1. No category

May 2015| Edition 11
Healthy North Coast
practitioner newsletter
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1
GP
Focus
10
AMS
Focus
11
AgedCare
Focus
12
Pharmacy
Focus
15
AlliedHealth
Focus
inside
3. GP Focus
10. AMS Focus
11. Aged Care Focus
12. Pharmacy Focus
15. Allied Health Focus
16. News
18. Events
21. Classifieds
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Would you like a hard copy of this newsletter?
If so, please email your name and postal address to
healthynorthcoast@gmail.com and write
“Copy of Healthy North Coast Practitioner Newsletter” in the subject line.
GPFocus
PAL UPDATE
Information Pack for GPs - Mandatory Alcohol Interlock
Program
From 1 February 2015, stricter penalties for NSW drivers
convicted of serious and repeat drink driving offences came into
effect. Under the new laws these offenders will be restricted to
driving vehicles with alcohol interlock devices for a period of time
when they return to driving.
GPs and practice staff play a critical role in the program, and the
NSW Roads and Maritime Services has developed an information
pack about the program specifically for GPs and their practices.
The information pack is now available online at http://ow.ly/
McBYp.
New Dementia Guides
The Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC) has released
guides for health professionals and family carers to support
patients with dementia:
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A Clinician’s Field Guide to Good Practice: Managing
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
A Guide for Family Carers: Dealing with Behaviours in People
with Dementia
The clinicians BPSD Guide Electronic Application (App) for
iPhone, iPad and android devices
Hard and electronic copies are available from the DCRC website
at http://ow.ly/McC87.
3
Neurology CNC for Coffs, Nambucca and Bellingen
In January 2015 Parkinson’s NSW welcomed Vince Carroll as
the Neurology Clinical Nurse Consultant for the Coffs Harbour,
Nambucca and Bellingen local government areas. Vince will be
working on a three-year project implementing innovative and
personalised patient care systems, with the aim of easing the
symptoms and financial burdens on those living with Parkinson’s
disease and other neurological conditions. The project is colocated with the Mid North Coast Brain Injury Rehabilitation and
Rural Spinal Cord Injury Services and begins with a focus on the
Coffs Harbour region.
This project is funded by a private donor and is a partnership
between Parkinson’s NSW, North Coast Medicare Local and the
Mid North Coast Local Health District. The Parkinson’s Support
Group and a Coffs Harbour local charity, the ‘Pink Silks’, are
supporting the project by providing a car and services.
GPFocus
PAL UPDATE
Lismore Base Hospital Specialist Outpatients Clinics
Hastings-Macleay Psychogeriatric Telehealth Initiative
The following specialists are now running their outpatient clinics
from the Lismore Base Specialist Outpatients Clinic:
The Hastings-Macleay psychogeriatric team has acquired access
to Telehealth via videoconferencing with Dr Lana Kossoff. This
service is now offered one day per month.
Staff Specialist Respiratory
Dr Bliegh Mupunga
Lung function testing is now offered for inpatients & outpatients
through the Respiratory Laboratory with the Specialist Outpatient
Clinics. The service is bulk-billed. Days of operation are currently
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Staff Specialist Orthopaedics
Dr Luke Henschke
Staff Specialist Ear Nose & Throat
Dr Puneet Titoria
Staff Specialist Palliative Care
Dr Ken Marr
Staff Specialist Gynaecology
Dr Thomas Tait – Director Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Dr Gary Brown – Acting Staff Specialist OB/Gyn
Dr David Addenbrooke - Acting Staff Specialist OB/Gyn
(Dr Amelia Hare & Dr Roald Fullerton have retired)
Postnatal follow-up is offered here and all obstetrics (i.e.
antenatal and early pregnancy clinics) will still be located in the
Women’s Care Unit.
All enquiries can be made via the Specialist Outpatient Clinic’s
reception; however, the preferred method of communication is
by fax. All referrals for any of the above doctors can be faxed for
triage:
Tel: 6620 7301
Fax: 6620 7307
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 4:30pm, excluding public holidays
60 Uralba Street
Lismore 2480
The clinic entrance is located near the corner of Hunter & Uralba
Streets, below the ambulance bay and next door to the Women’s
Health Clinic (previously the Cancer Care building).
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Client criteria:
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client accessibility – transport available – mobility of client
(for clinic clients)
capacity opinion
concerns about memory loss
non-aggressive behaviours (for clinic clients only)
variable cognition with evidence of functional deficits
(something not right)
mood disorders – not overt
carer stress
For referral requirements or further information contact:
Gai McPherson
Dementia/Delirium Clinical Nurse Consultant
Tel: 6588 2875
Mob: 0408 186 880
Integration Study
Health care practitioners on the North Coast of NSW are
invited to participate in a research study exploring the
nature and extent of the connections and collaborations
between you or your organisation and other health care
services and systems. In addition, the researchers will be asking
specifically about your connections with the Lismore GP
Superclinic.
Visit http://ow.ly/LPnF4 to participate in the study.
GPFocus
ABORIGINAL HEALTH
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Cultural Awareness Training
Influenza news
Cultural awareness training is a useful tool in improving health
outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
and their community. NCML offers all general practice staff
an interactive full day workshop designed to build on skills in
providing services to Aboriginal people in ways that respect
and support the diversity of Aboriginal cultures, and value the
strengths in Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.
The workshop is factual and has been designed to help people
identify with past issues and how they affect contemporary
Aboriginal people. It is conducted in a safe and non-judgemental
environment where participants are encouraged to question
freely with respect, and it encourages workers to come up with
their own solutions around better service delivery and building
partnerships.
There has been recent public concern about the difference
between the recommended 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine and
the quadrivalent influenza vaccine.
