Author: Staff Writer

NSW Health On-Line Vaccine Care Training Module

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How it works:

All General Practitioners must ensure at least one staff member has taken the NSW Health on-line vaccine care training module.

NSW Health will be working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Council of NSW, and the Primary Health Networks to assist in reminding GPs of their vaccine care obligations.

Why it matters:

The Medical Council of NSW and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission are investigating and responding to incidents of patients that have been vaccinated with improperly kept vaccines.

Ask the expert:

Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Medical Officer

“While NSW Health does not have responsibility for GPs, we are working with GPs and assisting co-regulators to ensure patients are correctly and effectively vaccinated.”

“Vaccines need to be stored at an optimal temperature range to ensure patients are protected from illness such as the flu, measles, or meningococcal disease.”

The details:

The free vaccine cold chain management online learning module is available at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/cold-chain-management.aspx

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health to Receive Boost in Funding

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How it works:

The funding will be distributed between six projects with the aim of supporting practical and innovative research into the best approaches to prevention, early intervention, and treatment of health conditions of greatest concern to ageing Indigenous communities.

The projects are:

Researcher Application Title Administering Institution Budget
Associate Professor Kim Delbaere Standing Tall-with our Mob: A holistic approach towards active and healthy ageing. University of New South Wales $  990,165.20
Associate Professor Edward Strivens A framework for health ageing in the Torres Strait James Cook University $1,100,540.00
Professor David Currow Exploring Healthy Ageing amongst Aboriginal Australians through the window of cancer The Sax Institute $1,167,301.20
Professor Leon Flicker Defining and predicting Healthy Ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Populations (HATS) University of Western Australia $  931,119.40
Professor Alex Brown Designing Indigenous aged care with a ‘whole of community’ perspective. University of South Australia $  741,947.30
Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher Improving implementation of Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in mainstream practice: a cluster randomised controlled trial. The University of Newcastle $  745,056.50

Why it matters:

Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have poorer health outcomes and higher rates of disability than non-Indigenous Australians of the same age.

They are also more likely to live with chronic and complex conditions that lead to a poorer quality of life and to die at a younger age.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt, Minister for Health

“Our government has a long-standing and important commitment to achieving health equity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

“The Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.”

Prosthesis Program Bringing New Hope to Amputees

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How it works:

The TMR Program, allows the patient’s brain to directly control a specially engineered prosthetic limb through a process of surgery, rehabilitation, and brain training.

Patients must commit to an extensive virtual training program helping them achieve strong and consistent control of their new prosthetic, along with a home exercise program that takes for up to 30 minutes, four times a day.

Ask the patient:

Daniel Campbell, who lost his arm in a farming accident:

“After I lost my arm, I realised I couldn’t even do simple things like cooking a meal or picking up a clothes basket.

“It took a lot away from my capacity to work, but now I have my arm I’m keen to get back to it and have a go. Now I’ve been able to pick up boxes and carry things, it’s given me a lot of my independence back.

“Everyone is really intrigued by how the arm works and what it can do. I just think normal movements and I can move my hand – it’s a bizarre sensation.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Frank Bruscino-Raiola, The Alfred Hospital Director of Plastic Surgery:

“TMR and osseointegration is a new exciting frontier in the surgical and rehabilitation management of upper limb amputees.

“All of our patients who have completed the program are really excited about the potential for their new limbs. Where previously their movements were quite limited, this new technology opens up a new realm of what they’re able to achieve.”

Non-Caloric Stevia Leaf Sweetener Recognised as Generally Considered Safe For Consumption

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How it works:

BESTEVIA Reb E, SweeGen’s is a non-caloric, high-purity stevia sweetener, produced from the stevia leaf through a non-GMO bioconversion process.

Why it matters

Commercialised at the end of 2018 the sweetener was specifically created for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

With its low cost and zero caloric value, the sweetener is hoped to be used in the health industry to assist Australia’s current obesity and diabetes epidemic.

Ask the expert:

Katharina Pueller,  Director of SweeGen

“BESTEVIA e+ shows great success in reducing sugar and artificial sweeteners in many applications, such as beverage, dairy, sports nutrition, condiments and bakeries.”

“BESTEVIA e+ provides a clean, sugar-like taste at a price equivalent to sugar.”

The Details:

SweeGen, a California-based sweetener company, seeks to develop and produce non-caloric and non-GMO sweeteners for the food, flavour and beverage industries.

Palliative Care to Trial Synthetic Psychedelic

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How it works:

The trial will aim to give terminally ill patients a new perspective on their lives, during the final stage.

