Immunisation weekly update

Keep up to date with the latest immunisation news for health professionals on our website.

Read about:

• EOI: Immunisation working group
• ​Adolescents may present at GP for routine vaccination
• Recording COVID-19 vaccine dose numbers for boosters
• Updated training modules for COVID-19 booster shots
• ​Updated: COVID-19 vaccines and the AIR
• Use of a different COVID-19 vaccine as the second dose
• COVID-19 vaccination for women who are pregnant
• COVID-19 vaccination of people with immunocompromise: updated information
• Myocarditis and Pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
• ATAGI 2021 annual statement on immunisation
• COVID-19 live stream update for GPs

If you need any support or have any questions, please email: immunisation@cesphn.com.au

Follow our social media channels for regular updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and other critical information for health professionals:

2022 CESPHN Publications Calendar 

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN publish a number of eNewsletters annually that are tailored to a specific program or service in our community. Our 2022 Publication Calendar is out now for the following eNewsletters: 

• Alcohol and Other Drugs eNews 
• Antenatal Shared Care eNews
• Eora Health Messenger 
• Intellectual Disability eNews
• Primary Health Quarterly eNews 
• MP newsletter 
• Staff newsletter 

To subscribe to our publications click here or email editor@cesphn.com.au 

Stakeholder collaboration between CES Allied Health Network and Charles Perkins Centre Research Hub

CES Allied Health Network has initiated an important stakeholder collaboration with Charles Perkins Centre Research Hub (The University of Sydney), with the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding, inline with CESPHN and CESAHN's common vision of better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

Heart Health Checks – now is the time 

Join Katrina Otto, Owner of Train IT and Practice Manager at O’Connell Street Clinic, and the Heart Foundation as they talk about implementing Heart Health Checks in your practice.

The session overview:

• The impact COVID has had on Heart Health Checks
• How to use data to identify care gaps and assess risk
• Discuss opportunities to incorporate heart checks in routine patient appointments
• Identify quality improvements to easily qualify for Practice Incentive Payments by maximising your use of technology
• How to implement a systematic preventative health approach

When: 18 November, 2021, 12 – 1pm AEDT

How pharmacists can assist older people impacted by COVID restrictions 

Relationships Australia NSW are supporting people over 65 years and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55 years who live in the CESPHN region through their Reconnect Wellbeing Program. This program aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve wellbeing and increase connections for older people affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

Support includes:

• client-centred casework
• low intensity psychological therapies
• psychosocial support, and
• referrals to other health and support services.

Awareness of this free service may assist you to offer support to your older patients.

Referrals can be made by calling 1300 364 277 or visiting https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/support-services/reconnect/

How GPs can assist older people impacted by COVID restrictions

GPs are uniquely placed to understand and be attuned to the changing needs of older adults who have been experiencing loss, isolation, and disconnection during the lockdown. Lockdown ends with an opportunity for you to ask older people about their well-being, social connectedness and access to supports.

Relationships Australia NSW are supporting people over 65 years and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55 years who live in the CESPHN region through their Reconnect Wellbeing Program. This program aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve wellbeing and increase connections for older people affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

Support includes:

• client-centred casework
• low intensity psychological therapies
• psychosocial support, and
• referrals to other health and support services.

Awareness of this free service may assist you to offer support to your older patients.

 Referrals can be made by calling 1300 364 277 or visiting https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/support-services/reconnect/

Clean Slate Clinic: Addressing The Top FAQs in Alcohol Detox 

Join the Clean Slate Clinic for an informative webinar, answering frequently asked questions about home detox! 

Date: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Time: 6.30pm - 7.00pm (EST)
Location: Online Event

Hosts include: 

• Dr Hester Wilson, Chair of the RACGP's Specific Interests Addiction Medicine
• Dr Chris Davis, a GP with a special interest in alcohol withdrawal management and founder of the Clean Slate Clinic
• Lucy Scopelliti, a Nurse Practitioner who has worked over 20 years in the drug and alcohol field
• Jenny Ryan, a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years’ experience in the management and delivery of drug and alcohol treatment and mental health programs

Webinar - Veteran CVC changes and NEW White Card eligibility 

From 1 July this year Veteran White Card holders who have an accepted mental health condition became eligible to access coordinated care support through the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program.

APNA is working in conjunction with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and will present a webinar on Wednesday, 17 November at 7pm (AEDT) to provide an overview of the program and these changes.

Digital Models of Care Born of a Pandemic, Post Pandemic 

Moderated by Wild Health/The Medical Republic publisher Jeremy Knibbs, the webinar’s other panel members included Bill Maiden, CEO of My Emergency Doctor; Coviu CEO Dr Silvia Pfeiffer and Michelle O’Brien, Head of Strategy at MediRecords. “A third of all GPs are now actively using video telehealth and it is really a change from previous lockdowns.”

