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.
We won’t give up
Naracoorte based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Celebrating 30 years in business as a new chapter awaits
For Carmell Sanne, it hasn’t just been about selling quality lingerie, sleepwear, and hosiery throughout the past 30 years, it’s also been about working closely with Clarence Valley women who have undergone lumpectomies, unilateral, and double mastectomies, offering professional advice and guidance as they navigate life post-surgery, and helping them restore their confidence and rediscover their identities.
The need for aged housing in Gingin remains
With a prediction more than 1000 older residents will need suitable accommodation by 2027 some might want the Shire of Gingin to rethink its priorities. In the past six months the shire has controversially spent more than $700,000 for land on Dewar Rd for a future recreational use while the amount of housing available for seniors remains at the same level it was in 2015.
Nurses rally for better pay and conditions to stop the exodus to Queensland
Cars didn’t stop tooting as they drove slowly by the nurses, midwives and other hospital staff protesting outside Lismore Base Hospital ... The rally was to highlight the need for a 15 per cent pay increase nurses say they deserve and for better conditions.
AACCI Trade Mission to Morocco 2024
The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in partnership with the Moroccan embassy in Australia, DFAT, Austrade and the Moroccan Australian Business Council, is proud to announce that we are conducting a Trade Mission to Morocco in October 2024. The Trade Mission is designed to gain business in a country where the scope of business is extremely bright and where sectoral opportunities are very strong.
Health system must find more funding
John Malham, patient. Recently I spent two weeks in a semi-major regional hospital that caters for its town population of twenty thousand and the surrounding areas 70 thousand population. I had no intention of writing this article but having witnessed the forceful nature of the hospital’s discharge team, I began taking notes and interviewing people involved in all aspects of the hospital’s running.
Quality of care at Quantum’s focus
On Friday ... guests and staff gathered to officially open Quantum Medical Centre Barham. The opening of the facility under new management was a celebration of the work and dedication to retain medical services in the Barham facility and a positive step towards a bright future with a team dedicated to quality care.
Health pressure rises
Joanna Tucker. With Yorke Peninsula’s population expected to increase by up to 10,000 in the next decade, and more than 500 homes expected to be built on the Copper Coast in coming years, calls for a serious upgrade of the region’s health-care system have strengthened. Hundreds of residents are currently travelling to Adelaide regularly to access health care and with the region’s biggest hospital at Wallaroo offering only 21 beds…
War of words
A war of words has broken out between Health Minister Chris Picton and Member of Barker Tony Pasin over the release of a feasibility study on delivering radiation treatment services for the region. Mr Pasin claimed the local health bureaucracy, the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), has “snubbed” the release of the report, hiding it from the public and the volunteers of the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group.