The administration will have to be guided by the hospital psychiatrist, under the guidelines of removing fear and depression from a dying patient.

Ask the expert:

Dr Margaret Ross, Clinical Psychologist at St Vincents Hospital.

“The studies would see patients given a single dose of psilocybin, which is so powerful it can unlock a section of a patient’s brains to give them an altered outlook on their situation approaching death.”

The details:

The trial has taken more than a year to gain approval by ethics committees as well as federal and state authorities

Australia’s Dementia Home Care Packages Program Waiting Time Blowout

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How it works

Home Care Packages (HCP) are one of the ways that older Australians can access affordable care services to get some help at home. They are designed for those with more complex care needs that go beyond what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can provide.

Funding for assistance includes:

  • Help with showering, self-care, hygiene and grooming
  • Wound management or help with medicines
  • Health and therapy services e.g. podiatry, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy
  • Help for people with a particular condition e.g. vision, dementia
  • Help with feeding, meal preparation, and using eating utensils
  • Basic chores around the house
  • Keeping home and garden safe
  • Changes to your home to improve safety and access e.g. ramps and rails
  • Items to help you get around or adapt e.g. walking frame, shower chair
  • Services that allow me to interact with my community
  • Community transport, transport to GP
  • Social activities in a community-based group setting or accompanied activities

Facts and figures:

According to the Home Care Packages Program Report released this month, the waiting list has increased by 1290 people, with over 75,000 people still waiting for an appropriate level of home care.

An estimated 447,000 people have dementia in Australia.

This number is projected to reach almost 1.1 million by 2058.

Ask the expert:

Maree McCabe Dementia Australia CEO:

“The consequences of a lack of support are devastating and far-reaching – severely impairing the quality of life for the person living with dementia and their loved ones who often stop or change their own lives to become a primary carer.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt Delivers Federal Funding for New Cancer Centre

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Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Federal Minister for Health

“This agreement gives The Bays the ability to continue their development of world-class treatment and research facilities, for the benefit of the local community.”

“Funding encompassing radiation oncology, clinical trials laboratory, consulting suites, and meeting education and support areas for patients affected by cancer, will help The Bays continue to save lives and protect lives.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Muhammad Alamgeer Consulting Medical Oncologist for The Bays Healthcare Group

“The real revolution of cancer care since the discovery of chemotherapy has been the practice of personalised care, which means matching the latest treatments to individual patient characteristics.  At the new comprehensive cancer centre at The Bays, we will deliver high-quality personalised care.”

Research Reveals Alarming New Measles Trend

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How it works:

Australia has done such a good job at eliminating measles, people who have had only one vaccine aren’t getting a natural immunity boost as the disease isn’t circulating in the community.

While these cases were hospitalised, the symptoms weren’t considered ‘classic measles’ – patients weren’t reporting fever, cough and runny nose, but they did have a rash.

Ask the expert:

Dr Katherine Gibney, an epidemiologist Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

“Normally, if people have documented receiving two doses of the measles vaccine we would be confident they won’t contract measles, but that’s getting greyer – this research has demonstrated some vaccinated people are getting measles.”

“Anyone who is unsure if they have had two doses of measles vaccine should see their doctor about getting an additional dose. In particular, adults born after 1965 might not have received two doses of measles vaccine during their routine childhood immunisation.”

Dr Lisa Walker from the Royal Melbourne Hospital Awarded Top Prize

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How it works:

During their last year of specialist Emergency Medicine training, doctors must complete a final oral and written exam. Every exam, the highest scoring candidate from among hundreds across Australia and New Zealand, is awarded The Buchanan Prize.

Ask the expert:

Dr Alex Paspaliaris, who won the prize in 2001

“The Australasian Emergency Medicine training program is one of the hardest and most highly recognised in the world.”

Study Finds Majority of Australians Don’t Understand Private Health and Tax

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Facts and figures:

64% of Australians don’t understand what the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is.

39% are confused the MLS with the Medicare Levy paid by all taxpayers.

36% of Australians correctly understand that the MLS is an additional tax paid by higher income earners who don’t have private hospital cover.

Ask the expert:

Laura Crowden, spokesperson for iSelect:

“If you earn more than $90,000 a year and don’t have private hospital cover by June 30, then you will have to pay a minimum $900 in extra tax next financial year due to the MLS.”

“Exactly how much extra tax you’ll pay depends on how much you earn and for most higher income earners, taking out a basic hospital policy will generally cost less than paying the extra tax via the MLS.”

The details:

The YouGov Galaxy Research study was commissioned by the private health insurer iSelect.