e-news 19 Mar 2010
Welcome to NWQPHC's electronic newsletter! Each Friday we will email a link to the latest news and updates. If you would prefer your update to be faxed, please contact your local Practice Support Officer
- Medical Director and Best Practice Training - Townsville
We invite Practice Staff and General Practitioners to join us for Medical Director and Best Practice Software Training facilitated by Margaret Windsor of DARTA Medical (more) - What about seasonal flu vaccine?
The influenza vaccine for this year will include the following strains (more) - Immunisation Endorsement for Registered Nurses
Immunisation Endorsement for Registered Nurses will be held in Mount Isa in June. This is a great opportunity to complete immunisation (more) - National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)
Extending information for rural health professionals is a project of the Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Program (more) - Pertussis in Queensland
There were more than 6,000 notifications of Pertussis in Queensland in 2009, more than 3 times the number in non-epidemic years (more) - Heart Week
This year’s Heart Week theme is "Will you recognise your heart attack? Learn the signs…" (more) - Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- What about seasonal flu vaccine?
The influenza vaccine for this year will include the following strains:
A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-like virus
A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2)-like virus
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus
Eligibility for the funded seasonal influenza vaccine has now been expanded to
include:
¨ all those aged 65 years and over;
¨ all Indigenous people aged 15 years and over;
¨ anyone aged 6 months to 64 years with medical risk factors which predispose them to influenza; and
¨ all pregnant women in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd trimester during flu season.
Medical at Risk Groups [refer Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th edition, 2008, section (iii) page 190 – 191] include:
¨ cardiac disease;
¨ chronic respiratory disease, neurological conditions and other chronic illnesses; and
¨ children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.
Children under 10 years receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine for the very first time require 2 doses
of influenza vaccine 1 month apart. Children who did not receive two doses of influenza vaccine in the initial year will require 2 doses of influenza vaccine one month apart in the following year.
- Immunisation Endorsement for Registered Nurses
Immunisation Endorsement for Registered Nurses will be held in Mount Isa in June. This is a great opportunity to complete immunisation endorsement without the need for travel/accommodation costs etc. NWQPHC can assist in covering the cost of the course; please see the attached registration form.
- National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)
Extending information for rural health professionals is a project of the Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Program, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).
Under this Program, NBOCC will utilise online technology to increase opportunities for general practitioners, nurses and other health professionals working in rural areas to access information about the latest advances in evidence-based treatment and care without the need to travel.
Upcoming online education sessions include:
• Breast cancer diagnosis – what now?
• Breast cancer treatment – managing the impact
• Breast cancer treatment is over – what’s next
Register your interest now - contact Kevin Comlossy on (02) 9357 9478 or email kevin.comlossy@nbocc.org.au
Please visit www.nbocc.org.au for breast cancer information including resources for health professionals.
- Pertussis in Queensland
There were more than 6,000 notifications of Pertussis in Queensland in 2009, more than 3 times the number in non-epidemic years. Adacel (dTpa) vaccine is still available for all new
parents of babies born on or after 1st May 2009. This program has been extended till the end of June. Please take every opportunity to educate and immunise new parents with this funded vaccine.
To help manage this epidemic, please:
¨ promote timely vaccination at 2,4 and 6 months;
¨ vaccinate parents of newborns using Adacel;
¨ opportunistically check Grade 10 students received
Boostrix (dTpa) through the school-based program.
Students who miss this vaccine through the school program are eligible for funded Boostrix through GP surgeries and Immunisation clinics. (Please use Boostrix for Grade 10 students and Adacel
for the New Parents program as that is how they are funded); and encourage dTpa vaccination of others who care for young children - including grandparents, child
care workers, teachers and health care workers, using a private script.
- Heart Week
This year’s Heart Week theme is "Will you recognise your heart attack? Learn the signs…"
Heart Week is an important time to raise awareness among 45-65 age groups of the warning signs of heart attack. In 2010, Heart Week will run from Sunday 2 May to Saturday 8 May.
A checklist of important information to share with the general public is included with the Heart Week kits and can be viewed at www.heartfoundation.org.au.
Please register to receive your Heart Week kits at www.heartfoundation.org.au
• Heart attacks are responsible for one death every 46 minutes. There were more than 11,300 deaths in Australia in 2007 due to heart attacks
• More than 55,000 Australians were admitted to hospital with heart attacks in 2007/08
• On average, one Australia will be hospitalised with a heart attack every 9 minutes
• More than 50% of deaths occur out of hospital and about 25% of those who have a heart attack die within one hour of their first ever symptom
• The Heart Foundation’s HeartWatch survey in 2009 found that only 12% of people would recognise either jaw, neck, back or shoulder pain as a warning sign of heart attack
There are plenty of ways you can get involved in the fun of Heart Week 2010
• Set up a Heart Foundation information stand in your ward or clinic, you can order additional resources by contacting the health Information service on 1300 36 27 87 (cost of a local call). Some services have set up BP checks and health assessments as well.
• Choose a day or week to celebrate and "go red", or "turn your ward/workplace red".
• Hold a healthy fundraising walk, morning tea or lunch.
• "Best Dressed Ward" competition.
• Hold heart health talks and presentations – by contacting Margaret.Richards@heartfoundation.org.au If you would like more information please contact the Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87.