Wednesday, 17 November 2021 - Dear subscriber, Welcome to this week's edition of Sydney Health Weekly.
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Dear subscriber,
Welcome to this week's edition of Sydney Health Weekly. This is your one-stop-shop for primary health news and events within the central and eastern Sydney region.
COVID-19 update
Read about recent changes to self-isolation for people with COVID-19, the latest NSW Health In Focus Report, where to go for boosters, upcoming webinars and podcasts and more.
Immunisation update
Read about the CESPHN Immunisation Working Group (EOI now open), the process for recording COVID-19 vaccines given overseas, a survey to improve vaccine safety surveillance and much more.
WEEKLY VIDEO
Mental health video competition 2021
Central and Eastern Sydney PHN's 'Mental Health Month' video competition ended in October. Watch the compilation of how our community took care of their mental health during the lockdown period.
Thank you to those who submitted their videos!
FEATURED NEWS
Cancer screening and reporting with CAT Plus
Learn how CAT Plus can be used for cancer screening and reporting in general practice with this Pen CS webinar.
The webinar will cover:
- CAT Plus functionality around cancer screening,
- examples for reports working with available filters in CAT4,
- recalling patients not up-to-date with their cancer screening status using Recall CAT and CAT Plus Prompts.
When: Thursday, 25 November 1-1.30 pm AEST
Have your say and inform the design of Topbar
Pen CS is inviting GPs, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers and other practice staff to have their say in the development and implementation of future Topbar app. This would include your thoughts on the app, how it works with your clinical workflow, and any enhancements.
Chronic pain and brain injury resource
New online resources are available for health professionals and clinicians treating clients or patients with chronic pain, particularly those who have sustained a brain injury.
Chronic pain can be managed using the simple tools on the chronic pain and brain injury website, which address pain, fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety and physical activity. The resources are all online and can be delivered virtually to patients and clients.
Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course
Medical and nurse practitioners with an interest in opioid dependence treatments are invited to attend the upcoming Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC). Funded by the NSW Ministry of Health, the course is designed for medical and nurse practitioners to assist in the development of knowledge, skills and practices to support the safe prescribing of opioid pharmacotherapies for the treatment of opioid dependence. Those who complete the 1 day course may be eligible to apply for accreditation to prescribe opioid treatment in NSW.
When: Sunday 21 November, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Where: Online (Zoom)
For more info contact OTAC: daniel.winter@sydney.edu.au
Drug and alcohol specialist support is a phone call away
The Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service (DASAS) is a free telephone service for health professionals in NSW who require advice on the clinical management of alcohol and other drug issues.
Contact DASAS: (02) 9361 8006 or free call 1800 023 687 for regional and rural NSW callers.
The Alcohol and Other Drug Information Service (ADIS) telephone service is also available to provide 24 hour 7 day a week telephone counselling, support, referrals and information for those affected by alcohol or other drugs. ADIS counsellors are trained to work with people who are concerned about their own alcohol and drug use, as well as callers who are concerned about their family or friends. ADIS is a free service which is available to all residents of NSW.
Contact ADIS: 1800 250 015
Non delivery of discharge summaries from South Eastern Sydney LHD
We have been advised by South Eastern Sydney LHD (SESLHD) that some GPs are failing to receive discharge summaries. This could be from practices discontinuing the use of the secure messaging solution Argus for their practice and not removing the practice and/or GP details from the Argus directory.
The discharge summary distribution functionality searches for Argus (A) first when distributing messages electronically and will only default to the next messaging provider if no GP/practice details are found in the Argus directory. If the GP practice/details are still found in the Argus directory, this will cause a delivery error.
If you would like further information or support, please do not hesitate to reach out to CEPSHN's Digital Health team at digitalhealth@cesphn.com.au.
SafeHaven return to face-to-face operations
If you or someone you care about is experiencing mental distress or thoughts of suicide and you'd like support, SafeHaven is here for you. SafeHaven is recommencing face-to-face service from Friday 12 November for people who are double vaccinated.