Here’s an overview of the course content:
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Aboriginal cultures, nations & protocols, family & kinship
systems
discrimination, myths & stereotypes
the impact of colonisation and its effect on contemporary
Aboriginal peoples
current statistics regarding Aboriginal people
Aboriginal identity and how to improve communication
practical strategies around working effectively with
Aboriginal people in developing culturally appropriate
programs & services
Upcoming workshops:
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19th May 2015 – Maclean
25th June 2015 – Alstonville
Please contact your local NCML Branch for more information
about the courses:
Tweed Valley: 07 5523 5500
Northern Rivers: 02 6622 4453
Mid North Coast: 02 6659 1800
Hastings Macleay: 02 6583 3600
The 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine covers 3 strains:
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A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like virus
A (H3N2): an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2) - like virus
B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 - like virus
Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), this is
available free to groups who are at an increased risk of influenza
complications, including:
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people aged 65 years and over
pregnant women
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged six months
to less than five years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years
and over
anyone aged six months and over who has a chronic
condition placing them at increased risk of complications
from influenza
The quadrivalent vaccine is only available on private script and
is not part of the NIP. It covers the same strains as the trivalent
influenza vaccination:
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A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus
a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
along with a 4th strain:
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B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus
If clients eligible for the NIP vaccine request the quadrivalent
influenza vaccine, they should be counselled on the cost of this
and given a script. If they have already been provided with the
free 2015 trivalent influenza vaccination they can be given the
quadrivalent influenza vaccination one month later.
While there have been delays in supply of the trivalent influenza
vaccines to accommodate the change of strains for 2015, most
practices are now receiving supplies. Practices enquiring about
the status of their orders should call the State Vaccination Centre
on 1300 656 132.
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GPFocus
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Pertussis vaccination news
What is a vaccine storage self-audit?
Practices can order up to 20 of these vaccines at a time from the
State Vaccination Centre – 1300 656 132.
The NCML Immunisation Program recently conducted a survey
of practices around cold chain (results will be published in the
June newsletter). One of the survey questions asked how often
practices conducted vaccine storage self-audits. While most
responses indicated that this was done on a regular basis, it was
also clear that many practices were unaware of exactly what
vaccine storage self-audit entails. The National Vaccine Storage
Guidelines Strive for 5 sets out the elements of a self-audit in
Appendix 2, page 42.
This vaccine is available free for pregnant women in the third
trimester and will help reduce the risk of their baby contracting
pertussis before the infant can be vaccinated at 6 weeks.
The pertussis vaccination is also available for Year 7 students. If
the child has a consent form at the school, but would now prefer
to have their vaccines at the practice, please advise the parent
to write a letter of vaccine consent withdrawal and give this to
the school OR to contact the Public Health Unit to withdraw the
consent form. Alternatively, if the child is at the practice, the
nurse or GP can notify the Public Health Unit. The Public Health
Unit will need to know what year and what school the student
is enrolled in and if vaccine withdrawal of consent includes all
the vaccines on the consent form. Please contact Bernadette
Williams, School Vaccination Program Coordinator, 02 6620 7503.
The Pertussis chapter, 4.12, of the 10th edition of The Australian
Immunisation Handbook has been updated and approved by
the NHMRC. The Pertussis chapter includes two changes to
recommendations in the administration of pertussis containing
vaccine:
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a DTPa (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) booster at age 18
months to reduce pertussis notifications in the 1 – 3 year age
group and to reduce transmission to younger siblings
a preference for pertussis vaccination (the reduced content
dTpa formulation) in pregnant women (third trimester) to
improve protection against pertussis in young infants
The chapter also contains amendments which provide updated
information and evidence.
Further details and evidence to support these recommendations
can be found in the March 2015 version of the chapter, now
available online at http://ow.ly/McFtP.
NCIRS has also updated their fact sheet on Pertussis Vaccines
for Australians to reflect these changed recommendations. Visit
http://ow.ly/McFFd to learn more.
The self-audit should be conducted at a minimum annually
(more frequently if there are problems with equipment or
cold chain breaches) and documented for accreditation
purposes. The self-audit is important because it is part of quality
assurance and risk management processes. Self-audits review
procedures, equipment, monitoring and alternative vaccine
storage preparations. Completing the audit enables staff to have
confidence that they are providing a safe and effective vaccine.
NCML have developed a template for use by practices for vaccine
storage self-audits. Contact the Senior Immunisation Project
Officer, Sally Moore via email at smoore@ncml.org.au to request
the template.
Varicella vs Zoster vaccination
Varicella vaccination is used for persons that have not previously
had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccination. Please see page 423
of the 10th edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook for
recommendations on varicella vaccine.
Zoster (Herpers Zoster) vaccination - called Zostavax - is used in
prevention of Hospers Zoster in adults 50 years and over. The
amount of virus in the zoster vaccine is approximately 14 times
greater than in varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, hence is more
costly than varicella vaccine. The higher viral titre in Zostavax
is required to elicit a boost in immune response in adults who
usually remain seropositive to VZV following primary infection,
but have declined cellular immunity with increasing age.
It is important to note that varicella vaccines are not indicated
for use in preventing Herpes Zoster in older people and Zostavax
is not indicated for use in younger people who have not been
previously immunised or infected with VZV. See page 447 of the
10th edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook.
NCIRS also offers helpful fact sheets. Visit http://ow.ly/MmDiP to
learn more.
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GPFocus
MENTAL HEALTH
Supporting patients affected by domestic violence
Over one in five women make their first disclosure of domestic
violence to their GP. A full-time GP is likely to see up to five
women per week who have experienced some form of intimate
partner abuse in the past 12 months. After family and friends,
victims are most likely to tell a health professional about
violence. Do you know the signs? Do you know how to respond?
GPs can be hesitant to discuss their concerns about domestic
violence with their patients because of their own discomfort or
lack of confidence with the topic, due to limited opportunity, as
well as fear of the consequences.
Domestic violence is known by different names including
intimate partner abuse and family violence. It is an abuse of
power involving one person dominating and controlling another,
causing intimidation and fear. It is not necessarily physical and
can include:
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sexual abuse
emotional or psychological abuse
verbal abuse
social and geographic isolation
financial abuse
Most domestic violence is perpetrated by men, against women
and children. However, women can also be perpetrators of
violence, and domestic violence also happens in same-sex
relationships.
