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. We are constantly working on making your news as targeted and relevant as possible and welcome your feedback to editor@cesphn.com.au.

Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

As you may be aware there is currently a Royal Commission into quality and safety of aged care services. Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN) will be providing a submission on behalf of primary care practitioners working in central and eastern Sydney who provide a service to older patients residing in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and the community. Your views are important in shaping the future of aged care services. Please complete the following survey questions about aged care services, and tell us what you think works well and where things could be improved. This survey is to be completed by medical practitioners, practice nurses, allied health staff and pharmacists who visit RACFs and provide a service to older people living in the community. 
Click here to complete the survey.

Survey: Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

Following an extensive community consultation process, draft actions for the Central and Eastern Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan have been developed. We are now seeking feedback on the draft actions. Your feedback is important and will be used to refine and finalise the Regional Plan. 
Click here to access the survey.

EOI: CESPHN GP Engagement Strategy – Consultation Roles

Are you interested in strengthening the PHN’s role in supporting general practice? Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is seeking expressions of interest from general practitioners to partake in consultations for our new GP Engagement Strategy. This strategy will deliver better engagement and will offer a targeted approach to general practice needs. For more details, please contact Win Yee Tan.
Click here for more information.

EOI - Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is seeking Expressions of Interest for representatives to join the CESPHN Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee. The committee provides a forum for discussion of key policy changes and developments impacting the AOD sector and identifies suitable strategies and activities to achieve common goals in relation to improving local service provision and client outcomes.
Click here for more information.

Concluding Soon: Aged Care Outreach Services GP Referrer Survey

CESPHN has commissioned an independent researcher, Outcome Services, in part of an evaluation to see how well residents in local aged care facilities are being supported. The evaluation is surveying GPs, practice managers  and practice nurses to help understand how well aged care outreach services are meeting local needs. Complete the survey to win a free Fitbit Charge 2!
Click here for more information.

Event: Parkinson's Disease, Spasticity and Multidisciplinary Post Stroke Management 

Join us on Thursday 21 May for an update on parkinsons disease and post stroke rehabilitation. Specialists at the MetroRehab Hospital will provide GPs, physiotherapists and occupational therapists with an update on signs and motor and non motor symptoms to assist with the diagnosis of Parkinsons disease and Parkinson Plus Syndromes. 
Click here for more information.

EOI - Practice nurse in SESLHD region for immunisation working group

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is seeking interest from practice nurses who would like to be involved in immunisation planning, review of strategies and attend two face to face meetings per year with the local Public Health Unit (Randwick).
Click here for more information.

Child health webinar

This webinar explores child-focused approaches when working with parents affected by family and domestic violence.
Click here for more information.

Accreditation 5th Edition Standards - What's different from the 4th?

Is your practice going through Accreditation this year or next? The new 5th edition standards are here and there are significant changes and updates that you will need to know about. 
Click here for more information.

PIP and Annual Confirmation Statements – don’t forget to return!

In May each year Human Services will send an annual confirmation statement to practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP). General Practices need to complete their annual confirmation statement before PIP payments can be released. Do not forget to complete and return your statement as practice’s payments will be withheld if a practice does not return a fully completed confirmation statement by the point in time.
Click here for more information.

NSW Health Maternity Care Policy Consultation Workshop

AMA NSW is encouraging members to participate in the NSW Ministry of Health review process for the maternity care policy Towards Normal Birth in NSW.
Click here for more information.

Diabetes footcare workshops – we will come to you!

The Diabetes Healthy Feet project team is offering free diabetes foot screening and risk stratification workshops for practices based in SLHD. The project team will visit participating practices to observe and support clinicians in carrying out diabetic foot assessment and management strategies based on the risk score. For more information, please contact Georgina Frank. 

My Health Record Update

The latest edition of the My Health Record Newsletter for GPs and medical specialists was released on 9 May. Included in this edition are details on the new My Health Record education and adoption activity, My Health Record interview discussion, reminders, education resources, upcoming webinar events, our remaining upcoming workshops (register quick!) and new resources.
Click here to view the newsletter.

