The Health News – 25 April 2017
Overview:
• Lead contamination in the new Perth Children’s Hospital’s water supply most likely came from state-managed pipes which circle the whole medical precinct, as well as the brass fittings in the worksite itself, a Building Commission audit has found. Building Commissioner Peter Gow said as far back as last September, the commission had “fairly clear proof” the ring main at the medical precinct contained lead.
• Attacks on Queensland Ambulance Service officers are on the rise with three Gold Coast paramedics either assaulted or threatened in separate incidents in as many days. United Voice delegate Brett Fournier, who represents ambulance workers, said he believed the problem was getting worse. Mr Fournier said he wanted mandatory jail sentences for anyone found guilty of assaulting paramedics.
• An Australian-based dementia village has been the talk of the town in Heathcote, central Victoria, for the past three years: now those plans are gaining national momentum, with a fundraising campaign for a feasibility study due to start. Heathcote Health chief executive Dan Douglass said the idea for the village came from a board member and had found strong support among the other members, who knew the hospital had issues managing people with dementia. He said the facilities that existed could be distressing to the patients and there were also assaults and verbal abuse by the patients to staff.
News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 25th of April 2017. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News
Lead contamination in the new Perth Children’s Hospital’s water supply most likely came from state-managed pipes which circle the whole medical precinct, as well as the brass fittings in the worksite itself, a Building Commission audit has found.
The previous Barnett government repeatedly said it believed the contamination was confined to the new hospital building, and was not an issue at the adjacent Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
However the commission’s report, …. found there were four potential sources of lead contamination but the most likely source of contamination was both the ring main pipes at the precinct, as well as the brass fittings installed at the new hospital.
Building Commissioner Peter Gow said as far back as last September, the commission had “fairly clear proof” the ring main at the medical precinct contained lead.
“There is lead in the ring main,” he said.
“We believe there is good grounds to believe it’s been drawn into the hospital.
“One is coming straight out of the brass fittings, which is part of the ring main that wasn’t connected to anything.
“[And] the residue’s sitting in the bottom of the pipe.”
However he said testing did not allow the “relative contribution of the two sources to be determined”.
A statement from the commission said test results showed levels were decreasing but more recent results showed levels had spiked again.
Attacks on Queensland Ambulance Service officers are on the rise with three Gold Coast paramedics either assaulted or threatened in separate incidents in as many days.
Critical care paramedic Tash Adams said she was threatened with a syringe while treating a man with a leg injury at Labrador last Thursday.
“He was a bit aggressive when the crew first arrived, but he calmed down significantly with treatment,” she said.
“En route to hospital however he attacked me.”
The man grabbed a syringe from the officer’s hand and threatened her with a blunt needle before self-administering medication.
“Luckily I was sitting behind him so I was quickly able to get out of the vehicle,” Ms Adams said.
Police were called and the situation was brought under control.
A day later a female officer was kicked in the stomach while treating a patient at Palm Beach.
Then on Saturday a male officer was punched, scratched and spat on while treating a woman at Parkwood.
Gold Coast Assistant Commissioner John Hammond said the incidents were totally unacceptable.
This year to date, 176 ambulance officers have been assaulted across Queensland.
United Voice delegate Brett Fournier, who represents ambulance workers, said he believed the problem was getting worse.
Mr Fournier said he wanted mandatory jail sentences for anyone found guilty of assaulting paramedics.
An Australian-based dementia village has been the talk of the town in Heathcote, central Victoria, for the past three years: now those plans are gaining national momentum, with a fundraising campaign for a feasibility study due to start.
The village will be based on a Dutch model and well-known philanthropist Susan Alberti, whose brother-in-law suffered from dementia, is leading the campaign.
She …[stated] other reasons for supporting the project were the regional location of the project, the innovative nature of it and the potential for success. …
Ms Alberti said she couldn’t see any reason why the overseas model, with a range of facilities over a large area, couldn’t work in Australia. …
Heathcote Health chief executive Dan Douglass said the idea for the village came from a board member and had found strong support among the other members, who knew the hospital had issues managing people with dementia. He said the facilities that existed could be distressing to the patients and there were also assaults and verbal abuse by the patients to staff.
He said the idea was then put forward for the 2013-2017 Heathcote Community Plan and gained community support. …
City of Greater Bendigo community partnerships manager Steven Abbott said the feasibility study may take up to a year to ensure the project was as close to “shovel ready” as possible.
The village would cost about $50 million and care for 150 people. “The intention is it will look and feel like a small village within Heathcote,” Mr Abbott said.