Sydney Health Weekly 15 January 2020

Dear subscriber,

Welcome to this week's edition of Sydney Health Weekly! Central and Eastern Sydney PHN aims to make this newsletter your efficient one-stop-shop for primary health news and events within the central and eastern Sydney region.

In response to the bushfire emergency, the Australian Government has announced a comprehensive bushfire recovery package. As part of this package it is providing $76 million for immediate, short term and medium term mental health support for individuals, families and communities, including emergency services personnel, impacted by the ongoing bushfire emergency.

Mental health support

Mental Health Support for Australians affected by the 2019-2020 Bushfires Information Sheet.
People affected by bushfires can access mental health treatment without a referral or mental health treatment plan from 17 January.
Lifeline provides support for children and adults.
headspace provides support to children and youth.
HealthDirect provides information on natural disasters and your health.
Key national 24/7 crisis support telephone services include:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
- MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Key Youth Support Services include:
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- headspace: 1800 650 890

Heat issues

Heat can cause illnesses such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion, which can lead to the life threatening condition, heatstroke. Heatstroke is fatal in up to 80 per cent of cases.

Simple precautions can reduce the risk of heat-related illness:

Avoid the heat of the day by staying indoors and keeping cool by using air-conditioning, fans and drawing blinds and curtains closed.
Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Check on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family by telephone or in person if it is safe for them to do so.
Plan ahead for hot days.

More information on being aware of the impact of heat on your health can be found on the NSW Health website.

Respiratory issues

Bushfire smoke can affect anyone but particularly people over 65, children 14 years and younger, pregnant women and those with existing heart or lung conditions, including asthma. It is important to ensure those with asthma have asthma management plans, medication on hand and that they are activating plans based on symptoms and exposure. Risks from contaminated water and spoiled food will also have a greater impact on the elderly, young children and pregnant women.

Hazardous air quality can lead to:

Serious aggravation of health effects in people over 65, children 14 years and younger, pregnant women and those with existing heart or lung conditions.
Serious increase in respiratory and other effects in everyone else and many people might have symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.

Please visit the NSW Health website for information on air quality during bushfires. It provides information on air quality across the state, how you can protect yourself from bushfire smoke, and lists support services available to you.

You can also find helpful information on our website regarding useful pathways for the management of asthma in your patients.

The Acting Chief Medical Officer and State and Territory Chief Health Officers have released a statement on the use of masks for those exposed to bushfire smoke. Click here to view the statement.

Disaster support and preparedness

A new burn injuries pathway is now on South Eastern Sydney HealthPathways. To access the pathway please click here and use the following login details:
Username: sesydney
Password: healthcare
The NSW Government Community Support Hub is where you can find information regarding support services, loans and grants, evacuation centres, financial assistance and more.
The RACGP provides information to GPs impacted by bushfires and how they can assist their patients.

Measles alert: Seventh person to have acquired the infection in NSW since Christmas

NSW Health is urging people to ensure they are fully protected against measles, following another locally acquired case being reported. The man, whose vaccination history is unable to be verified, is the seventh person to have acquired the infection in NSW since Christmas.

Click here for information on recent cases and who is at high risk of complications.

PBAC recommends listing of meningococcal B vaccine on NIP for at risk groups

The recommendations from the November 2019 Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) meeting are now available which includes the PBAC recommendation for the listing of multicomponent meningococcal group B vaccine (4CMenB, Bexsero®).

Click here for a summary on the PBAC recommendations.

Immunisation education for nurses new to general practice

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN have partnered with Benchmarque to deliver a nationally recognised training course on immunisation practice in primary healthcare. While this course will benefit all nurses in general practice, we would like to encourage any nurses new to the general practice setting to register, as spaces are limited.

The course is specially designed for nurses to teach all things immunisation in a general practice setting, including a four hour face-to-face component, where you gain practical skills in administering vaccines performed on a mannequin.

Click here for course details and to register.

Mental health referral processes at CESPHN are undergoing updates

Changes to CESPHN's mental health referral processes are moving full steam ahead. We have updated the services referral form for the Psychological Support Service (PSS) program which can be found on the CESPHN website. We are continuing to build our new online platform for all referrals to our centralised intake programs (PSS and PICS).

We aim to integrate this into your current practice software to make it easier and retain a copy of the referral. This will be in line with the Department of Health Initial Assessment and Referral Guidelines to ensure your referrals are allocated to the right programs at the right time. Keep an eye out for our progress.

PIP QI patient consent opt-in and opt-out now in MD Insights Sidebar

Medical Director now has the functionality to indicate whether a patient has decided to opt-out of the Department of Health, Practice Incentive Program Quality Improvement measures. To opt a patient out, select the patient record and from the Insights Sidebar press the ‘Exclude Patient from PIP QI’ button.

Click here to view the release notes of this feature.

Topbar v2.6: User interface redesign - January 2020

With this release, Pen CS will implement the first step in a user interface refresh of Topbar. Apps are now grouped by 'Patient Apps' or 'Practice Apps'.

Patient apps will sit on the right side of Topbar, next to the patient name, showing notifications relevant to that patient only.
Practice apps will be on the left side of Topbar, providing access to applications that are not directly related to the patient currently open in the clinical system. Apps include HealthPathways, Waiting Room and the CPD App.

