Pratha retires – at 82
Patricia Gill. Dr Pratha Prathalingam shrugs off working until 82 as ‘easy’ because he has loved his job. “It’s never been a burden to me,” says the Sri Lankan born ‘Pratha’ who was recruited from eSwatini (Zwaziland) to come to Australia via the forerunner organisation to the State Government’s Rural Health West.
WA failing in farm safety
After 14 work related deaths in the WA agricultural industry over last 18 months, far more than any other state, serious questions need to be asked about why our Ministers have put all their faith in the impact of draconian new industrial manslaughter laws when it's clearly not working.
History making camel trek to finish in Geraldton
Stow Gardens on the Geraldton Foreshore will mark the final stop on adventurer and philanthropist John Elliot’s odyssey across the heart of Australia to raise awareness about skin cancer. Before Mr Elliot’s departure in 2019, he undertook a routine skin check that revealed a melanoma on his back, which had it gone undetected may have proven fatal.
RFDS brightens smiles in Mount Isa
The Royal Flying Doctor Service’s fully equipped mobile dental surgery has been on the ground in Mount Isa to provide free oral healthcare treatments. Partnering with Gidgee Healing, the RFDS Dental Service team treated patients from the mobile dental surgery outside Gidgee Healing’s Burke Street clinic.
Narrandera patients losing out on cancer treatment costs
The Riverina Cancer Care Centre which opened in 2002 was built using $3million raised by communities including Narrandera yet is now the only facility in NSW leaving patients out of pocket. It was the first regional cancer care centre in NSW and is now the only one that requires patients to pay for their treatment.
Informed consent
A highly esteemed, award-winning NHS consultant cardiologist with international regard when it comes to diagnosing, preventing and managing heart disease has released a peer reviewed paper calling for the immediate halt of Covid-19 vaccine roll out ... “It cannot be said that the consent to receive these agents was fully informed, as is required ethically and legally,” Dr Malhotra said. It was the death of his father, a very prominent doctor, one of the most respected doctors in the UK, and vice president of the British Medical Association that started his investigation.
The Willy Wonka-like fruit changing the lives of cancer and covid patients
A solution that may help people in distress – this berry makes sour, acidic, and bitter-tasting food and drinks taste sweet, helpful for people whose sense of taste has been disturbed due to treatment or illnesses ... Queensland farmers who are growing Australia's first Miracle fruit farm, Chris Beckwith and Karen Pereira, are passionate about the fruit's positive value and making it available to Australians struggling to eat.
New release – Maestro of Madness
During this year as I have been promoting my novel, Maestro of Madness, I have been asked so many times why I turned to writing fictional novels at my advanced age ... Eddie Philipson is the main protagonist who was diagnosed with PTSD when he was 44 and the storyline picks up with his battle with the insidious disorder ... I was fortunate enough to have good knowledge with PTSD as I have the dreaded disorder as a Vietnam Vet and so was able to adapt some of the experiences I have had in learning to manage PTSD.
Know your local – Hannah Jungwirth
My sister, notoriously bad at telling jokes (she always gives away the punchline), was born when I was 11 years old, and is now one of my closest friends. I originally interviewed her as an emergency backup, but her story is honest, and brave and gives a personal insight into issues that might help someone in similar circumstances.
Beef hides and livers – the secret ingredients in new skincare and supplement products
A new, eco-friendly range of collagen products made using traditionally low-value bovine inputs such as hides and livers will soon deliver beneï¬ts across the entire beef value chain. This world-ï¬rst Certiï¬ed Organic collagen skincare and supplements range is the highly anticipated result of a collaboration between MLA and Freeze Dry Industries (FDI), a manufacturer based on the Sunshine Coast.
Falls prevention at Longridge Aged Care
Angela Willsmore. Falls in older people are a serious health concern. In South Australia, SA Health reported in a March 2020 report that 47 people are admitted to an SA public hospital every day due to an injury caused by a fall ... Earlier this year, Good Country Physiotherapy commenced a falls prevention pilot program at Longridge Aged Care.