If you have questions or need further information, please contact us on (02) 9113 2981 or email SESLHD at SafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au
View flyer here. To view conditions of entry, click here.
Finding online mental health resources and services
Head to Health is a free service that provides you with access to reliable resources to better support your patient’s mental health and wellbeing. Specific mental health resources are also available to help your clients cope with the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. You can find information about different mental health conditions and reliable digital mental health services that your patients can access.
Head to Health Pop Up services are also available to connect your patients with a mental health service that is right for them.
Breast cancer screening services re-opening in Sydney
BreastScreen NSW is focused on re-opening all sites in a safe and client centred manner. There is a clear commitment to ensuring timely access to service is available to everyone impacted by the closure. As clinics welcome the community again, BreastScreen are prioritising women who had their appointment cancelled during the suspension to rebook their appointment as soon as it is possible in their local area.
Women and people with breasts are currently being invited to have their screens in the following CESPHN sites:
- Campsie
- CBD Sydney (David Jones)
- Miranda
- Randwick
- Royal Hospital for Women
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- St George Hospital.
Be prepared for thunderstorm asthma season
According to Asthma Australia, there is a greater risk of an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event occurring this year due to a wet spring encouraging grass growth. This is caused by the La Niña effect, which usually means above average winter to spring rainfall for Australia.
To ensure all members of the community are best prepared this thunderstorm season, Asthma Australia has information to help if an epidemic thunderstorm asthma warning is issued.
Improving health care for people with intellectual disability
CESPHN's Project GROW is ensuring primary care providers have access to the most update and useful tools, resources and information to assist their patients with intellectual disability:
- Triple P Parenting in central and eastern Sydney:
This resource gives parents tips to bring out the best in children so they can become more resilient and confident. - Sydney Disability Connection Expo 4 – 5 February 2022: This event connects, engages and supports participants and their carers and families with experienced and expert advice, essential goods, services and products.
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with disability:
Read the commission's two new reports on the experiences of people with disability in Australia
To receive CESPHN's Intellectual Disability eNewsletter, please email: IntellectualDisability@cesphn.com.au.
To join CESPHN's Disability Network, please email j.denford@cesphn.com.au. To view the Terms of Reference please click here.
Uniting Senior Wellness Centres
Uniting Senior Wellness Centres provide safe and supportive spaces for seniors and carers to meet to stay active, be social or just to take a break. Senior Wellness Centres have been designed with the purpose to assist older people maintain and regain their physical, social and emotional wellbeing, all under one friendly roof.
For more information on the location of these centres, click here. To view the campaign brochure, click here.
Diabetes health professionals applaud the release of the National Diabetes Strategy
The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), and the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) applaud the release of the long awaited 2021-2030 Australian National Diabetes Strategy: "The Australian National Diabetes Strategy and its subsequent implementation will have a drastic impact on improving the health of people living with diabetes."
This is an essential first step in improving diabetes care in Australia. Until MBS adequately covers prediabetes and gestational diabetes, as well as the referral of every person diagnosed and living with diabetes or prediabetes to a CDE, there is more work to be done.
The implementation plan, which will follow, will be critical for ensuring that the National Diabetes Strategy achieves its purposes. Both ADEA and ADS look forward to working closely with the Department of Health to ensure it does.
November 13-19 is Trans Awareness Week
Trans Awareness Week provides an opportunity for trans people, organisations and allies to come together to celebrate trans and gender diverse lives, raise awareness, champion visibility, and to address issues faced by trans people.
Co-produced by researchers and community advocates, the research paper Research Matters: Trans and gender diverse health and wellbeing provides useful resources in the lead up to Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20, which honours the memory of lives lost to acts of transphobia and anti-trans violence.
Take the opportunity this week to celebrate the amazing, creative, vibrant and insightful contribution that trans and gender diverse people make to our work; and commit to continuing to address inequalities, stigma, discrimination and violence.
Launch of 'My Rehab my journey - Gadjigadji' web resources
Join the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) to virtually launch the 'My rehab my journey – Gadjigadji' web resources, which were developed to support health professionals to create a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal people in rehabilitation wards and other healthcare services.