When assessing your patient remember that most presentations
of domestic violence are probably hidden and are not the
obvious black eye. They include bruises of various ages, injuries
on body parts hidden from view, emotional distress and the
partner doing most of the talking.
If you have concerns that your patient is experiencing family
violence you should ask to speak to them alone and check for
immediate concerns, e.g. do they require an immediate place of
safety?
Questioning can be:
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broad - How are things at home? Is anything else
happening which might be affecting your health?
direct - Are you concerned about your safety or the safety
of your children?
specific, related to clinical symptoms - You seem very
anxious and nervous. Is everything alright at home?
Patients value non-judgemental listening and reassurance that
the abuse is not their fault. You should not ask, Why don’t you
leave? What could you have done to avoid this situation? Why
did they hit you?
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Some key steps to follow after disclosure of family violence are
outlined below.
1. Non-judgmental listening and validation
2. Initial safety assessment
3. Referral: counselling, police, DV line, legal advice, victim
support
4. Note taking for legal purposes
5. Mandatory reporting, if required
6. Continuing care
Frequently, there are no visible signs of assault. However, the
emotional or psychological effects of domestic violence can be
devastating. For this reason, when supporting people affected
by domestic violence, a referral for counselling should be
considered. This could be via Better Access or Healthy Minds.
Healthy Minds is a free mental health service for people of
all ages who are on a Health Care Card or in severe financial
distress. Referrals to Healthy Minds can be made on the
downloadable referral form http://ow.ly/Mmwb9 and should
be supported by a Mental Health Treatment Plan. For more
information please contact Manpreet Kooner, Intake Officer for
Healthy Minds on 1300 137 237.
The article has been developed using the GP Domestic Violence
Tool Kit, a resource developed by Women’s Legal Services NSW.
The full resource can be found at http://ow.ly/MmvUd. A
waiting room poster is also available at the same site. The NSW
Government has a 24 hour Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64
63) that provides information, support and referrals.
GPFocus
PAL UPDATE
INTEGRATED CARE
APNA Online Learning
Integrated Care Planning Workshop
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA)
Online Learning provides nurses and other health professionals
working in primary health care with valuable knowledge around
engaging their patient demographic and promoting healthy
living. Funded by the Department of Health, nine new courses
- FREE to nurses and health professionals members- have been
launched in 2015:
Northern NSW Local Health District, with partners North Coast
Medicare Local, NSW Ambulance Service and the Bulgarr Ngaru
and Bullinah Aboriginal Medical Services, has been successful
in its tender submission to the Integrated Care – Planning
and Innovation Fund. The partners will receive seed funding
until 2017 from the Ministry of Health to work together to
significantly improve the integration of our health care services
and to make those services more patient centred. The aim is
to develop a better linked health system that allows patients to
more easily access the primary and secondary care they need,
avoiding unnecessary admissions and re-admissions to hospital.
The strategy will look at:
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Health Literacy - Improving Communication and
Participation in Health and Healthcare Delivery
Population Health for Nurses in General Practice
Optimising Health as People Age
Foundations of General Practice Nursing - An orientation for
nurses new to general practice
Nurse Clinics in Australian General Practice Planning,
Implementation and Evaluation
Leadership in Action
Asthma Fundamentals for Primary Health Care Nurses
Chronic Disease and Fertility
Adolescent Fertility and Pregnancy
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Patient focussed change: by developing the health
care home, redesigning primary and secondary patient
management, using HealthPathways and actively fostering
better patient self-management and health literacy.
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Improving communication with information technology:
by creating hospital admission alerts for GPs, GP inreach to
hospital records, web-based access to a ‘shared care site’
and email security to share patient information.
Visit http://ow.ly/Mg9gM to become a member of APNA.
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Workforce development: developing clinical leadership and
providing training in areas such as patient self-management
and new IT systems.
MENTAL HEALTH
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Quality and evaluation: having an iterative evaluation
to inform program development, patient feedback and
collaboration with general practice
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Visit APNA Online Learning at http://apna.e3learning.com.au.
NewAccess
NewAccess is a FREE program for people over the age of 18 who
aren’t currently accessing other mental health services. People
can self-refer to NewAccess or be referred by a health care
professional, community worker, family member or friend. The
program can provide early intervention for depression or anxiety
symptoms like worrying, poor sleep, relationship difficulties,
work stress or financial concerns. If the Access Coach identifies
that the symptoms are too complex for a low intensity cognitive
behaviour approach, they will support a person to make an
appointment to see their GP (or find one) and will be able to
support this transition to a higher intensity service.
NewAccess is facilitated through the North Coast Medicare
Local and is a beyondblue initiative funded by the Movember
Foundation and beyondblue.
Visit http://ow.ly/McGD3 to make a referral or find out more
about the program (select the North Coast button).
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A planning workshop for Northern Rivers stakeholders will
be held on 22 May 2015 from 9.00am to 3.30pm at the
Ballina Beach Resort. This is an interactive day, gathering local
knowledge and sharing perspectives from GPs and practice staff
on implementing Integrated Care in the Northern Rivers.
Visit http://ow.ly/McNzg for further details and registration
information.
GPFocus
than 14 workgroups have been
established with 85 individuals
contributing to these, including GPs
(48%), specialists (26%), allied health
(12%) and nursing and other (24%).
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MID AND
NORTH COAST HEALTHPATHWAYS!
The Mid and North Coast HealthPathways
website went live on 31 March 2014. The
original topics were developed with GPs
in collaboration with clinicians from the
Mid North Coast Local Health District
and the team expanded in September
2014 to include the Northern NSW Local
Health District. At the milestone of our
first birthday we now have Pathways
relevant for GPs and their patients,
wherever they are in the North Coast
region.