Cannabis expert says saliva tests not reliable
While we await the outcome of the Mayor’s charges in October, it might be pertinent to have a look at just how serious these charges are, and maybe just how reliable marijuana saliva tests are ... “The saliva tests are only checking for a per se zero presence of cannabis”: Andrew Kavasilas.
Early treatment
The measures put in place to treat Covid-19 are now coming under scrutiny as many fear the removal of generic medicines may have led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of people globally ... “Had this medication (Hydroxychloroquine) been used at the outset of this pandemic, it would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly lost because this was suppressed”: Dr Harvey Risch, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine.
AMA holds emergency summit in Lismore to thwart collapse of healthcare services
Health leaders gathered on 16 September for an emergency health summit in Lismore to urge the State and Federal Governments to immediately support healthcare services in the region ... “It’s been more than six months since the floods devastated the region and many healthcare service providers have yet to recover”: AMA President, Professor Steve Robson.
Bat Lyssavirus on Darling Downs
Darling Downs residents are being warned not to “wing it” when it comes to sick or injured bats after a confirmed case of Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) in Kingsthorpe. The injured bat was found in a back yard in August with residents alerting appropriate authorities.
Q fever findings a timely post-pandemic reminder for biosecurity vigilance: AgriFutures
After more than six years of multi-disciplinary research, the Q Fever Group ... has released the findings of its flagship research project, Taking the Q (query) out of Q fever. The project findings fell into three broad themes; improving knowledge and management of Q fever in dairy goat herds; understanding Q fever in the environment; and structures to support Q fever management across the human, animal and environmental health sectors.
Allora Homestead residents’ gifts for new borns
Allora Homestead residents have been busy over winter making blankets and beanies for the Warwick Hospital. A wonderful effort by Judy, Kay, Laisa, Rae, Jess who have made these items with love and care for the new born babies.
Brian’s 550km ride for sick kids
Rodney Stevens. When Brian Elvery was offered the opportunity to ride his bicycle more than 500km to raise money for Ronald McDonald House he didn’t hesitate to accept. Last week, along with a core group of a dozen other cyclists plus support crew, Mr Elvery got in the saddle on Tuesday at Inverell, for the 2022 Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW Ride For Sick Kids, aiming to raise $200,000.
Heart attacks plummet and we lead the nation
In two decades, the number of people who die of a heart attack in our region has plummeted by more than 20 percent – thanks to visiting cardiologist Philip Tideman and longtime rural GPs at Kincraig Medical Clinic. In Naracoorte alone, more than 500 people have benefited from their work. Now Naracoorte and the SE are being recognised nationally and internationally for reducing death rates from heart attacks in country areas.
Permissive alcohol culture the target of region-wide Planet Youth campaign
A region-wide campaign around the permissive alcohol culture by adults towards young people is being planned by Substance Misuse Limestone Coast (SMLC) and a Planet Youth community network group. Three Planet Youth network groups have been newly established across the Limestone Coast, including City of Mount Gambier/DC Grant, Penola and Naracoorte, following the release of the second Planet Youth survey data earlier this year.
Warwick Hospital now powered by the sun
Warwick is just one of ten health care facilities across the Darling Downs to harness the power of the sun, to ensure a more sustainable future. Other regional health care facilities at Stanthorpe, Texas, Inglewood, Taroom, Jandowae, Baillie Henderson, Cherbourg, Miles and Tara are now also tapping into this renewable energy ... “In total, there are nearly 2500 panels across our facilities, which is around 1330 kW.”
Another cohort of Territory nurses transition to country: Fyles
Ten Territory nurses will spend the next 12 months building their skills and providing services to remote communities under the Transition to Remote Practice Program. This year is the first time the program recruited a second cohort of participants. They will join the 12 nurses who commenced the program at the beginning of 2022.
