COVID-19 UPDATE

It is important to stay vigilant and encourage people to test for COVID-19, especially with new strains appearing.

Check the NSW Health website for COVID-19 updates.

For local advice visit the CESPHN coronavirus webpage.

HealthPathways: Sydney
HealthPathways: South East Sydney 

This week's update covers:

Staying vigilant and encouraging testing for COVID-19

• COVID hotspots in our region
• Latest NSW Health advice to RACFs and home care service providers

VOX POP

Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT) groups for people who experience severe mental illness

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN invites eligible applicants to apply to deliver Group Dialectical Behaviour Therapy informed models of care for people experiencing complex mental health conditions, including co-occurring conditions, until June 2023.

Adapted models informed by dialectical behaviour therapy are sought to provide shorter and more accessible options for clients to receive this kind of therapy.

Applications should not seek to duplicate existing comprehensive DBT models being provided by other organisations, including state and territory government services.

This tender opens on Monday, 18 January and will close at 9.00am on Monday, 22 February 2021. To apply, please access information via the CESPHN tender portal. All questions regarding this tender will be addressed via Tenderlink. 
 

Adult Intellectual Disability Mental Health ECHO

Adult Intellectual Disability Mental Health ECHO is a NSW Health capacity building initiative that supports healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines and service settings to improve mental health outcomes for people with an intellectual disability.

Through participation, healthcare professionals can develop confidence and specialised knowledge to deliver specialised mental health care to adults with intellectual disability within their own local communities. 

Encourage your patients to book their free breast screen!

The BreastScreen mobile van is rolling into our region:

• Menai: 20 January - 5 February
• Engadine: 8 February - 12 March
• La Perouse: 15 March - 1 April 

A GP referral is not required however GP encouragement and support is an invaluable component for a woman’s health behaviour choices.

Bookings can be done online or by calling 13 20 50. An interpreter is also available upon request.

Want to earn RACGP CPD points through your practice meetings while enhancing clinical practice?

GPs are invited to participate in a research project evaluating in-practice random case analysis of GP records for quality improvement. Participants will be involved in meetings at their own practice during which a random selection of recent clinical records will be reviewed. Practice GPs will take turns to have their records reviewed.

After each meeting, participants whose records were reviewed and the meeting chair will be individually interviewed about the experience of random case analysis, with a focus on its educational impact and acceptability.

For more information, contact Lead Investigator Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac.

Identifying and responding to domestic and family violence in primary care settings

Would you like to see better outcomes for your patients experiencing domestic and family violence?

From early 2021, CESPHN will be providing in-practice support to primary care providers to identify, appropriately respond to and refer patients experiencing domestic and family violence. The suite of supports available, which includes staff training and policy development, can be customised to meet the needs of participating practices.

We will be disseminating a survey in the coming weeks to inform the design and implementation of the service and we encourage all primary care providers to participate.

If you would like more information or if your practice would be interested in partaking in the service, please contact our Domestic Violence Educator Lauren Gecuk.

Research opportunity - DVA survey on treatment cycle arrangements

In October 2019, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) introduced treatment cycle arrangements for referrals from GPs to allied health providers for DVA clients.

These arrangements are being independently evaluated by Queensland University of Technology at the request of DVA. This survey is an important part of better understanding the needs and experiences of veterans and health professionals.

RECALL: Tenofovir Disoproxil Emtricitabine Mylan 300/200

Consumers and health professionals are advised that Alphapharm Pty Ltd, in consultation with the TGA, is undertaking a recall of all batches of Tenofovir Disoproxil Emtricitabine Mylan 300/200 tablets due to the potential for broken/split tablets.

If an affected tablet was not consumed entirely, this could result in an ineffective dose.

Consumers that have any units of unexpired stock should return them to their pharmacist for a refund. Health care providers seeking further guidance should consult the ASHM PrEP Guidelines.

ONLINE EVENT: Getting your practice COVID vaccine ready Part 2

Part two in this webinar series will focus on the current status in regard to the rollout of COVID vaccines and help you prepare your practice for mass vaccination.

When: Tuesday, 2 February, 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and practice staff

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

Intellectual disability training survey

Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) is developing training for health professionals. The aim of the training is to increase knowledge, skills and confidence in health professionals to work with people with intellectual disability.

CID have created a short survey to gather information from across all areas of health. This survey will inform CID what you see as the most important issues to cover within the training. Other topics will include ways to improve interaction and communication with people with intellectual disability.

Your input is vital in helping us develop relevant, engaging and insightful training.

Along with the training CID will also create health literacy resources for people with intellectual disability to help communication with their health providers. All resources will be developed in consultation with people with intellectual disability and health and disability professionals.

Dates for the NDIA 'Have your Say' consultation sessions

As part of NDIA's commitment to keeping you informed and updated, the NDIS Have Your Say consultation sessions will be taking place virtually across January and February. 

Immunisation weekly update

Keep up to date with the latest immunisation news! Read about:

• Nurse scholarship for authorised immuniser course

• SmartVax and AusVaxSafety

• Mandatory reporting to AIR update

• Disposal of expired vaccines

ONLINE EVENT: E-mental health in general practice

Presented by Black Dog Institute participants will be introduced to the concept of stepped care in mental health, specifically in the context of the way mental health problems present and are managed in primary care.

When: Wednesday, 10 February, 6.30pm -8.30pm
Where: Online
RACGP points: 4
Target audience: GPs, psychologists and social workers

Depot buprenorphine training

Funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, the Treatment of Opioid Dependence with Depot Buprenorphine course is designed to complement the existing educational activities available through the Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC).

Depot buprenorphine is a new pharmacotherapy that represents a significant development in the model of care for patients with opioid dependence. As an OTAC member, you can access this short course for free.

Face masks and how to wear them safely

NSW Health has released a new poster on how to wear a face mask safely that you may want to display.

There are also graphics promoting face mask usage in multiple languages. See link here and search Resource Type: Graphics (Social), Topic: Face masks

When wearing a face mask remember these useful tips:

• Try speaking a bit more loudly and slowly
• Use body language
• Smile with your eyes
• Be verbal rather than just nodding or smiling
• Remain patient if you need to repeat yourself

Pharmacist training for vaccinations

The pharmacist must complete a training course that complies with the Australian Pharmacy Council 'Standards for the Accreditation of Programs to Support Pharmacist Administration of Vaccines' (current version). The training course must also be conducted by an Australian Pharmacy Council accredited pharmacy education program provider.

The pharmacist vaccinator must ensure that they have completed training for all authorised vaccines that they intend to administer. Currently three vaccines are included in the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards.

EVENTS