One of our lead clinicians, Dr Dan Ewald
comments: “It’s a great program to
work with as you know you are helping
to make clinicians’ and patients’ lives
better”. He describes HealthPathways as
“a tool for clinicians and a process to iron
the bugs out of how the health system
works.”
A lot has been achieved in the first year
of our life:
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There are now over 100 Pathways
that have been published, reflecting
our local models of care and our
local referral information. There
are a further 58 in various stages of
development.
The website has counted 27,897
page views, 3,780 sessions and 1,133
unique users (Google Analytics, 31
March 2014 – 31 March 2015).
The project has involved lots of
clinicians interested in improving
how our health system works. More
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Workgroups have developed and are
developing a wide range of topics
within paediatrics, pain, cardiology,
antenatal, gynaecology, hospital in
the home, musculoskeletal, mental
health, cancer, respiratory, aged
care, renal and lifestyle & preventive
care.
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All the Pathways with local
information can be easily found in
the ‘Mid and North Coast Localised
Pathways’ section on the home page.
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New to HealthPathways – April 2015
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http://manc.healthpathways.org.au
Username: manchealth
Password: conn3ct3d
Intrauterine Device (IUD) Insertion
Post Menopausal Bleeding
Contraceptive Implant
Community Patient Transport
Progesterone Only Contraceptive
Pills (POPs)
Weight Management in Children
Combined Hormonal Contraceptive
(CHGs)
Organ and Tissue Donation
Emergency Contraceptive
Deactivation of Cardiac Defibrillator
Contraception and Sterilisation
Bone Density Scan (DEXA)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(PCOS)
More Pathways are in development,
including:
More than a quarter of the work
involves working to improve the
resources available to GPs for
chronic disease management and
to make it easier to find the services
they need for their patients.
A handy desktop icon can be installed
on your PC for quick and easy access.
The icon can be found under the
HealthPathways Features section on the
home page. Check it out!
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Cardiology: Atrial Fibrillation, Heart
Failure, Acute Chest Pain
Paediatrics: Child with a Limp,
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
(DDH)
Cancer: Prostate Cancer
Mental Health: Depression, Mild
Anxiety, Moderate Anxiety, Suicide
Prevention
Musculoskeletal: Osteoporosis,
Osteoarthritis, Acute Lower Back
Pain
Antenatal: Heart Conditions in
Pregnancy, Skin Conditions in
Pregnancy, Miscarriage
Dementia: Cognitive Impairment
Mental Health: Psychosis, AntiPsychotic Depot Medication
Renal: Haematuria
Drug & Alcohol: Set of Alcohol
related pathways
We are always looking for keen clinicians
who would like to help improve how the
health system works. If you are interested
in getting involved, would like more
information or have a topic you would
like to suggest, please contact:
Fiona Ryan
(02) 6583 3600
fryan@ncml.org.au
(Mid North Coast)
Kerrie Keyte
(07) 5523 5507
kkeyte@ncml.org.au
(Northern NSW)
AMSFocus
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Influenza news
Under the National Immunisation program (NIP),
the 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine is available free
to groups who are at an increased risk of influenza
complications, including:
•
•
•
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•
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
aged six months to less than five years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged
15 years and over
people aged 65 years and over
pregnant women
anyone aged six months and over who has a
chronic condition placing them at increased risk
of complications from influenza
For more information on the 2015 trivalent and
quadrivalent vaccines, as well as vaccine storage selfaudits, varicella vs zoster vaccination and pertussis
news, please refer to page 6.
Integration Study
Health care practitioners on the North Coast of NSW
are invited to participate in a research study exploring
the nature and extent of the connections and
collaborations between you or your organisation and
other health care services and systems. In addition,
the researchers will be asking you specifically about
your connections with the Lismore GP Superclinic.
Visit http://ow.ly/LPnF4 to participate in the study.
10
Background Artwork by Alison Williams
AgedCareFocus
IMMUNE RESPONSE
PAL UPDATE
New Dementia Guides
Influenza news
The Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC)
has released guides for health professionals and
family carers to support patients with dementia:
Under the National Immunisation program (NIP),
the 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine is available free
to groups who are at an increased risk of influenza
complications, including:
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A Clinician’s Field Guide to Good Practice:
Managing Behavioural and Psychological
Symptoms of Dementia
A Guide for Family Carers: Dealing with
Behaviours in People with Dementia
The clinicians BPSD Guide Electronic Application
(App) for iPhone, iPad and android devices
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people aged 65 years and over
anyone aged six months and over who has a
chronic condition placing them at increased risk
of complications from influenza
pregnant women
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
aged six months to less than five years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged
15 years and over
Hard and electronic copies are available from the
DCRC website at http://ow.ly/McC87.
•
Integration Study
For more information on the 2015 trivalent and
quadrivalent vaccines, as well as vaccine storage selfaudits, varicella vs zoster vaccination and pertussis
news, refer to pages 5 & 6.
Health care practitioners on the North Coast of
NSW are invited to participate in a research study
exploring the nature and extent of the connections
and collaborations between you or your organisation
and other health care services and systems. In
addition, the researchers will be asking specifically
about your connections with the Lismore GP
Superclinic.
Visit http://ow.ly/LPnF4 to participate in the study.
ABORIGINAL HEALTH
Cultural Awareness Training
Cultural awareness training is a useful tool in
improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people and their community.
NCML offers all GP, pharmacy and aged care staff an
interactive full day workshop designed to build on
skills in providing services to Aboriginal people.
Upcoming workshops:
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•
19th May 2015 – Maclean
25th June 2015 – Alstonville
Refer to page 5 for an overview of the workshop
or contact your local NCML Branch for more
information:
Tweed Valley: 07 5523 5500
Northern Rivers: 02 6622 4453
Mid North Coast: 02 6659 1800
Hastings Macleay: 02 6583 3600
11
PharmacyFocus
PAL UPDATE
Changes to PBS and RPBS claiming arrangements
Behavioural Change Interventions
The Department of Human Services has implemented changes
to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) claiming arrangements.