Click here for more information about the Topbar User Interface update.

Creator of Webster-pak becomes first organisation to start using the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List in My Health Record

On 20 December 2019, the Australian Digital Health Agency together with Webstercare launched a new clinical document within My Health Record - the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List (PSML) in order to reduce medication-related problems in Australia.

PSML is a consolidated list of prescription and non-prescription medicines including over-the-counter and complementary medicines that is curated by a pharmacist and uploaded to a patient's My Health Record.

Click here to read the full media release from the ADHA.

62 per cent increase in GPs viewing documents on My Health Record

According to data released by the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency), general practices increasingly lead the way in using My Health Record, with usage (viewing and uploading) rising substantially since March 2019.

In data released in December as part of a refreshed My Health Record statistics dashboard, general practices averaged around 200,000 My Health Record views per month throughout September and October, a 62 per cent increase since March this year.

Click here to read the full media release from the ADHA.

Updated My Health Record statistics published by ADHA

The Australian Digital Health Agency published updated statistics on 16 December 2019 demonstrating and providing more insight as to how the My Health Record system is being used by consumers and healthcare providers.

Click here to view a summary of the updated statistics from the ADHA.

Health care for people with cognitive disability issues paper

The Royal Commission wants to understand the experiences of people with cognitive disability in accessing or receiving health care. Access to, and treatment of, people with cognitive disability in the health system will be the subject of the first hearing in 2020.

Click here to view the issues paper and for information on submitting a response to the paper.

Update on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has released its first progress report.

Click here for an update on the Royal Commission and for details of the next hearing in February.

New streamlined consumer assessment for aged care

The Federal Government has announced it will implement a new framework for streamlined consumer assessment for all aged care services, to be delivered by a new national assessment workforce. The new framework will streamline and improve the consumer experience of aged care assessments, better supporting senior Australians to access all aged care services from one entry level home support to home care packages and residential care.

Click here to view a webinar on the new aged care assessment arrangements.

Sydney Local Health District - RACF outreach newsletter

The Sydney Local Health District RACF Outreach Service provides assessment, consultation and support for residents in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) across the Sydney Local Health District. The service provides valuable support and advice for RACF staff and GPs in the clinical care of residents living in RACFs. Read the latest newsletter for service updates and some great links to assist Advanced Care Planning in general practice.

Click here to view the newsletter.

Research opportunity: Do you refer patients to orthopaedic surgeons?

The Surgical Outcomes Research Centre is calling all health professionals who refer patients to orthopaedic surgeons for opinion regarding knee arthroplasty. The questionnaire for this PhD study comprises of a list of activities interviewed patients report being important them. We would like you to rank them in order of what you believe patients think is important to them when they consider undertaking this surgery.

Please contact Sascha Karunaratne if your have any queries.
Please click here to view the questionnaire.

GPs required at Balmain Hospital's General Practice Casualty Clinic

Balmain Hospital’s General Practice Casualty (GPC) is seeking vocationally registered general practitioners to join their clinic. The service is conveniently located on the ground floor of Balmain Hospital and operates seven days a week from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.

The practice provides care to patients with minor injuries and illness when their usual GP is unavailable. The team also provides Hospital in The Home, Minor Fracture and Acute Wound Clinic services to support local general practice.

Click here for information on the service, shifts available and how to apply.

Gynaecology outpatient clinics at St George Hospital

St George Hospital offers a range of outpatient gynaecology services including gynaecology, hysteroscopy, colposcopy and menopause clinics. GPs are requested to complete this referral form and select the most appropriate service for the patient. Referrals can be sent by fax to 9113 3765 or email SESLHD-StGeorge-GynaeClinic@health.nsw.gov.au.

Community diabetes education – Bengali

Diabetes NSW will run a FREE Bengali education program for people at risk of or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (and are not using insulin). This program will increase participants’ knowledge and confidence in managing diabetes.
Date: 7 February 2020
Time: 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Venue: Lakemba Community Hub, 130 Railway Pde, Lakemba
For bookings and enquiries, call 1300 342 238.

Click here to view the flyer.

GP Liaison in Alcohol and other Drug Project (GLAD)

GLAD is a multidisciplinary team, made up of doctors and nurses providing specialist advice to GPs for chronic and complex AOD issues. For referrals:

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (Sydney Hospital, Prince of Wales, St George and Sutherland Hospitals) - GP referral hotline: 1300 980 422.
Sydney Local Health District (RPAH, Concord, Canterbury Hospital) - Phone: 0436 691 533, ask for on call drug and alcohol doctor.
St Vincent’s Hospital (Darlinghurst) - Phone: 02 8382 1111, ask for on call drug and alcohol doctor, or GP Liaison Nurse: 0436 607 480.

Click here to view the flyer.

Allied Health Professions Australia update

AHPA is pleased to announce the launch of their NDIS registration support website for allied health providers. This website provides free resources and guidance to help allied health providers meet the requirements of NDIS registration and prepare for the audit process associated with registration.

Information for allied health providers about verification-level audits is currently available on the website. Information about certification-level audits will be coming soon, as well as webinars to help providers work their way through the steps involved.

Click here to view the new website.