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Tuesday 13
March
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In this edition
Professional development opportunities and events read more
Confirmed measles case in Melbourne
Look out for patients presenting with fever at rash onset read more
Hepatitis A outbreak
Please read this alert and offer the free vaccine read more
SEMPHN GP Symposium
GPs, please save the date for our inaugural event read more
AOD forum a positive step towards change
Federal and state stakeholders come together read more
Free short-term psychological supports
Do you see people in these groups? read more
Do you know someone who'd like to be involved in suicide prevention activities in Frankston Mornington Peninsula?
There's a free two-day workshop for people with lived experience read more
Alcohol related disease claims 6000 lives a year
One person dies every 90 minutes read more
Family abuse and violence - are you ready to respond?
Be prepared with this RACGP program read more
World Salt Awareness Week 12-18 March
Download the '5 ways to 5 grams' poster read more
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Confirmed measles case in Melbourne
The Deputy Chief Health Officer has issued the following alert to general practitioners and hospital emergency departments:
Key messages
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There has been one confirmed case of measles in Melbourne, with the infection likely to have been acquired overseas.
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The case was infectious whilst at a number of places across Melbourne between 3 March and 7 March including Flinders Street Station and around the CBD, as well as Phillip Island and multiple sites along the Great Ocean Road between Geelong and Warnambool.
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Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended any of the places listed.
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Notify the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section at the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.
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Manage suspected cases in the GP setting if appropriate and avoid sending to a hospital emergency department unless the patient is severe enough to warrant admission to hospital. Isolate suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within your department/practice.
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Take blood for measles serology in all suspected cases. Discuss whether to take nose and throat swabs for PCR with the Department if your suspicion for measles is high. Approval is required prior to PCR testing at the reference laboratory. PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate.
Read the full alert
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Hepatitis A outbreak
The Chief Health Officer issued this alert to health professionals on 6 March:
Key messages
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Cases of hepatitis A continue to rise in Victoria with one death confirmed as part of the outbreak. There are now 58 confirmed outbreak cases, seven probable cases and one death. An additional 16 cases of hepatitis A are under early investigation.
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Of the 58 confirmed cases, most are male, many of whom report male-to-male sexual activity and have not travelled overseas, and some have identified as people who inject drugs (PWID).
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Offer free hepatitis A vaccine to all MSM and people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months. The two-dose hepatitis A vaccination is free for all MSM and PWID until 31 December 2018.
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Consider hepatitis A infection in patients presenting with a compatible clinical illness who are MSM, PWID or have other risk factors, and take blood for serology (IgM). Advise that sexual activity should be avoided while results are pending.
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Notify all suspected cases of acute viral hepatitis to the Department of Health and Human Services by calling 1300 651 160, without waiting for serology results. This will help the department to action immediate precautionary infection control measures. Early notification also helps with timely post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts, once infection is confirmed.
Read the full alert: 6 March - Hepatitis A outbreak.
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SEMPHN GP Symposium
We’d like to invite general practitioners across South East Melbourne to our inaugural GP symposium on Saturday June 2 from 9am to 3pm.
The symposium will focus mental health and young people, and will provide you with practical clinical information about eating disorders, depression, self-harm, suicide prevention and anxiety from experts in the field, as well as interactive sessions.
It will also be an opportunity to find out what we're doing in the mental health space, locally.
The event will be held at Pullman & Mercure Melbourne Albert Park. This will be an RACGP-accredited event. Registrations will open next week.
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AOD forum a positive step towards change
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Pictured above, left to right: Clare Davies (Windana), Stefan Gruenert (Odyssey House), Greg Blakeley (DHSS), Heather Pickard (SHARC), Anne-Maree Kaser (Windana), Ray Blessing (Taskforce), Elizabeth Deveny (SEMPHN).
More than 50 managers in the Alcohol and Other Drug sector came together in Dandenong recently to join the conversation about AOD service system change.
In the spirit of collaboration, SEMPHN CEO Elizabeth Deveny and DHHS Regional Director Greg Blakeley opened the event with an overview of current state and federal-funded AoD services.
Fotini Strongylos (SEMPHN Manager of Service Development MH&AOD) and Paul Bourke (DHSS Senior Program Advisor Health and Integrated Services) led discussion about the current AOD system.
Creative activities by facilitator Mick Reid helped participants identify key priority areas for further conversation. These included:
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negative perceptions of addictions and the marketing of AOD
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workforce and credentialing
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outcomes framework
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links with primary care
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collaboration with services
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funding models that support integrated services
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documenting client journeys.
