ACT letter

Dear Dr Horgan,

Thank you for your letter of 26 September 2005 regarding health services for medical practitioners with the ACT. I apologise for the delay in responding.

The ACT Medical Board operates a Doctors' Health Program which monitors doctors with health problems that may affect their ability to practise medicine. Participation on the program is anonymous with only the Committee members having knowledge of who is on the program. The program assists practitioners linking them with suitable general practitioners as well as providing guidance on work environment factors such as overtime, hours worked etc.

The AMA also runs a Doctors' Health Advisory Service (DHAS) in the Act which assists medical practitioners with health problems on an ad hoc advisory basis or by referring practitioners to appropriate practitioners willing to see other medical practitioners. The DHAS runs independently of the Medical Board and neither the Board nor the Doctors' Health Committee is aware of the names of the practitioners being assisted by the DHAS.

Should you have questions on this matter, please contact the Board's Manager of Professional Standards and Health, Ms Alison Colebrook at the address shown above. You may also contact her by email at alison.colebrook@act.gov.au.

Yours sincerely,

R E Bradford

Executive Officer