Event: Common Liver Diseases, Chis O'Brien Lifehouse

Come and join us for dinner and education on treating common liver diseases in Australia on Thursday 23 May. Liver Cancer is one of the few cancers with no improvement in five-year survival since 2009 and is projected to become the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality in Australia. Poor outcomes of liver cancer are occurring in an era when most other cancers (eg bowel, breast, cervical) are associated with improving survival because of a combination of early detection and improved treatment approaches. Learn more about new treatments and options for your practice to better manage patients living with common liver disease. This includes techniques to help people reduce their alcohol intake.
Click here for more information.

Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

As you may be aware there is currently a Royal Commission into quality and safety of aged care services. Central and Eastern Sydney PHN will be providing a submission on behalf of primary care practitioners working in central and eastern Sydney who provide a service to older patients residing in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and the community. Your views are important in shaping the future of aged care services. Please complete the following survey questions about aged care services, and tell us what you think works well and where things could be improved. This survey is to be completed by medical practitioners, practice nurses, allied health staff and pharmacists who visit RACFs and provide a service to older people living in the community. A separate survey will be developed for Residential Direct Care Staff working in RACFs.
Click here to complete the survey.

Survey: Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

Following an extensive community consultation process, draft actions for the Central and Eastern Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan have been developed. We are now seeking feedback on the draft actions. Your feedback is important and will be used to refine and finalise the Regional Plan. 
Click here to access the survey.

EOI - Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is seeking Expressions of Interest for representatives to join the CESPHN Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee. The committee provides a forum for discussion of key policy changes and developments impacting the AOD sector and identifies suitable strategies and activities to achieve common goals in relation to improving local service provision and client outcomes.
Click here for more information.

Child health webinar

This webinar explores child-focused approaches when working with parents affected by family and domestic violence.
Click here for more information.

Diabetes footcare workshops – we will come to you!

The Diabetes Healthy Feet project team is offering free diabetes foot screening and risk stratification workshops for practices based in SLHD. The project team will visit participating practices to observe and support clinicians in carrying out diabetic foot assessment and management strategies based on the risk score. For more information, please contact Georgina Frank. 

My Health Record Update

The latest edition of the My Health Record Newsletter for pharmacists and allied health was released on 9 May. Included in this edition are details on the new My Health Record education and adoption activity, My Health Record interview discussion, allied health update, good news stories, reminders, education resources, upcoming webinar events including how to use My Health Record using Fred Dispense, our remaining upcoming workshops (register quick!) and new resources. 
Click here to view the newsletter.

Survey: Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

Following an extensive community consultation process, draft actions for the Central and Eastern Sydney Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan have been developed. We are now seeking feedback on the draft actions. Your feedback is important and will be used to refine and finalise the Regional Plan. 
Click here to access the survey.

Survey: Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety - Residential Direct Care Employees

We need your assistance. Please tell us what you think about aged care services, including what is working well and what can be improved, and go into the draw for one of five $100 Westfield’s vouchers. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety provides an opportunity for reforms to improve the quality of aged care services and support its dedicated aged care workers/managers. We would like you to tell us what you think is working well and what can be improved in aged care. Please forward this email with survey link to staff in your facility so everyone has an opportunity to provide feedback.
Click here to access the survey for residential direct care staff working in RACFs.
Click here for more information.

Survey: Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety -
non-government organisations

We need your assistance. Please tell us what you think about aged care services, including what is working well and what can be improved. Your feedback will help Central and Eastern Sydney PHN put together a written submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety on behalf of primary care providers in the CESPHN region. All responses will be kept confidential. CESPHN will only use the information that you provide to us for the purpose stated above. No non-government organisation staff member or organisation will be identified. Thank you for completing the below survey questions. Your feedback is important and will help make services better for older people now and in the future.
Click here to access the survey for community organisations.

EOI - Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is seeking Expressions of Interest for representatives to join the CESPHN Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee. The committee provides a forum for discussion of key policy changes and developments impacting the AOD sector and identifies suitable strategies and activities to achieve common goals in relation to improving local service provision and client outcomes.
Click here for more information.

Concluding Soon: Aged Care Outreach Services GP Referrer Survey

CESPHN has commissioned an independent researcher, Outcome Services, in part of an evaluation to see how well residents in local aged care facilities are being supported. The evaluation is surveying GPs, practice managers  and practice nurses to help understand how well aged care outreach services are meeting local needs. Complete the survey to win a free Fitbit Charge 2!
Click here for more information.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts. If you would like to submit an article or have suggestions on content you would be interested in reading, please email editor@cesphn.com.au.