You will learn how the resources will benefit you and your patients, about cultural safety and its importance in healthcare and hear from experts in the field. A panel discussion will include clinicians and Aboriginal health workers from across NSW.
Date: Thursday, 9 December 2021
Time: 4.00 pm to 5.15 pm
Workshop: responding to domestic and family violence with a trauma-informed lens
Blue Knot Foundation and Safer Families are bringing you the latest in trauma-informed awareness and support for general practitioners and primary care providers to recognise complex trauma and its possible health presentations. Free for those working in a primary care setting.
To view workshop brochure, click here.
Webinar: electronic prescriptions update – Active Script List
Over 70,000 patients have already registered for an Active Script List (ASL). An ASL allows patients to access their electronic prescriptions simply through asserting their identity at pharmacies (without a QR Code Token).
Attend this webinar to understand how ASL will affect your prescribing workflow and how you can support patients who might benefit from registering for an ASL e.g. patients who take multiple medicines. The webinar will also feature practical demonstrations for different clinical information systems and provide an opportunity for you to ask any outstanding questions.
Date: Tuesday, 23 November
Time: 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Are your dermatology skills only skin deep? Advance your skills with the Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology
The RACGP’s Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology has been developed to help GPs and GPs in training increase their expertise and confidence when presented with dermatological cases in their practice.
Register for the certificate at any time of the year and complete it at your own pace (within three years). You can sign up per course or enrol for the whole certificate in advance – saving $1125 on course fees.
In addition, RACGP is offering workshops in dermoscopy and dermatological surgery to help you deepen your dermatology skills. Find out more by clicking the link below.
Applications open for the RACGP Mentoring Program
The RACGP’s Mentoring Program is an exciting opportunity for experienced GPs to share their wisdom and support another GP through the earlier stages of their career.
The program provides a platform for GPs to seek support, guidance, and advice on tackling a career in general practice, with a particular focus on wellbeing, collegiality, and career development.
Places for the program are filling up so be quick to apply to become a mentor or a mentee before applications close 30 November 2021.
EVENTS
CESPHN have made some changes to make it easier for you to register for CPD events.
Please ensure you use your registered email address and mobile number to register promptly. If you have not attended events with us in the past, you will be prompted to complete an Events Pass form prior to registering for an event. Please contact the CPD team if you experience any issues on events@cesphn.com.au
Respiratory medical update: Dyspnoea as persistent post COVID-19 symptoms
Presentation from Professor Christine Jenkins will investigate Dyspnoea presentations in patients recovering from COVID-19 and other common health complications as a result of this disease. Part of Lifehouse CPD series.
When: Wednesday, 17 November 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, OTs
RACGP points: 3
Coercive control and primary care
Join us for this online webinar on coercive control and the role of primary health care providers.
When: Tuesday, 23 November 12.30 pm – 1.15 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, nurses and allied health professionals
Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body.
Harnessing the power of data - Lumos GP webinar
Join us for this online webinar on the LUMOS Project where the May 2021 linkage reports will be discussed.
When: Wednesday, 1 December 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs and practice managers
Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body.
Sports injuries: presentations and management in general practice
Join us for this medical update on sports injuries and problem presentations and management in the general practice settings. Part of Hazelhurst CPD series.
When: Thursday, 25 November 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, nurses, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, OTs
Recorded CPD education sessions
We have a library of recorded CPD education and practice support resources. These videos cover a range of topics and can be self-reported as CPD education. You can find these videos on the CESPHN YouTube page here.
GP and AHP JOBS
This page lists the healthcare positions vacant and rooms for rent within our region at this current time. All enquiries should be made to the relevant contact noted on each job listing.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts. If you would like to submit an article, have content suggestions, or would like to provide feedback, please email editor@cesphn.com.au.
Central and Eastern Sydney PHN acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and Sovereign People of the Aboriginal land. CESPHN recognise their continuing connection to land, water, community and pay respect to Elders past, present and future.
