Rapid increase of salt marsh mosquitoes in the Top End: NT Health
NT Health is urging Top End residents and visitors to protect themselves from the salt marsh mosquitos as numbers are expected to increase, following heavy rainfall and high tides. Elevated salt marsh mosquitoes numbers can be expected between now and January. Salt marsh mosquitos are aggressive biters that can transmit mosquito-borne diseases such as the Ross River virus and the Barmah Forest disease.
Wave of whooping cough
Health experts are reminding pregnant women and infants to get vaccinated against whooping cough. The reminder follows a wave of the infectious disease, seeing case numbers climb to their highest in the last six years across the state. According to the Department of Health and Wellbeing, South Australia recorded 492 cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, so far this year—more than 10 times the number of cases reported at the same time last year.
The Flying Doctor’s Mount Isa team celebrate 60 years of life-saving services
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) is this month celebrating 60-years of service from its Mount Isa base. Established in 1964, the Mount Isa Base covers a waiting room of more than 800,000 square kilometres, connecting the residents of this significant north-west Queensland region to leading, and often lifesaving, health services ... ARR.News found out more from RFDS Mount Isa Base Support Manager, Ducky Jeacocke.
Vote for health
At the next state election, cast a vote as though your life and health may depend upon it. That’s the message from Lachlan Haynes, the chair of Limestone Coast Radiation Working Group—a group that has been fighting tooth and nail for the establishment of a radiation therapy service for the region. Last week, the Liberal Opposition announced that a Liberal government will deliver critical care closer to home for cancer patients in the Limestone Coast if it forms government.
Support for those with prostate cancer on YP
Rachel Hagan. With improved detection and diagnosis, the number of men surviving prostate cancer is thankfully increasing, however, this means the psychosocial impact is expected to affect more people as the population grows and ages. Yorke Peninsula Prostate Cancer Support Group leader Robert Kidd knows first-hand how secretive some men can be about diagnosis, after his own father kept his troubles with the disease to himself.
From community pharmacy comes cheaper medicines
“It’s now clear that lowering the maximum Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment is the best way to make medicines cheaper and support Australians challenged by the cost of living to meet their healthcare needs,” Pharmacy Guild of Australia President Professor Trent Twomey said ... “The lowering of the maximum co-payment from $42.50 to $30 has saved patients a total of $346 million on medicines, as opposed to the $30 million from 60-day dispensing."
Locals revive health care
Michelle Daw. The Ardrossan community is taking health care into its own hands by helping secure more services after the local private hospital closed earlier this year. A new International Medical Graduate, Dr Sajini Abeysekera, has arrived from Sri Lanka with the support of the Ardrossan Community Op Shop and started taking patients at Medical HQ Ardrossan...
Health services to be investigated
The delivery of regional health services across the entire Limestone Coast Local Health Network will be investigated. The government has allocated $1million for this,” Health Minister Chris Picton revealed during his recent visit to the Naracoorte Hospital. “On top of this $8million investment (for the Naracoorte Hospital), a further $1million has been allocated to investigate regional service delivery across the entire Limestone Coast Local Health Network,” Mr Picton said.
Who was consulted?
Nasik Swami and Chris Oldfield. Health Minister Chris Picton claims the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) has implemented several changes to improve the care being provided to the people of Lucindale, following input from the community. But the Lucindale community disagrees with the minister and after being excluded from several meetings, says it still has not been consulted. Many residents report nursing services still have not returned to previous reliable or adequate capacity.
Flying foxes among us
Around 5,000 or so grey-headed flying foxes, often called fruit bats, currently have two main camps - one near Naracoorte and the other around Mount Burr. The flying foxes can carry the deadly Lyssavirus and Hendra virus - anyone scratched or bitten must seek urgent medical attention. Even dead bats are considered too dangerous to touch…
Whooping cough cases surge
The Darling Downs is currently experiencing a significant surge in whooping cough cases, posing a health risk to the community, particularly vulnerable infants. In babies and infants this highly contagious respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, can lead to severe complications, including hospitalisation and even death. There have been 755 reported cases on the Darling Downs so far in 2024, compared to 49 for the entirety of 2023.
A new pandemic could ride in on animals we eat, researchers warn: RMIT University
Researchers warn the animals we eat could be the gateway for a pandemic in the form of antimicrobial resistance, unleashing a wave of deadly superbugs ... The researchers analysed this public health and food security challenge in the food animal industry in Southeast Asia for the International Journal of Food Science and Technology.
Health falling behind
Joanna Tucker. Yorke Peninsula hospitals are falling behind the community’s expectations. That’s the grim outlook from Member for Narungga, Fraser Ellis. "The government is there to serve the community, and currently, I don’t think any hospital on YP is providing the services the community expects," Mr Ellis said.
Local doctors ‘no longer working’ at Wallaroo hospital
The Rural Doctors Association has joined calls for more funding and medical staff for Wallaroo hospital. RDA South Australia president Dr Bill Geyer said there were two major issues affecting the hospital. "Port Pirie seems to be favoured over Wallaroo Hospital, despite Wallaroo growing and Port Pirie shrinking," Dr Geyer said ...
Naracoorte Hospital upgrade – “Fit for purpose”
The emergency department at Naracoorte Hospital is being fixed to make it “fit for purpose”. Health Minister Chris Picton says the community deserves to have a hospital they are proud of and can provide a high quality of care. Mr Picton was part of a delegation from the Health Ministry that visited the hospital on August 7 to see the progress of $8million upgrade work supported by the government.
Councils join hospital debate
Serious concerns about the provision of health care services to meet the needs of rural and regional communities across North East Victoria have been aired at a special meeting of Indigo, Alpine and Towong Shire Councils. Mayors and councillors from the three municipalities held an historic joint meeting ... where they voted unanimously to take a united stance to advocate for better health services for the region including a single site hospital built on a greenfield site.
Nhill Coastbusters successful luncheon
The Nhill Coastbusters hosted a successful event on Sunday ... as part of their Coastrek walk to raise funds for the Heart Foundation. The event featured locally grown foods and talents, with Chef Cat Clarke from Dimboola providing delicious meals to all attendees—an exciting first for many.
Lack of service and access to rural healthcare causing more hospitalisations: NRHA
Troubling figures released today show many illnesses among rural, regional and remote Australians could have been prevented or treated better with accessible primary care, thus avoiding the need for hospitalisation. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), many parts of rural Australia have higher rates of potentially preventable hospitalisations, highlighting the need for early interventions and ongoing care, particularly for non-communicable diseases.
Plans to turn bowlo into a medical centre
The Woodburn Bowling Club could be turned into a medical centre if the development application currently on public exhibition is approved ... The project has letters of support from Federal MP Kevin Hogan, State MP Richie Williamson, the Woodburn Pharmacy, Healthy North Coast and an anonymous letter in favour of Woodburn getting doctors again.
The biography of John Gunn
The biography of John Gunn is now published, titled Opportunity Makes the Man, The Labours of John Alexander Gunn—the only biography ever written about one of Australia’s greatest sons. Who was John Gunn? He was an Australian pastoralist who, in 1893, commenced using his own double-dose anthrax vaccine. His vaccine outperformed the vaccine of Louis Pasteur ...
“Common sense recommendations”
The Health Minister has welcomed the Limestone Coast Local Health Network board’s decision to endorse “several common-sense” recommendations from the feasibility study on establishing a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East. The study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”.
No radiation therapy
The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”. The design and planning of the new Mount Gambier Cancer Care Centre have been on hold while the feasibility study into radiation therapy services was undertaken.