Under the new arrangements, through PBS online claiming you:
Behavioural change interventions can promote better outcomes
for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients and
their carers, resulting in less hospital admissions and associated
downstream costs, according to a new report from Atlantis
Healthcare. The report is written from a psychologist’s viewpoint
with a focus on reasons for adherence to all relevant therapies.
Visit http://ow.ly/McUzb to access the full report.
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no longer need to send prescriptions and claim paperwork to
finalise a claim
can close a claim electronically through your dispensing
software
will get improved real time feedback about payment
eligibility for medicines to assist with more timely payments
and reconciliation
will no longer be able to claim PBS and RPBS prescriptions
with the Claims Transmission System diskette
will be required to supply the new generic Authority
Approval Number when claiming a prescription written
under the emergency provision arrangements
Learn about the changes to PBS and RPBS claiming arrangements
from 1 April 2015 at http://ow.ly/McU8X.
Find out more about PBS for Pharmacists and how to become
an approved supplier of subsidised medicines at http://ow.ly/
McUgq.
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PSA health destination launch
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has partnered
with eight companies to help implement the Health Destination
Pharmacy program. Pfizer, Bayer, Reckitt Benckiser, Johnson and
Johnson, Blackmores, Willach Australia, NAB Health and Danone
Nutricia have signed up, with the implementation stage due to
launch later this year. The program supports pharmacies to have
a stronger focus on consumer self-care and provide evidence
based minor ailment and professional services. The PSA’s national
president Grant Kardachi said a team of pharmacy experts
had also been formed to help roll the program out, including
Professor Charlie Benrimoj from University of Technology Sydney
and PSA CEO Dr Lance Emerson. For more information go to
http://ow.ly/McULX.
PharmacyFocus
PAL UPDATE
Blooms Ballina: Store of the Year
Safe use of codeine
Congratulations to the staff at Blooms Chemist in Ballina,
crowned Blooms Store of the Year for 2014.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has developed
a leaflet for consumers alerting them to the dangers of
inappropriate use of combination codeine pain relievers.
Pharmacist Claudia Sampson joined the Ballina pharmacy nearly
two years ago as a Partner, while Lauren, her retail manager,
followed two months later. In November last year she attended
the Blooms conference in New York, where the pharmacy’s win
was announced.
Since Claudia took over, these women, supported by their
fantastic team, have revitalised the store with their focus on
customer service and connecting with the local community.
According to the judging panel, the Ballina team clinched the
prestigious award for their outstanding customer service,
prioritising stock intensity and heightening their presentation
standards.
Blooms HealthChecks are also a drawcard for customers. They
offer a wide range of services including asthma assessments,
diabetes monitoring, blood pressure evaluation, flu immunisation
and stroke risk assessment.
In addition Blooms Ballina offers free medication packing, a local
delivery service and medication reviews.
A visit to Blooms at Ballina enabled us to speak to Lauren and
Claudia.
“We did a lot of work on the store layout and took all the giftware
out. There was a lot of giftware at the front of the shop – and
now the shop is much easier for customers to get around,”
Claudia said.
Lauren said focussing on the service offered to customers had
really paid off. “We’ve really improved our customer service and
along with the revamp of the shop, this is what got us across the
line,” she said.
The leaflet is designed to be a useful tool for pharmacists when
counselling patients on their pain management. The leaflets are
available in packs of 100 for pharmacists from the PSA Bookshop
or for download at http://ow.ly/McV3c.
Integration Study
Health care practitioners on the North Coast of NSW are
invited to participate in a research study exploring the
nature and extent of the connections and collaborations
between you or your organisation and other health care
services and systems. In addition, the researchers will be
asking specifically about your connections with the Lismore GP
Superclinic.
Visit http://ow.ly/LPnF4 to participate in the study.
Recruitment training
Three online courses to train pharmacists in recruitment have
been developed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. The courses
aim to help pharmacies find and keep good employees. The first
course is free to Guild members or $250 for non members. Go to
www.mycpd.org.au.
Cultural Awareness Training
Cultural awareness training is a useful tool in improving health
outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
their community. NCML offers all GP, pharmacy and aged care
staff an interactive full day workshop designed to build on skills in
providing services to Aboriginal people.
Upcoming workshops:
•
•
19th May 2015 – Maclean
25th June 2015 – Alstonville
Refer to page 5 for an overview of the workshop or contact your
local NCML Branch for more information:
Tweed Valley: 07 5523 5500
Northern Rivers: 02 6622 4453
Mid North Coast: 02 6659 1800
Hastings Macleay: 02 6583 3600
Claudia and Lauren at their winning chemist store in Ballina.
13
PharmacyFocus
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Influenza news
Varicella vs Zoster vaccination
Following on from the recent NSW Government amendment
allowing pharmacist-administered influenza vaccines, here is an
overview of the differences between the recommended 2015
trivalent influenza vaccine and the quadrivalent influenza vaccine:
Varicella vaccination is used for persons that have not previously
had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccination. Please see page 423
of the 10th edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook for
recommendations on varicella vaccine.
The 2015 trivalent influenza vaccine covers 3 strains:
It is important to note that varicella vaccines are not indicated
for use in preventing Herpes Zoster in older people and Zostavax
is not indicated for use in younger people who have not been
previously immunised or infected with VZV. See page 447 of the
10th edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook.
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•
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A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like virus
A (H3N2): an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2) - like virus
B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 - like virus
Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), this is
available free to groups who are at an increased risk of influenza
complications, including:
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•
•
•
people aged 65 years and over
pregnant women
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged six months
to less than five years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years
and over
anyone aged six months and over who has a chronic
condition placing them at increased risk of complications
from influenza
The quadrivalent vaccine is only available on private script and
is not part of the NIP. It covers the same strains as the trivalent
influenza vaccination:
•
•
•
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus
a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
along with a 4th strain:
•
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus
The government amendment allows pharmacists to administer
the influenza vaccine provided they have completed a training
course and that certain details are recorded, including the
person’s name, address and date of birth. The Pharmacy Guild
of Australia offers a course, Conduct Immunisation Services. Visit
http://ow.ly/McVCe for more information.
