\u2019 that document stated.
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\n\u2018These processes are not meeting the basic expectations of health practitioner regulation in Australia. This is an equally acute concern for practitioners, consumers and policy makers.\u2019
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\nIt criticised \u2018a lack of clarity\u2019 and the absence of \u2018an overarching framework for the regulation of health professions\u2019, as well as noting the absence of any \u2018shared agreement about what is most necessary and important in health professions regulation, at any point in time and over time\u2019.
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\nIn an initial submission for the review<\/a> last year, the RACGP said it \u2018supports measures to simplify or streamline complaints handling in principle\u2019, but would need more information about the costs and benefits of a single front door process.
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\nThe college also opposed a proposed extension of the Ministerial Council\u2019s power of direction to apply directly to accreditation entities in addition to National Boards due to \u2018the risk of fragmentation between states and territories\u2019.
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\nInstead, the RACGP suggested that using expertise within relevant authorities such as AHPRA, the Australian Medical Council and medical colleges, would lead to better policy and patient outcomes.
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\nHowever, the report recommended extending the Ministerial Council\u2019s power of direction.
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\nIn a response to the report\u2019s release, AHPRA said it is carrying out its own end-to-end review of the notification system and confirmed the introduction of so-called \u2018Pathway Navigators\u2019 to guide consumers through the complaints process, which was one of the review\u2019s recommendations.
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\nThe regulator also said it had reduced average assessment times for complaints \u2018to the lowest on record while handling more matters than ever before\u2019.
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\nAHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said the agency would respond to the report and work with ministers and other health departments to carry out reforms, including measures to ensure the regulator had the right skills, roles and tools to be a contemporary regulator. It would also collaborate to ensure a timely and transparent complaints system, he said.
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\nThe review emphasised that its measures would support the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme to develop \u2018a flexible, responsive, and sustainable Australian health workforce\u2019.
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\n\u2018It is crucial that the RACGP has a seat at the table, and that general practice standards and expectations are included in discussion about national workforce planning,\u2019 Dr Raman said.
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\nThe review ultimately recommended against setting up a national complaints handling body, which it said would require \u2018an unavoidably lengthy, elaborate and costly process\u2019, and would be \u2018hampered by uncertain outcome\u2019.
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\n\u2018The most likely outcome would be one set of complexities being replaced with new complexities,\u2019 its authors wrote.
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