Safety alert: Zostavax vaccine - not to be used in people with compromised immune function

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has  advised that Zostavax® should not be used in people with compromised immune function, as it is associated with a risk of mild to serious complications (including death) from infection with the vaccine virus.

Health professionals are reminded that, rarely, disseminated varicella-zoster virus (Oka vaccine strain) infection can occur in patients following administration of Zostavax vaccine. Although this adverse event can occur in immunocompetent patients, the risk increases with the degree of immunosuppression.

The new case demonstrates the importance of careful pre-screening and a risk-based assessment prior to the administration of Zostavax. Do not administer Zostavax if the immune status of the patient is unclear. If appropriate, pre-screening could include medical specialist consultation and potentially screening for pre-existing antibody to varicella-zoster virus.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook contains the current guidance on screening. 

Preparing for potential COVID-19 outbreaks

General practices, have you seen our  new webpage which can help you plan for potential COVID-19 outbreaks?

This page includes:

• Key reminders for general practice 
• COVID-19 Clinical Guidance and Pathway
• PPE requests 
• PPE suppliers
• MBS COVID-19 Telehealth items 
• a handy Summer Planning Checklist

 Free access to psychiatrist secondary consultations for GPs in the Monash Health catchment

To support you in addressing the mental health of your patients, SEMPHN has partnered with Monash Health to provide general practitioners with free access to secondary consultations with an experienced psychiatrist.

The three-month trial is part of the recently announced Victorian Government’s $60 million additional mental health funding for 2020/21. 

What’s on offer?

You can access a free, 30-minute phone consultation during business hours to discuss your patient’s mental health, for example: diagnostic issues, medication options, developing safety plans and general management. 

The service is applicable to patients of all ages and includes generalist and subspecialist advice, including that related to children, aged persons, LGBTIQ, perinatal and intellectual disability.

This is a non-urgent service, and clinical responsibility for the patient remains with you (the treating GP).

You will not be expected to provide patient identifying information.

When is this available, and for who?

The service starts on 11 January and is available to general practitioners located in the SEMPHN catchment and Monash Health mental health catchment.

How can I access this service?

Call SEMPHN’s Access & Referral on 1800 862 363, 8.30 am-4.30 pm weekdays. Faxed referrals will not be accepted. You will be asked to provide information which will be sent to the psychiatrist at Monash Health before the formal consultation.

Alfred Health Specialist Clinics and GP Liaison update

Alfred Health Specialist Clinics have now returned to normal activity.

All referrals will be triaged according to clinical need, but due to the impact of COVID-19, non-urgent appointments may be delayed.

For more information on the Alfred Health Specialist Clinics, click here. 

Specialist care units for patients with severe symptoms of dementia

The Specialist Dementia Care Program provides specialist accommodation, management and support for those people living with dementia who are unable to be cared for by mainstream aged care services. 

The service supports people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

The program offers transitionary care to reduce or stabilise symptoms and enable people to move to less intensive care settings. The average length of stay in the program is expected to be around one year.

Eligibility

• The person will generally display very severe behaviours and symptoms as a result of dementia
• Symptoms may include aggression, severe agitation, vocalisation, and severe depression and/or anxiety and suicidality as a result of dementia.
• Additionally, the person’s behaviours have not improved following the implementation of behaviour management strategies.

Referrals

Referrals can now be made to the Specialist Dementia Care Program in the SEMPHN catchment: HammondCare Caulfield, 294 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield. 

To refer someone to be assessed for the program, please visit Dementia Support Australia.

For more information on the program, please visit the Department of Health website. 

New MBS items for patients in residential aged care facilities

Mental health

Aged care residents can now access mental health services under the Better Access initiative from 10 December 2020 to 30 June 2022.

Over this period, eligible aged care residents can access up to 20 Medicare subsidised individual psychological services each calendar year. Psychological services will be provided by eligible General Practitioners (GPs) and other medical practitioners, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists and flag falls will be provided to practitioners to visit aged care facilities.

Read more. 

Chronic Disease Management

Patients in residential aged care facilities can now access Medicare benefits for chronic disease management services. From 22 December 2020, you can start claiming for services provided from 10 December. The frequency and number of these services for residents in aged care facilities is similar to the general population.

Patients need to be on a chronic disease management plan and be reviewed after each referral has expired. Each year they can access:

• 5 individual and 8 group allied health services
• 5 additional services for individual physiotherapy, exercise physiology and occupational therapy
• 2 additional services for group exercise physiology.

Read more. 

General practices: Are your business hours affected during the summer holidays?

As we roll into 2021, many GPs or clinics may be closed over the holiday period. During this time, the emergency department sees higher volumes of non--urgent presentations. 

Healthdirect has developed a number of social media assets and downloadable posters to help community members find information and advice about their health concerns. 

These messages may be particularly helpful during holiday periods and in the after-hours if patients' regular GP is not available.

They are designed to help consumers understand that healthdirect is available 24/7 via helpline, website and app - no matter when or where they are experiencing a health concern.

Access the resources here. 

Wellbeing resources for businesses

Partners in Wellbeing Helpline 

The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline is available to Victorian business owners, their employees and business advisers. The 1300 375 330 Helpline is available seven days a week from 9 am to 10 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5 pm on weekends.

Download a printable flyer in addition to these videos which are available for small business owners, small business employees and trusted business advisers. More information is available on the Business Victoria website.

Mentally healthy workplace

 Supporting mental health and wellbeing both throughout COVID-19 and the road to recovery is an important investment in the people who are the public face, decision makers and drivers of your organisation.

This guide from the National Mental Health Commission outlines principles for creating a mentally healthy workplace during COVID-19 which complements advice on how to protect the physical safety of your workforce. 

Seeking input on the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Deloitte is seeking views from GPs, practice nurses and relevant policy officers involved in the screening and diagnosis of bowel cancer to participate in a short survey regarding their experience with the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Please click the following link to commence the survey: Take me to the survey

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey closes on 15 January 2021.