Sydney Health Weekly 24 April 2019

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.

Save the date: How would you improve the NDIS Access Request Form?

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is redesigning the Access Request Form (ARF) and is seeking feedback from health professionals at a face-to-face feedback and education session on Tuesday 30 April. Feedback will be used to inform improvements to the ARF, ensuring the form is easy for potential participants and their practitioners to understand and complete. This is an opportunity to have your say and meet members of the NDIS Access team.
Click here for more information.

Quality Improvement Practice Incentive Program Commencing Shortly

The Quality Improvement PIP (QI PIP) which replaces 5 existing PIP incentives – asthma, cervical screening, quality prescribing and aged care access commences on 1 August 2019. Your practice needs to participate in quality improvement activities, use a quality improvement tool and share data with CESPHN to be eligible. More details to be announced shortly. Your practice can adopt either POLAR (Population Level Analysis and Reporting) or PEN Clinical Audit Tool to meet the eligibility criteria for QI PIP. Prepare your practice before the August deadline and contact the Digital Health team at to discuss further.

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 CESPHN who provide a service to older patients residing in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and the community. Your views are important in improving shape 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.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccine for adolescents

Meningococcal disease occurs when meningococcal bacteria invades the body and causes serious disease. The meningococcal ACWY vaccine provides protection against four types of meningococcal disease, including two types which have become more common in Australia in recent years, caused by the type W and Y bacteria. From 1 April 2019, the vaccine is available for free through the National Immunisation Program to:

Year 10 students (aged 14–16 years) through school- based immunisation programs.
Adolescents aged 15 to 19 of age who missed receiving the vaccine at school through their GP or primary care provider

Click here for more information.

Free women's health clinic in Rockdale

Family Planning NSW offer a free service for women in CESPHN which includes cervical screening, sexual health checks, lifestyle disease screening, pregnancy testing and options, and contraceptive options. Women can make an appointment or simply drop in on Thursdays and Fridays at the Rockdale Community Health Centre.
Click here for more information.

NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has released the draft NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care for public consultation. We welcome you to view the draft guide and have your say. The consultation period is open until 24 May 2019.
Click here for more information.

Perinatal Mental Health - new information hubs for health professionals

The Centre for Perinatal Excellence has developed a dedicated section for health professionals regarding perinatal mental health. These dedicated information hubs enable health professionals to quickly access quality information including tailored guideline summary, screening and assessment tools, and fact sheets for health professionals and those in your care.

These Information Hubs have been tailored for the following professions:

Click here and identify your relevant health professional Information Hub.

Just Checking: Bowel, breast and cervical screening

Cervical, breast and bowel screening is important for everyone, but we know that people with intellectual disability are not screened as often as they should be. Just Checking is a project funded by Cancer Institute NSW to help address this health inequality. Visit the Family Planning NSW Just Checking website to find a range of resources designed by and for people with intellectual disability. There are also resources specifically for support workers, parents and carers to build their confidence in supporting people with intellectual disability to access cancer screening.
Click here for more information.

Let’s work together to improve youth health in Eastern Sydney

Imagine being able to get appropriate care for your adolescent patient with one phone call. Imagine feeling like you’ve had all your hard ground work supported, enhanced and celebrated - let’s make this a reality, not a fantasy! Find out more about how we can work together in Eastern Sydney.
Click here for more information.

Perinatal Mental Health - new information hubs for health professionals

The Centre for Perinatal Excellence has developed a dedicated section for health professionals regarding perinatal mental health. These dedicated information hubs enable health professionals to quickly access quality information including tailored guideline summary, screening and assessment tools, and fact sheets for health professionals and those in your care.

These Information Hubs have been tailored for the following professions:

Click here and identify your relevant health professional Information Hub.

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 CESPHN who provide a service to older patients residing in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and the community. Your views are important in improving shape 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.

NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the draft NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care for public consultation. We welcome you to view the draft guide and have your say. The consultation period is open until 24 May 2019.
Click here for more information.

Family Drug Support training workshops: Support The Family Improve The Outcome workshops for those who work with people who use drugs

The objectives of this workshop are:

Gain knowledge of successful models of change for supporting families affected by someone's drug issues.
Identify the stages that families experience and effective ways to respond.
Learn how to communicate more effectively with families in a work and/or professional situation.
Develop understanding and gain skills to assist families to build resilience and improve the outcome for both the person who uses drugs and the family.

This workshop is proudly sponsored by Central and Eastern Sydney PHN.
Click here for more information.

Just Checking: Bowel, breast and cervical screening

Cervical, breast and bowel screening is important for everyone, but we know that people with intellectual disability are not screened as often as they should be. Just Checking is a project funded by Cancer Institute NSW to help address this health inequality. Visit the Family Planning NSW Just Checking website to find a range of resources designed by and for people with intellectual disability. There are also resources specifically for support workers, parents and carers to build their confidence in supporting people with intellectual disability to access cancer screening.
Click here for more information.

Let’s work together to improve youth health in Eastern Sydney

Imagine being able to get appropriate care for your adolescent patient with one phone call? Imagine feeling like you’ve had all your hard ground work supported, enhanced and celebrated - let’s make this a reality, not a fantasy! Find out more about how we can work together in Eastern Sydney.
Click here for more information.

Family Drug Support training workshops: Support The Family Improve The Outcome workshops for those who work with people who use drugs

The objectives of this workshop are:

Gain knowledge of successful models of change for supporting families affected by someone's drug issues.
Identify the stages that families experience and effective ways to respond.
Learn how to communicate more effectively with families in a work and/or professional situation.
Develop understanding and gain skills to assist families to build resilience and improve the outcome for both the person who uses drugs and the family.

This workshop is proudly sponsored by Central and Eastern Sydney PHN.
Click here for more information.

NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the draft NSQHS Standards User Guide for Medication Management in Cancer Care for public consultation.We welcome you to view the draft guide and have your say. The consultation period is open until 24 May 2019.
Click here for more information.

Just Checking: Bowel, breast and cervical screening

Cervical, breast and bowel screening is important for everyone, but we know that people with intellectual disability are not screened as often as they should be. Just Checking is a project funded by Cancer Institute NSW to help address this health inequality. Visit the Family Planning NSW Just Checking website to find a range of resources designed by and for people with intellectual disability. There are also resources specifically for support workers, parents and carers to build their confidence in supporting people with intellectual disability to access cancer screening.
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.