14
Zoster (Herpers Zoster) vaccination - called Zostavax - is used in
prevention of Hospers Zoster in adults 50 years and over. The
amount of virus in the zoster vaccine is approximately 14 times
greater than in varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, hence is more
costly than varicella vaccine. The higher viral titre in Zostavax
is required to elicit a boost in immune response in adults who
usually remain seropositive to VZV following primary infection,
but have declined cellular immunity with increasing age.
NCIRS also offers helpful fact sheets. Visit http://ow.ly/McFyW
to learn more.
AlliedHealthFocus
PAL UPDATE
Allied Health: 3.2% of Australian health costs
Information released by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW) shows that the cost of allied health care services
in Australia came to 3.2% ($4.5 billion) of total health care
expenditure in 2011/2012 ($140.3 billion).
In contrast, funding to General Practice was $9.7 billion and
medical specialties was $14.2 billion.
Not surprisingly, public hospital spending was the biggest
component of health expenditure in 2011/12, accounting for
$42.0 billion, or 30% of expenditure.
These results indicate potential health system savings through
better use of primary health care practitioners, including
allied health, to prevent hospital admissions and to hasten the
transition from hospital to home post-admission.
The AIHW CEO David Kalisch said that over the decade to
2011/12, the Australian Government ratio of health expenditure
to taxation revenue rose by 4.0 percentage points to 26.4%,
while the state and territory governments’ ratio rose by 8.1
percentage points to 24.5%.
15
“Our analysis of health inflation suggests that in recent years
annual price rises in the broader economy have generally been
greater than price rises in the health sector,” Mr Kalisch said.
The estimated recurrent expenditure on health per person in
2011-12 was $5,881, a rise from $5,681 per person in 2010-11
and $4,062 in 2001-02 (after adjusting for inflation).
Integration Study
Health care practitioners on the North Coast of NSW are invited
to participate in a research study exploring the nature and
extent of the connections and collaborations between you or
your organisation and other health care services and systems. In
addition, the researchers will be asking specifically about your
connections with the Lismore GP Superclinic.
Visit http://ow.ly/LPnF4 to participate in the study.
HNCNews
Networking Platform for
Health Professionals
H
ealthy North Coast’s new
online network allows you to
communicate, network and collaborate
in a private and professional
environment, with colleagues from
across the North Coast without leaving
your office.
The Board, Chief Executive and staff of North Coast NSW Medicare Local (NCML)
are delighted to announce that NCML has been successful in its bid to operate the
North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN).
The Healthy North Coast Network is
based on the functionality of other
familiar social networking platforms like
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Dr Tony Lembke, Chair of the NCML Board said that the Primary Health Networks
would work directly with general practice, other health care providers, hospitals
and the broader community to improve outcomes, access, quality and teamwork.
With over 130 regional and professionbased networks available, the Healthy
North Coast Network is ready for you to
join right now.
Health professionals can register for
the Healthy North Coast Network by
visiting http://bit.ly/VsrO2s. Full
instructions for the platform are
available at http://bit.ly/1sJgRI7.
16
NCML to Become the North Coast
Primary Health Network
Across Australia, the existing 61 Medicare Locals will be replaced by 31 new
Primary Health Networks by 1 July 2015. These Networks are a core element of
the Commonwealth Government’s plan for healthcare in Australia.
“The NCML Board and staff are excited to be given the opportunity to establish
and operate the North Coast Primary Health Network,” he said.
Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-288/
HNCNews
Three months to go until smoke-free outdoor dining
NSW Health is reminding the community that from 6 July 2015 all commercial outdoor dining areas in NSW, including hotels,
clubs, restaurants and cafes, will be smoke-free under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000.
This means staff and patrons of hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to work and dine outdoors without being
exposed to harmful second-hand tobacco smoke.
The Mid North Coast Local Health District’s Acting Director Public Health, Greg Bell, said NSW Health was working closely with
local businesses to help them get ready for smoke-free outdoor dining.
“There is strong public support for making outdoor dining areas smoke-free,” Mr Bell said.
Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-292/
New website gives Aboriginal
people a “step up” in their
health career
NSW Health has launched a website that aims to boost the
number of Aboriginal people working in health professions
across the state by helping Aboriginal people find jobs and
helping managers to recruit and retain Aboriginal staff.
The website, Stepping Up, identifies job opportunities at NSW
Health and provides clear guidance to Aboriginal people wishing
to build a career in the health sector.
NSW Health Aboriginal Workforce Manager, Charles Davison,
said the Stepping Up website helped Aboriginal applicants
overcome the challenge of finding a job that matched their
experience and aspirations.
The Mid North Coast Local Health District Mental Health Service
is inviting local residents to join a new Mental Health Consumer
Advisory Group.
The new group aims to provide a way for people with a lived
experience of mental illness (consumers), carers and other
community members to play a part in the development of
Mental Health Services, as well as the planning and evaluation of
services.
This new group aims to bring consumer and carer points of view
to management and the decision-making processes of Mental
Health Services in the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
“The Stepping Up website also provides information and tools to
help managers recruit and retain the Aboriginal staff across the
broad spectrum of health roles,” Mr Davison said.
The group will meet every month to provide input into planning,
review draft and existing policies and procedures, and consult on
improved involvement of consumers and carers in services.
“At NSW Health we offer a wide range of employment
opportunities to people who are passionate about closing the
health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
Applications are encouraged from people who are Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander, people from culturally diverse backgrounds,
and people with disabilities.
“These roles include medical and primary care practitioners,
nurses, midwives, service and program managers, Aboriginal
Health Workers, Aboriginal Mental Health Workers,
administrators and leadership positions.