According to Mr Maiden, the pandemic has also provided a valuable opportunity to test the limits of telehealth in areas with existing issues.

Wild Health is running another webinar on Tuesday, November 23, that will cover the basics of cloud technology in healthcare. 

Capacity and Consent to Medical Treatment from ELDAC 

A person with decision-making capacity has the right to decide what is or is not done to their bodies. This means they can consent to medical treatment or refuse it.

How can GPs determine if a person has decision-making capacity? Can a person with dementia make medical treatment decisions themselves? 

Up to date with changes and updates in Best Practice? 

The release of Bp Saffron SP2 introduces several new features, including the configuration of Medicare Web Services in preparation for online claiming to begin in December. 

Medicare Web Services will replace PKI technology for accessing Medicare online functionality such as payments, with the deadline for migration by March 2022. Practice Managers, Practice Owners and Principal GPs can learn more about these changes with this webinar recording: https://vimeo.com/639355139 

All practice staff are invited to learn about the new features and enhancements released in Saffron SP2 with this webinar recording: https://vimeo.com/639380001 

Manage Patients with Diabetes using CAT Plus 

Diabetes contributed to 10% of deaths in Australia in 2018, with this figure estimated to double within the next 20 years. 

CAT Plus can assist your practice to better manage patients with diabetes, some ways include: 

• Using CAT to view and report on diabetes PIP QI Measures. 
• Reviewing the MBS items patients may be eligible for, such as Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care (including Diabetes SIP) and GMPA and TCA.  
• The MBS App in Topbar provides a full overview of the individual components of the Diabetes CoC MBS item and supports opportunistic care. 
• The PIP QI Topbar App shows the status of each patient against the relevant QIMs 

7-13 November is Perinatal Mental Health Week 

In the past 12 months PANDA have seen an increase in demand as positive progress, as it means more families in Australian are no longer trying to manage alone. These families are breaking down barriers created by the stigma that surrounds perinatal mental illness by getting the support they need.

How can you help? Start the conversations, help our community understand how to look for signs and where to go to seek support.

SUcceSS Trial - Worlds First RCT for Lumbar Stenosis 

SUcceSS is the world’s first randomised, placebo-controlled study of decompression surgery for central lumbar canal stenosis. SUcceSS is being conducted in Sydney and Melbourne and is sponsored by the University of Sydney. The ‘SUcceSS’ trial is investigating the effectiveness of decompressive surgery as a treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis.

For a more in depth look at the SUcceSS trial including information on the research team, who is eligible, and how to refer a patient to a participating surgeon to a participating surgeon to assess and discuss their eligibility and interest in the trial click here.

Changes to Early Pregnancy Assessment Service clinic at RHW 

Due to COVID 19 there have been some changes for patients wishing to access the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women:

• All patients presenting for an appointment must provide a negative Covid-19 swab taken not more than 72 hours prior to their appointment
• If the patient would like a support person present with them they must also provide a negative Covid-19 swab taken not more than 72 hours prior to the appointment
• The clinic continues to be by appointment only and is not a drop in clinic. 

To make an appointment in the EPAS clinic please call 93826701 or after hours call the Royal Hospital for Women on 93826111 and ask to speak to the After Hours Nursing Supervisor.

Neuroendocrine Tumour Day - 10 Nov 2021 

Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) are estimated to be the 7th most diagnosed cancer in 2021, with 5,178 new cases estimated in Australia this year. 

NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia is providing free online learning modules for GPs and practice nurses to support earlier diagnosis and appropriate management of the condition. GPs can earn 40 RACGP CPD points for completing the modules. Visit the NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia website.

CESPHN supports GPs and practice nurses by providing cancer and palliative related cancer information through the new GP Cancer Support Line. To access support call 1800 GP LINE (1800 475 463) Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. 

Aboriginal vaccination clinic - Sutherland Shire this weekend 

Deadly Choices, Sharks Have a Heart and South Eastern Sydney LHD have partnered to host a walk in COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at Pointsbet Stadium (Shark Park) this Sunday, 14 November from 10am - 2pm.

This is targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12 and older, but everyone is welcome.

Ten per cent of all Covid cases in NSW and the ACT are Aboriginal and Islander people, meaning they have been affected at twice the rate of other Australians. In the past three months, there have been 7,000 cases, 700 hospitalisations, 80 people in ICU and 14 deaths among Aboriginal people, according to data from the National Aboriginal community controlled health organisation (NACCHO).

New MBS mental health item numbers to support aged care residents 

This webinar will cover the temporary MBS Mental Health services item numbers that were introduced to support the mental health of care recipients in residential aged care facilities who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When: Thursday, 11 November 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, nurses and allied health professionals

Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body. (delete for AHP section)

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. (delete for AHP section)

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 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs and practice managers

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

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 7.00pm – 8.30pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, OTs