New resources available from ECCQ. The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) is continuing its work within the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in Queensland and the Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health Program is pleased to advise the availability of new resources for patients. The B Healthy booklet is …
Product defect correction: Mylanta Antacid Double Strength 500mL
1 April 2019 Consumers and health professionals are advised that Johnson & Johnson Pacific, in consultation with the TGA, has issued a product defect correction for Mylanta Antacid Double Strength Oral Liquid 500mL. Mylanta Antacid Double Strength Oral Liquid 500mL is an over-the-counter medicine used for relief from indigestion, heartburn, …
Changes to kids’ asthma management highlighted in Handbook update
The National Asthma Council Australia has released a major update of its online Australian Asthma Handbook, the national guidelines for diagnosis and management of asthma in primary care. Guidelines Committee Chair and general practitioner Professor Amanda Barnard says Handbook version 2.0, which was developed by an interdisciplinary team of clinical …
Important changes to the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme
The Queensland Government has made important changes to the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme which came into effect on 1 March 2019. These changes affect medical providers who provide examinations or health assessments for Queensland’s coal mine workers. From 1 March 2019, only providers who have been approved by the …
People living with epilepsy may be eligible for the NDIS
A person may be eligible for support under the NDIS depending on the functional impact that the epilepsy has on their life – in the areas of mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, employment, self-care or self-management. Accessing support If a person was previously receiving state-based funding, they may have a …
How GPs can help combat Australia’s second biggest cancer killer
Cancer Council is asking GPs to support a new national campaign, following research that shows they are a key source of information for patients eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. The campaign, funded by a $10 million Australian Government grant, will be the biggest campaign run in Australia …
Publication documents latest indicators of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The most recent indicators of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are documented in the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet’s latest publication, Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2018. The annual Overview contains updated information across many health conditions. It shows that despite some improvements, there …
Unexplained breathlessness might be Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality, characterised by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and a normal pulmonary wedge pressure (1). A concerning area of unmet medical need in PAH is the delayed time to a confirmed diagnosis, with …
Measles health alert – Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has confirmed a case of measles in a person on the Sunshine Coast. The person is believed to have travelled from South East Asia by plane (TR 0221) to Brisbane while unknowingly infectious arriving Saturday morning at 9.35am. People who are known to …
Suicide prevention training for CQ community
On average, eight deaths by suicide occur in Australia each day. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44. Many of these deaths could be prevented, yet most of us remain unaware of the signs that someone is at risk, or how we can …
9 out of 10 Australians will now have a My Health Record
The Australian Digital Health Agency has announced that nine out of 10 Australians now have a My Health Record following the creation of records after the opt-out period ended. What does this mean for GPs? As part of a consult, GPs can activate a patient’s My Health Record through the …
Volunteer StrokeSafe speakers share their journeys with community groups
In Australia, a stroke occurs every nine minutes – but what most people don’t know is that more than 80% of strokes can be prevented. The Stroke Foundation has passionate volunteer StrokeSafe speakers available to present to community groups. Many have personal experience with stroke and are willing to share …
Asthma experts call for new way forward to improve asthma outcomes in Australia
Australia’s leading asthma experts have called for a rethink of current asthma management practices in a new discussion paper released by the National Asthma Council Australia. The paper ‘Current practice and new approaches in asthma: perspectives of asthma practitioners and patients’ is a collective response from top asthma health professionals, researchers and …
Type 2 diabetes workshops
Have you been diagnosed by your GP with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes? Would you like to learn more about your condition and how to manage it? A series of free sessions will cover information on type 2 diabetes, self management practice, health professional care, healthy lifestyle behaviours, and further support in the community. …
Increased risk for asthma flare-ups in children during back to school
For the one in nine Australian children living with asthma, going back to school can increase the likelihood of an asthma attack. Studies in Australia and the UK have shown asthma hospitalisations surge during the first month of the school year, with cases in Australia rising as much as threefold …
GPs and health providers invited to participate in SISTAQUIT trial
The SISTAQUIT™ trial aims to improve health providers’ skills when offering smoking cessation care to pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Pregnancy is an important window of opportunity for GPs and health providers to help smokers quit. This intervention provides webinar-based training in evidence based and culturally competent smoking …
Community services moving to a new location
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is progressively relocating 19 community services to a purpose-built, centrally-located and service-specific facility in Maroochydore. All these relocations will be complete by the end of March and will have no impact to current service delivery. Mental Health and Addiction Services clinical community services located …
Non-VR Fellowship Support Program
The Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program is a financial contribution of up to $15,000 which will be applied to ACRRM’s Independent Pathway as part of the Commonwealth’s Stronger Rural Health Strategy. The Independent Pathway is an established Australian Medical Council accredited education and training program which offers flexibility and recognition …
Teddy bears take the sting out of immunisation
Staff at the Central Queensland Family Practice in Mount Morgan have created an inspirational Share and Care Bear Project to take the ‘sting’ out of immunisations or other unavoidable painful experiences for children and their parents.
Blackwater community raises funds and awareness for prevention of suicide
The community of Blackwater and Central Highlands in Queensland raised just over $5500 for the most number of burpees (squat thrust) in one hour as well as awareness in the prevention of suicides for the Black Dog Institute in its fight for mental health awareness.