COVID-19 UPDATE

There are currently 41 active cases of COVID-19 in NSW, all of which were acquired overseas. There are 0 cases of COVID-19 having been locally acquired.

It is important to continue testing of anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 to ensure any potential community transmission is quickly identified.

Check the NSW Health website for COVID-19 updates.

For local advice visit the CESPHN coronavirus webpage.

Follow our social media channels for regular updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and other critical information for health professionals:

This week's update covers:

• Vaccine roll-out continues
• GP update for COVID-19 vaccine EOI 
• NSW restrictions ease
• Support for returning travellers

HealthPathways: Sydney
HealthPathways: South East Sydney 

WEEKLY VIDEO

HEADSTART: Local mental health platform launches

Are your clients looking for local mental health support but do not know where to begin? CESPHN and the Headstart Working Group are proud to announce the launch of Headstart Central and Eastern Sydney today.

Headstart guides users to find local mental health resources and services tailored to their needs.

Follow the buttons below to visit the new website, download the poster to hang in your office and read the media release.

Immunisation weekly update!

We have updated and enhanced our Immunisation web pages.

Below are new pages with resources that may be useful to you:

• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Influenza 2021
• Immunisation - Nurses
• Immunisation - Pharmacists
• Immunisation – RACF
• Immunisation Alerts and Notices

If you need any support or have any questions, please email: immunisation@cesphn.com.au

Follow our social media channels for regular updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and other critical information for health professionals:

Keep up to date with the latest immunisation news for health professionals on our website! 

Read about:

• New AstraZeneca modules for COVID-19 vaccination training now available
• ​Mandatory reporting to AIR commences now!
• Watch the weekly GP updates on COVID-19 vaccination

Important changes to the National Cervical Screening Program's Clinical Guidelines for women at intermediate risk

It is now recommended that women with a 12-month follow up intermediate risk result should not be recommended to undertake a further HPV follow up test in 12 months' time following their previous HPV test instead of referral colposcopy. 

New digital channels for National Cancer Screening Register

The National Register supports the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and National Cervical Screening Program and has introduced new online channels to support screening care for your patient. 

Shared Cancer Care - specialist nurse support for GPs

GPCanShare is a project that will assist GPs in providing care for their patients with cancer. Integrated nurse coordinators will facilitate seamless coordination of care for patients and liaise between the patient's cancer specialist or palliative team and their general practice. 

General practice will be provided regular updates on all aspects of their patient's care via their preferred communication method. 

GPs wanting to register for the GPCanShare model are encouraged to complete the following expression of interest form.

Reminder: Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Assist Survey

The new CESPHN DFV Assist service aims to build the skills and knowledge of primary care providers to identify and appropriately respond to domestic and family violence by providing training, support and a simple referral pathway. 

CESPHN is inviting primary care providers to complete a survey to help inform the design and implementation of the DFV Assist service. Survey respondents will go in the draw to win a $50 gift card. Survey closes 10th March 2021. 

For more information contact Lauren Gecuk, DFV Assist Educator.

Best Practice webinars on pathology & radiology requests

There are free Best Practice Premier webinars that will take you through the ins and outs of all things pathology, and radiology requests.

When: Wednesday, 24 March 2021 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am AEDT and 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm AEDT
Where: Online

Covered in the webinar:

• Requesting pathology tests
• Requesting radiology tests
• Setting up favourites
• Adding custom tests
• Allocating incoming reports
• Tips and tricks for reviewing results
• Marking results as given

Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) eLearning training

Dental decay (caries) is preventable, yet 2 in 5 of children (42 per cent) have experienced tooth decay in their baby teeth by age 5-10 years (AIHW 2014), which can lead to pain, difficulty with eating and speech issues. Early detection and intervention is the key. As primary health providers you play an essential role in engaging with new parents and guiding them to make healthy choices in caring for their children’s teeth. 

The Centre for Oral Health Strategy, NSW Ministry of Health, has developed ‘free online training’ to support you in preventing dental caries. This training is suitable for medical and dental practitioners, nurses, midwives, Aboriginal health workers, allied health professionals and those working with children services.

WEBINAR: Registrations open for ASHM’s Online Hepatitis B Prescriber Course

Become an s100 prescriber for Hepatitis B, manage and treat chronic hepatitis B in primary care settings.

As the number of people living with CHB increases, there is a growing need for GPs and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), particularly those with patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, to diagnose, treat and monitor CHB in a community setting.

This course will take place over 3 weeks, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (AEDT) on the following dates:

• Learning Session 1: Tuesday 16 March 2021
• Learning Session 2: Tuesday 23 March 2021

• Learning Session 3: Wednesday 31 March 2021

This education is a CPD Accredited Activity under the RACGP CPD Program.

Expressions of interest – ELDAC Working Together Program

ELDAC’s team of facilitators assist, support and enable health and aged care workers to provide best quality care for older Australians and their families at the end of life. 

Expressions of interest are now open for aged care service providers who wish to develop palliative care and advance care planning activities within their organisation.

Expressions of interest close on 19 March 2021.

How to access immunisation information in My Health Record

The Australian Digital Health Agency is running sessions on how to access and upload immunisation information in My Health Record, including the Australian Immunisation Register. 

See the virtual classroom sessions below for training across the different Clinical Information Systems.

Research opportunity - SPHERE COPD Study

The SPHERE COPD study is evaluating the feasibility of a system designed to remotely monitor the health of COPD patients in the community. Participants will be provided with a pulse oximeter and peak flow meter tethered via Bluetooth to a pre-configured smartphone and asked to provide daily measurements.

Interested GPs can contact Tom Bradbury at tbradbury@georgeinstitute.org.au

Pharmacy talking points for March

Please see the talking points for March for pharmacists that have been distributed to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild for circulation to pharmacists.

Talking points include: 

• Mandatory reporting the Australian Immunisation Register
• Relevant qualifications an Authorised Nurse Immuniser requires to be able to practice in NSW and more.

NDIS update

Keep up to date with announcements and updates from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In this update:

• Independent assessment panel announced
• NEW access request form
• Latest NDIS Quarterly Report
• NDIS mobile app testing
• and MORE!

If you have direct feedback or questions please email community.enagement.nsw@ndis.gov.au

EVENTS

Cardiac care in the COVID era

Join us for this online webinar on Cardiac care, part of the Prince of Wales Private Hospital CPD series.

When: TONIGHT! Wednesday, 3 March 2021 | 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Where: Online
RACGP Points: 4
Target Audience: GPs, AHPs and practice nurses

Getting your practice COVID vaccine ready - part 3

Part three in this webinar series will assist you in preparing your practice for the rollout of the COVID vaccines.

Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body

When: Wednesday, 10 March 2021 | 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Where: Online
Target Audience: GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and practice staff

Managing chronic kidney disease in general practice (part of St George Hospital CPD series)

Join us for this breakfast webinar on Chronic kidney disease management.

When: Tuesday, 9 March 2021 | 7.30 am - 8.30 am
Where: Online
RACGP Points: 2
Target Audience: GPs and practice nurses

Adult Asthma Management- what's new?

Brought to you by the National Asthma Council Australia as part of the Asthma Best Practice for Professionals Program and CESPHN.

When: Thursday, 18 March 2021 | 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm
Where: Online
Target Audience: GPs, AHPs and practice nurses

ENT Medical Update (Hazelhurst CPD series)

Join us for the latest update in ENT diagnosis and management.

When: Thursday, 25 March 2021 | 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm
Where: Online
Target Audience:  GPs, AHPs Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, OTs

GENERAL PRACTICE JOBS