Anyone interested in being a member of the Mental Health
Consumer Advisory Group will be asked to complete an
application. Applications close Friday, 15 May 2015.
“We want to help Aboriginal people of all ages carve out a
career path in the health sector where they can use their skills
to deliver health services and culturally appropriate care in our
communities, where it’s most needed.”
Read the full story at:
http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-295/
17
Mental Health Consumer
Advisory Group Seeks Members
Read the full story at:
http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-299/
HNCEvents
May-July 2015
You can view the full North Coast Practitioner events calander at:
www.healthynorthcoast.org.au/practitioner-events
Hastings-Macleay
Tweed
7 May - Basic Life Support and CPR Education, Port
Macquarie
11 May - Tweed Kaizen Meeting – Mental Health Topic
13 May - Melanoma Management Update, Port Macquarie
14 May - Basic Life Support and CPR Education, Kempsey
14 May - COPD Education Event, Port Macquarie
23 May - Antenatal Shared Care Workshop for General
Practitioners, Port Macquarie
16 June - Quitting Cannabis – Clinical Intervention, Port
Macquarie
19-20 June - Explain Pain, Port Macquarie
12 May - Changed Behaviours and Transition to Care,
Pottsville
14-16 May - Brave to Bold - APNA National Conference
2015, Gold Coast
18 May - End Stage Palliation and Dementia, Tweed Heads
21 May - Community Health GP Breakfast meeting, Tweed
Heads
25 May - Wound Care Clinical Update – Multidisciplinary,
Tweed Heads
26 May - Immunisation Update, Murwillumbah
27 May - Quality Improvement Meeting for Pharmacists,
Tweed Heads
10 June - Tweed Valley Clinical Society Meeting
Mid North Coast
12 June - Conservative Sharp Debridement in Wound
Management, Gold Coast
5 May - CPR Education, Coffs Harbour
20-21 June - Certificate in Primary Care Dermatology for
GPs, Gold Coast
6 May - Quitting Cannabis – Clinical Intervention, Coffs
Harbour
11 May - The Three Silences of Women, Nambucca Valley
20 May - The Three Silences of Women, Coffs Harbour
28 May - Addressing non-melancholic depression in the
anxious worrier and perfectionist, Coffs Harbour
2 June - Double Whammy – Co-occurring Mental Health and
Alcohol and Other Drug Disorders, Coffs Harbour
19 June - Legal & Ethical Aspects to Suicide Risk Assessment,
Coffs Harbour
20 June - Suicide Risk & Substance Use, Coffs Harbour
18
20-21 June - Certificate in Primary Care Skin Cancer
Medicine for GPs, Gold Coast
HNCEvents
May-July 2015
You can view the full North Coast Practitioner events calander at:
www.healthynorthcoast.org.au/practitioner-events
Northern Rivers
5 May - Suicide Risk & Substance Use, Ballina
26-27 May - Youth Mental Health First Aid, Ballina
6 May - Immunisation Update, Lismore
27 May - LGBTI Aged Care Training, Byron Bay
6 May - Legal & Ethical Aspects to Suicide Risk Assessment,
Ballina
28 May - Aged Care Simulation Workshop, Lismore
6 May - Clarence Valley Allied Health Professionals Breakfast,
Grafton
6-7 May - Legal Issues for NGO Providers in OOHC, Ballina
7 May - How to Write Great Content With Know-How & Kapow,
Lismore
9 May - Alcohol and Other Drugs Symposium for GPs &
Specialists, Ballina
11 May - Dementia Carer Education Course, Maclean
11 May - Culture and Compassion: CPD for nurses, midwives
and educators, Lismore
12 May - LGBTI Aged Care Training, Casino
12 May - Vicarious Trauma, Ballina
12 May - Dementia Carer’s Workshop, Grafton
13 May - Telehealth Workshop, Alstonville
14 May - Managing Staff Conflict, Alstonville
14 May - What difference does it make? Impact assessment in
practice, Goonellabah
19 May - Cultural Awareness Training, Maclean
19 May - Learnings from the Keep Them Safe Evaluation with
Social Policy Research Centre, Ballina
20 May - General Practitioner Breakfast, Lennox Head
21 May - Hoarding and Squalor Information Session, Lismore
22 May - NNSW Integrated Care Planning Workshop for GPs,
Ballina
25 May - Northern Rivers Women’s GP Group, Bangalow
26 May - Wound Care Clinical Update for health professionals,
Lismore
19
27 May - Wound Care Clinical Update for health professionals,
Grafton
28 May - Navigating social enterprise, Goonellabah
28 May - Richmond Valley Clinical Society, Lismore
15-19 June - Focus on Feeling Fabulous Retreat for Nurses,
Byron Bay
16 June - The WHS Importance of Understanding Vicarious
Trauma – for Managers, Lismore
16 June - Working with Young People – Self Harm / Self Injury
Behaviours, Ballina
25 June - Cultural Awareness Training, Alstonville
25-26 June - Core of Life Facilitator Training, Ballina
2 July - North Coast Aged Care Symposium – The Many Facets
of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Ballina
HNCEvents
May-July 2015
You can view the full North Coast Practitioner events calander at:
www.healthynorthcoast.org.au/practitioner-events
Other Events
9 May - From Collection to Court for Health Professionals,
Melbourne
11-12 May - Rheumatic Heart Disease Workshop, Sydney
15-16 May - Australian Diabetes Educators Association
(ADEA) NSW Branch Conference, Newcastle
16 May - 1st Endoactive National Endometriosis
Conference, Sydney
18 May - Nurturing for the Next Generation, Sydney
18 May - Mental Health Disorders (online training for
rural practitioners)
20 May - Webinar: Diagnosis and Management of
Fibromyalgia
21 May - Nurse Education Day, Ashfield
21 May - Immunisation Update for Nurses, Brisbane
21-22 May - Dying to Know: a two-day conference for
clinicians, Dubbo
22 May - Improving Health Literacy Workshop, Melbourne
24-27 May - National Rural Health Conference, Darwin
27 May - Adverse events following immunisation – ACN
webinar for nurses
29 May - Immunisation Update for Nurses, Sydney
29-30 May - Hepatitis B: Advanced Management in
Primary Care, Sydney
1-4 June - Resolving Vilification Workshop, Brisbane
3 June - Working with Health Consumers in Primary
Health Care Forum, Sydney
30 May - Infant GORD and its Complications, Webinar
10-11 June - Aboriginal Cultural Awareness, Sydney
13 June - Urology in General Practice Symposium,
Melbourne
13 June - Hepatitis C s100 Prescriber Course, Surry Hills
20
HNCclassifieds
POSITION VACANT - PT GENERAL
PRACTICE NURSE (RN), CRESCENT HEAD
Work on Wednesday and Fridays as a general
practice registered nurse at a community-focused
practice in Crescent Head NSW. You will be part of a
team of health professionals and be offered a good
work life balance.
