New general manager helms rehab service
Bradaag welcomed its new General Manager Natalie McCabe recently. Ms McCabe brings a wealth of experience within the public sector and Indigenous organisations in regional Australia.
Barkly nurse a finalist in prestigious awards
A Barkly registered nurse has been announced as a finalist in the 2024 Nursing and Midwifery Awards. Annette (Nettie) Hodgson-Taylor is one of three finalists in the Excellence in Aboriginal Health category.
30 year celebrations for Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network
Firsthealth Limited who delivers the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, is celebrating 30 years of the organisation’s role in primary healthcare. The organisation’s history dates back to July 1993 ... Firsthealth Limited Board Chair Dr Jodi Culbert said the longevity of the organisation demonstrated its commitment to primary health in the Murrumbidgee region and a willingness to adapt to an everchanging environment.
Mayor calls for phone to be reinstated
Reconnecting the telephone at Lucindale’s Health Centre would be a first step towards healing a rift between the community and the $243 million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) which slashed its services. Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross hoped the phone line would be reinstated by the end of last week, or early this week.
Ochre to go – opportunity knocks?
Ochre Health announced its intention to withdraw from Barham in a press release last week, and a hunt is underway to find a new operator for the facility. The Barham Local Health Medical Trust, which owns the facility, acknowledged Ochre Health’s commitment to the community and its excellent provision of medical services over the past 15 years.
Driving doctors to train in regional posts
Sarah Herrmann. Yorke and Northern Local Health Network has announced its new Rural Doctors Program, which offers medical graduates three-to-five-year training contracts in the region, with the aim to empower junior doctors to became rural generalists. YNLHN executive director of medical services Hendrika Meyer said the network is making a long-term investment to grow its medical workforce by allowing junior doctors to train in the country earlier in their careers and to complete their entire training in the region.
Ssh! Secret meeting!
Last night ... a secret meeting regarding nursing services at Lucindale was scheduled to be held behind locked doors. Patients, public and the media were excluded from the private gathering in the town's rarely used council chamber. With an “invitation only” guest list which expanded from “a chosen few” to around 24 people, the meeting was organised by the $243 million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN).
Bold scheme to reshape aged care in Denmark
Patricia Gill. Business developer and founder of Denmark-based Acare WA Marie Redman has proposed that the Shire of Denmark buildings be vacated to make way for seniors’ accommodation. Her suggestion, which would involve the Shire moving into the site of Supa IGA and a new big supermarket being built elsewhere, was met with applause at last Thursday’s meeting at the Riverside Club.
Frank thrives thanks to RCH
With the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal being held ... we have brought you the story of young Frank Skratulja, whose family has utilised the services of the hospital since June 2022 as well as the Mercy and Sunshine hospitals. Frank was born just before his identical twin brother Luka on May 25, 2022 at the Mercy Hospital.
Nurse Ali ‘saved my leg’
Lucindale's Cheryl “Fitzy” Fitzgerald has only praise for the Lucindale nurse who three years ago saved her leg, and possibly her life ... So Ms Fitzgerald was shocked recently when she tried to make an appointment for a blood test at Lucindale.
Firearms Bill to burden health system with over 1,500 assessments a month: Love
The Nationals WA have opposed Labor’s contentious Firearms Bill 2024 as the full impact on WA’s health system and individual licence holders was revealed during debate this week. Nationals Leader Shane Love MLA said a months-old briefing note from WA Police, which was only provided to Parliament this week, laid bare the scope of the new mandatory health assessments which WA’s 90,000 licensed firearms holders will soon be subject to.
Partnership launched . . . wellbeing “flies””ˆinto Wycheproof
East Wimmera Health Service and Flying Doctor Wellbeing have partnered to bring increased mental health support to Wycheproof. Starting in March, Pat Boyer, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, will be seeing clients face-to-face at East Wimmera Health Service, and delivering telehealth services across the catchment in partnership with Flying Doctor Wellbeing.
Rural lifestyle attracted new doctor
Corryong Health announced the appointment of Dr Catherine Porter as a permanent General Practitioner (GP) at the service. Dr Porter is a UK-trained GP qualifying in 2023 ... In 2018, Dr Porter moved to Australia to gain further experience in emergency medicine and rural general practice ...
‘Game changer’: Industry welcomes return of critical health course to TAFE NSW Cootamundra
The CEO of a Cootamundra aged care facility has welcomed a move by TAFE NSW Cootamundra to reintroduce a critical healthcare course amid a deepening skills shortage in the industry. For the first time in almost a decade, a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance will be offered at TAFE NSW Cootamundra ...
Respiratory viruses fall victim to tea tree oil’s virucidal vigour: AgriFutures Australia
Deeper understanding of the anti-viral activity of tea tree oil opens doors to animal and human health applications. While tea tree oil is relatively well-known for its ability to treat a range of bacterial and fungal infections, new research has confirmed the homegrown essential oil could also be a valuable tool in the fight against respiratory viruses in livestock and humans.
Bureaucrats on notice – working groups to form
Health bureaucracies that slashed rural nursing services for the sick and elderly have been put on notice by Member for MacKillop Nick McBride and Health Minister Chris Picton ... Without consultation, on January 22 the green rubber rings of two Local Health Networks squeezed out rural nursing services at Lucindale, Tintinara and Coonalpyn. People with cancer, MS, heart conditions and the elderly were told to drive round trips of 80kms or more for many nursing services. Most have no ability to drive. There is no public transport.
Gym access a “game changer”
Cohuna’s visiting paramedics and Ambulance Community Officers (ACO) now have access to a gym to keep their bodies and minds healthy and active. Thanks to an initiative of ACO Travis Hore and the generosity of Bree from Evolve Fitness and Performance, our visiting ambos can keep as fit as they want when they want and still be ready at a moment’s notice to jump in the ambulance.
Wallaroo Hospital security extended, under review
Sarah Herrmann. Wallaroo Hospital’s full-time security measures have been extended until May while an external review to determine future protocol is completed. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation campaigned for better security at the site after a man smashed through two sets of entry doors and attacked the back of an ambulance at the hospital in February 2023.
Government tells sick and elderly to drive 80km
Without consulting three rural communities, the SA Government has abruptly slashed nursing services to people with cancer, heart conditions and multiple sclerosis. Sick, infirm, and elderly people at Lucindale, Tintinara and Coonalpyn have been told to go to larger towns...
Rural doctor says change needed to overcome doctor shortage in regions
We've got a GP shortage problem across the board that requires numbers," according to Dr Paul Mara AM, a general practitioner (GP) who has served as a rural doctor for 40 years and inspired the single employer model (SEM) being trialled across the country ... After watching his practice struggle to retain staff for years, Dr Mara cleverly used government funding to develop a unique training model that better coordinated a pathway for GPs to work in rural communities.
Local home care service launched
Serena Kirby. Denmark's senior residents now have access to a new locally-based home care service ... Long-time local and founder of ACare WA Maria Redman said she had started the initiative after seeing how difï¬cult and convoluted the existing system was when her father-in-law needed in-home support.
Pharmacy trial surpasses 12,000 consultations: Park
The NSW Government’s pharmacy trial has this month surpassed 12,000 total consultations, relieving pressure on GPs and making it easier for people to access basic medications. The trial allows trained community pharmacists to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) and provide treatment medicines if needed, as well as resupply the oral contraceptive pill (the pill).
