AMA (WA) in the Media

At the AMA (WA), we take pride in being a strong voice for doctors, patients, and the healthcare system as a whole. Over the past two months, the AMA (WA) has regularly been in the media, speaking up on relevant issues like the findings of the AMA (WA)’s 2026 Hospital Health Check. Here’s a look at some of our most significant media appearances.

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HIGHLIGHTS

CHANNEL 9 NEWS

Hospital Health Check release

AMA (WA) Vice President Dr Natalie Ferrington said undue pressures placed on doctors in training (DiTs) affected patient outcomes and reduced the efficient operation of hospitals. More than 1,300 DiTs took part in the annual Hospital Health Check survey, which showed an increase in burnout, and doctors leaving the profession early to pursue other careers.

ABC Radio Perth

Long waits for paediatric appointments

AMA (WA) Paediatrics Representative Dr Stephen Oo spoke about the increasingly long public wait list to see a paediatrician. Dr Oo pointed out that delays mean avoidable hospital visits; and for those with developmental problems it also means delayed therapy and delayed school support, creating enormous stresses on families. “Early intervention makes a major difference for very little ones, and we do have a very tight window in early life where therapy is more effective.”

Channel Nine Today

Hantavirus safe haven

Dr Kyle Hoath spoke with several national media outlets about progress on bringing cruise ship passengers back to Australia. Dr Hoath expressed sympathy for the long wait to get them back into the country, and relief that they had certainty and a safe place to quarantine in WA’s Bullsbrook facility. “It has everything you could possibly imagine to reduce the spread of the virus to effectively zero.”

ABC Four Corners

Attention on prescribing

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath spoke to Dr Norman Swan about why some WA postcodes have significantly higher rates of ADHD prescribing than other parts of Australia. Dr Hoath explained that WA has historically had higher rates of ADHD treatment, both in children and adults, than other states. “With the increase in ADHD awareness, and therefore diagnosis and treatment, as a whole it has lifted the country up, which has kept WA proportionally ahead.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook

The top post shared RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman’s article arguing for increases to Medicare rebates for longer consultations. Dr Raman, an AMA (WA) councillor, argues that doctors effectively earn less per minute the longer a consultation lasts, and that female doctors are especially penalised by a system that undervalues longer, more complex care. This post got 59,469 views, with 574 reactions and 18 shares.

At the start of Reconciliation Week, the AMA (WA) celebrated efforts to ensure Aboriginal people, and their knowledge, perspectives and lived experience, are at the forefront of designing and delivering health programs, with Rural Health West’s newly established Aboriginal Advisory Group. This post got 6,251 views and 103 reactions.

Dr Kyle Hoath blogged about two campaigns to increase vaccination in WA. Last year, WA experienced one of the worst flu seasons on record, resulting in our hospitals treating thousands of seriously ill patients of all ages. Immunisation plays a significant role in any effort to keep those numbers down. This post got 4,737 views, 82 reactions and 105 comments.

In April, AMA (WA) FACEM representatives and President Dr Kyle Hoath met with Director General and AMA (WA) member Dr Shirley Bowen to discuss the challenges faced by AMA (WA) members working in the State’s emergency departments. This post got 6,123 impressions and 72 likes.

Dr Kyle Hoath was recently named one of this year’s 40under40 and winner of the Small/Start-up Category. Business News wrote about his work as an advocate, frontline clinician, and technology founder. This post got 1,129 impressions and 40 reactions.

An article introducing our 2026 student leaders in the last edition of Medicus got 1,483 impressions and 145 engagements.