For more information or a confidential enquiry,
please contact the practice manager.
Phone: 6566 1712
Email: info@chmedical.com.au
SOUTHERN CROSS SKIN CANCER
AND WOUND CLINIC
Southern Cross Skin Cancer and Wound Clinic has
a new fax number: 02 8583 3119 (NB: 02 must be
included when dialling the fax number).
All other details remain the same:
Drs Beck, Winters, Martin and Walker
9 Murdock Street
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Tel: 02 6651 9536
SHOULDER AND HAND CLINIC COFFS HARBOURS
After completing all the required examinations
and clinical studies, I have recently earned my
credentials as a Certified Hand Therapist [CHT]
by HTCC [recognised specialist in Hand Therapy
Certification worldwide], becoming the only such
qualified therapist between Newcastle and the Gold
Coast.
A Certified Hand Therapist is recognised as an expert
in Upper Limb Rehabilitation, having achieved the
highest International recognition of competency in
the profession. Working with a CHT gives assurance
of the therapists’ skill and knowledge, and is thus
highly beneficial to patients and physicians, as any
loss of hand function through injury or disease can
have devastating impact on lives.
Skills include, but are not limited to, examination,
diagnosis, treatment protocol development of:
•
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COSMETIC DOCTOR WANTED BYRON/KINGSCLIFF
Cosmetic Laser Clinic in Byron/Kingscliff seeking a
doctor with knowledge of fillers/injectables to work
five days a week building the business alongside
other technician/practitioner. Work would also
include vascular and pigmented lesions, veins etc.
Phone Jacqui on 0403 353 036.
Multi-traumatic and post-surgical care: tendon
repairs, fractures, dislocations etc
Elective surgery: joint replacements, corrective
surgery, etc
Wound care; scar management; oedema control
Tendonopathies of wrist, hand, elbow, shoulder
Nerve repairs, entrapements [CTS, Cubital or
Radial Tunnel Syndromes]
Arthritis: bracing, management and advice
CMC, wrist, RA hands etc
Customised thermoplastic and soft splint
fabrication
Fracture casting and management: EXOS braces
CRPS
For any specific problems, please contact:
Faye Wiffen
Certified Hand Therapist
Master Health Science [Manip. Therapy]
BaSc. [Physio]
175 Rose Ave Coffs Harbour 2450
Ph 02 66511745 Fax 02 66518029
Would you like to post a local classified ad in this newsletter?
Email the details to healthynorthcoast@gmail.com before the
25th of each month. There is no cost associated with these ads.
21
HNCclassifieds
PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY GRANTS
North Coast Partners in Recovery (NCPIR) is calling
for expressions of interest to undertake innovative
projects that will improve the health outcomes for
people living with severe and persistent mental
illness.
Applications open 27th April 2015 and close June
19th 2015. A total funding amount of $602,000 is
available across the NCPIR region. The max amount
available for a project is capped at $200,000. All
funds must be expended by the 8th June 2016.
For further information, contact Lorraine Brown at
Mission Australia on 66585124 or send an email to
brownl@missionaustralia.com.au. Alternatively,
contact Celia Wigzell on 6658 5124 or email
wigzellc@missionaustralia.com.au.
BANORA SHOPPING VILLAGE
MEDICAL CENTRE
GP required due to high patient demand.
Suit Female Doctor.
Flexible hours available.
Large modern medical centre, FT nurse and Care Plan
nurse.
Range of Allied health and onsite pathology.
Excellent Remuneration.
CONSULTING ROOM AVAILABLE COFFS HARBOUR
Medical consulting rooms available for rent, from the
middle/end of May in central Coffs Harbour.
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Would suit Medical Doctors/ Sessional Specialists
visiting Coffs Harbour - Specialists/ Allied Health
Providers/ Psychologists to mention a few.
Parking on site and on street for patients and
free parking nearby for staff.
Practice currently accommodates a few
specialists in their field.
Practice is wheelchair friendly, light and airy and
has a staff kitchen area.
Situated within 5 minutes walk to CBD, premises
ideally located for conducting daily banking,
postal services etc.
Please contact Michelle 044 885 1885 for further
details and expressions of interest.
22
Please email nicola@tnamedical.com.au.
Contact NCML
Head Office
Suite 6, 85 Tamar Street
Ballina NSW 2478
Phone: 02 6618 5400
Fax: 02 6618 5499
Email: enquiries@ncml.org.au
Northern Rivers
Tarmons House
St Vincent’s Campus
20 Dalley Street
East Lismore NSW 2480
Phone: 02 6622 4453
Fax: 02 6622 3185
Email: nr@ncml.org.au
Tweed Heads
8 Corporation Circuit
Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
Phone: 07 5523 5501
Email: tv@ncml.org.au
23
Hastings Macleay
53 Lord Street
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Phone: 02 6583 3600
Fax: 02 6583 8600
Email: hm@ncml.org.au
Mid North Coast
Suite 6, 1 Duke Street
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
Phone: 02 6659 1800
Fax: 02 6659 1899
Email: mnc@ncml.org.au