Health

The ‘Westfund Regional Health Gap Report’ shows that access to healthcare remains an ongoing issue for Australians in regional areas, with half (49 per cent) of respondents considering the wait time to see their GP unreasonable, some having to wait up to six weeks to get an appointment, and many having to travel more than two hours for an in-person consultation with specialists ... Mark Genovese, Westfund CEO, answers some questions from ARR.News about general trends, specific initiatives for specific areas, digital health care and more.

Dr Jeff Cave. You may have recently read that a living roundworm, suspected to have come from the faeces of a carpet python, was pulled from brain of a woman in New South Wales. It was the first documented case of the parasite infecting a human.

Recent Dietetic students David and Dylan from Deakin University conducted a project for East Wimmera Health Services (EWHS) regarding Diabetes in the area. The following is a summary article of their findings and recommendations for improving the service and overall health of consumers within the EWHS catchment areas.

Jess Liddy. Grayson Patterson, of Wallaroo, is lucky to be alive. The 2-year-old went into cardiac arrest in June, after a barbecue smoker fell on him. If it wasn’t for the GoodSAM app, and the quick response from an off-duty ambulance officer to deliver life-saving compressions and care, the outcome could have been a lot different.

The Liberal Opposition has hosted a forum and invited the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to discuss the proposed new GP payroll tax – with fears the new patient tax will force doctors to raise fees or even close their practices, driving more people to our already stretched emergency departments.

In 2018 the Territory Government established a combined oncology and cardio service at Alice Springs Hospital, celebrating 5 years of operations in September this year. Since its opening, the service has treated 12,000 patients, and allowed residents to receive care locally. The service provides culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal patients and their families...

Hike to Heal Australia, which runs the annual Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike at Mount Peel Bushland between Westbrook and Drayton, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Jude Bugeja - Peer Experience Award at the Queensland Mental Health Achievement Awards.

It’s quite rare to see a human Lego-Man walking along the highway on a casual day. And if you do, you might wonder why. Meet Alex McIntyre, 36, and he is the South East’s Human Lego-Man with a purpose ... “I am doing it for cancer,” Mr Mclntyre told The [Naracoorte Community] News as he started his 100-kilometre walk...

Women across Murrumbidgee who require breast cancer surgery are to benefit from the expansion of the Magseed technology to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. Magseed, a small metal device about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted in a cancerous breast tumour to mark its location for surgery which allows for more flexibility for surgeons when making an incision.

An important step to rebuilding essential health services across regional and rural NSW has been taken by the state government with the establishment of a Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel, but there are no local representatives advocating for the Northern Rivers region ... panel is to focus on building the regional health workforce, strengthening community engagement, and improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Northern Territory Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kerala State Government, India to develop further economic, social and cultural relationships between our two regions. This is the first MOU the Northern Territory Government has entered into with an Indian state, and formalises and reinforces the relationships between the two jurisdictions.

Known for its soothing fragrance and myriad of applications, lavender has emerged as a versatile and sought-after plant that is thriving across Australia.

Shitbox Rally Spring 2023 – Port Douglas, Qld to Adelaide, SA via Birdsville. 500 people in teams of two will leave Port Douglas on  Saturday 14th  October 2023  in the morning. Then after 7 days of driving over 3,000kms on dusty, mostly unsealed roads they will cross the finish line in Adelaide, SA on Friday 20th  October…..however, some cars simply won’t make it.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) is marking the momentous 80-year anniversary of its Charleville Base this October. Established in 1943, the Charleville Base services a waiting room of more than 622,000 square kilometres, connecting the residents of this significant South-West Queensland region to leading, and often lifesaving, health services ... As part of the 80-year anniversary, the RFDS (Qld) will also celebrate the individual 20-year anniversary of two of its nurses, Joanne Mahony and Diane Dowrick.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is looking for more recruits to join the Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) team in Corryong. ACOs are First Responders, who are employed on a casual basis to work ‘on call’ in rural and remote communities where the ambulance caseload is low and the ambulance branch is not staffed by multiple paramedics on a full-time basis.

In an impressive feat, Roper Gulf Regional Council has successfully lead a ground breaking feral pig management and removal program in the communities of Numbulwar and Ngukurr last month. This initiative underscores the solid commitment to the health and well-being of all residents, particularly in addressing the significant health risks associated with feral pigs, including the threat of Japanese encephalitis.

While many countries around the world look at their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Covid-19 inquiry appears to be about as effective as a cloth mask for a virus particle size of 50-140 nanometres. The inquiry will not have the same powers as a royal commission and will exclude decisions made solely by state and territory governments during the pandemic response...

The Zack Lockes Flock will be hosting a Big Blue Picnic as a mental health month activity next month in the grounds of St Mark’s Church Warwick. The Big Blue Picnic is a fundraiser for Beyond Blue and will incorporate the official opening of St Mark’s Blue Garden.