Disaster planning: RACGP calls for GP emergency skills register
RACGP push has been triggered by reports of doctors being sidelined during this years bushfire disaster
The RACGP is calling for “skills registers” listing the names of GPs ready to assist in emergencies resulting from disasters.
This year’s ‘Black Summer’ bushfire crisis resulted in many GPs being sidelined at evacuation centres set up in their local communities, even though most bushfire presentations were GP-related.
Among them was Dr Kate Manderson.
Despite 20 years of disaster response experience in the military, her offers of support at her local emergency operation centre were rejected because she was not considered part of the NSW government’s emergency protocols.