The enthusiasm on the day was indicative of the clear commitment between funding and service providers to further these priorities and improve responses to clients in our community.
Watch this space for innovative approaches in the AOD area!
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Free short-term psychological supports
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In your work in South Eastern Melbourne, do you see..
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children under 12
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people living in residential aged care facilities
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
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people experiencing homelessness
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people at risk of suicide
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culturally and linguistically diverse people
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women with perinatal depression
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people with substance use disorders
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people who have experienced family violence?
Have you considered free (SEMPHN-funded) short-term psychological supports for people in these groups who have mental illness and can't afford services?
Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) are matched to people's needs and can include:
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cognitive-behavioural therapy
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skills training
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psycho-education
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relaxation strategies
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other evidence-based interventions.
They can be delivered by clinical psychologists, psychologists, mental health social workers, occupational therapists and mental health nurses.
To refer, fax a referral and GP Mental Health Treatment Plan to fax: 9793 9052 or call SEMPHN Mental Health Intake on ph:1800 862 363 (business hours) for priority assistance.
Find referral forms here or print this flyer for your GPs.
Note: API is not a crisis response service and does not provide emergency mental health advice or support.
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Do you know someone with lived experience of suicide who wants to be involved in suicide prevention activities in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula?
Roses in the Ocean is offering a SEMPHN-funded two-day workshop, called 'Voices of Insight', on 23 and 24 March in Mornington. It's free of charge for participants (spaces strictly limited).
Voices of Insight is for people with a lived experience of suicide who are interested and ready to share their story publicly - be that through organised speaking engagements or incidental conversations.
Lived experience of suicide can be:
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being bereaved by suicide
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having experienced suicidal thoughts
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having survived a suicide attempt
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supporting someone who has been suicidal.
Previous public speaking experience is not necessary.
Completion of the ‘Our Voice’ program is preferable but not compulsory.
See the flyer or complete an expression of interest here.
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Alcohol related disease claims 6000 lives a year
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Alcohol-related diseases are being blamed for causing the deaths of nearly 6000 Australians each year.
A study by the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Western Australia's Curtin University found that just over a third died from alcohol-attributed cancer, with injuries, cardiovascular disease and digestive diseases linked to 17 per cent of deaths.
"This research shows that in Australia, one person dies every 90 minutes on average, and someone ends up in our hospitals every three-and-a-half minutes, because of preventable conditions caused by alcohol," NDRI alcohol policy team leader Professor Tanya Chikritzh said.
As well as the 2000 people who died from alcohol-attributable cancer, another 13,000 were hospitalised with cancers linked to low or moderate drinking levels.
Top five causes of alcohol-attributable deaths for women:
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Breast cancer (18%)
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Liver diseases (15%)
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Haemorrhagic stroke (15%)
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Colorectal (bowel) cancer (10%)
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Lower respiratory infections (9%)
Top five causes of alcohol-attributable deaths for men:
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Liver diseases (18%)
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Colorectal (bowel) cancer (10%)
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Oesophageal cancer (8%)
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Oropharyngeal cancer (6%)
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Suicide (6%)
Read the full story here
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Family abuse and violence – Are you ready to respond?
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Family abuse and violence have a devastating impact within our community.
The latest research shows that one in four women in Australia has experienced abuse and violence by their partner, boyfriend or date.
Domestic or intimate partner violence is the leading risk factor contributing to poor health in Australian women aged 18–44.
GPs are in a key position to help individuals affected by domestic and family violence, and sexual assault.
How you respond can make a big difference to someone’s life; whether it's noticing the signs of abuse, initiating difficult conversations or dealing with disclosure.
The QI&CPD accredited program RACGP Professional Development Program on Family Abuse and Violence can help you know how to respond when you suspect violence. It's available to RACGP members and their practice teams.
Reference: Webster K. A preventable burden: Measuring and addressing the prevalence and health impacts of intimate partner violence in Australian women. Sydney: ANROWS, 2016.
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World Salt Awareness Week 12-18 March
Many people think that eating too much salt is only a health concern in our later years. However, eating too much salt during childhood increases blood pressure, which tracks into adulthood and later life and increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Reducing salt intake across all ages reduces our risk of heart disease.
This World Salt Awareness Week 12-18 March aims to remind people about the harmful effects of eating too much salt, and highlight how salt in everyday foods can really add up.
People are encouraged to make simple changes to their eating and purchasing habits to reduce their salt intake.
Download a poster for your waiting room or community area.
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