The Health News – 26 November 2015

Overview:
• The nation’s mental health sector is about to undergo one of its biggest shake-ups, with the Federal Government preparing to hand over $350 million to regional networks.

• The ACT Government has announced an $11 million blitz on elective surgery to tackle long waiting times. There are more than 1,200 people on the long waiting list for surgery. The Government will spend a total of $11.8 million for an extra 1,000 elective surgeries planned for the first half of next year.

• Dr Cameron Webb, a medical entomologist from the University of Sydney, spends much of his time researching mosquitoes, and even more of it researching how to stop himself being bitten. His research has confirmed that homemade repellents are not effective at keeping the bities at bay.

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 25th November 2015. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-25/mental-health-sector-expected-to-undergo-$350m-shakeup/6974030

The nation’s mental health sector is about to undergo one of its biggest shake-ups, with the Federal Government preparing to hand over $350 million to regional networks.

The ABC understands Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley will announce the move… [today].

The move will give regional mental health networks more control over the way funding can be spent in their areas.

The change comes after a major review found the entire system was broken, and that youth mental health organisation Headspace had become a franchise with a one-size-fits-all approach.

Mental health consultant John Mendoza described the problem as a “McDonaldisation approach”.

“What works in Balmain won’t actually work in Bourke, what works in Cairns won’t necessarily work in Campbelltown,” he said.

He welcomed the new model.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-25/act-government-announce-elective-surgery-blitz/6973308

The ACT Government has announced an $11 million blitz on elective surgery to tackle long waiting times.

The Government will spend a total of $11.8 million for an extra 1,000 elective surgeries planned for the first half of next year.

The push means Canberra patients who have been waiting longer than recommended for elective surgery could have their procedures fast tracked.

There are more than 1,200 people on the long waiting list for surgery.

A majority of the people waiting require orthopaedic, urology or ear, nose and throat procedures.

Health Minister Simon Corbell said theatres at both Canberra and Calvary Hospital would be better utilised during the period, while some surgeries would take place at private hospitals.

Some procedures could also occur after hours or on weekends to ease the load.

Mr Corbell said the increase in surgeries would be managed largely by existing staff.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) however is not convinced that ACT Government’s approach will be effective.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-24/top-tips-on-avoiding-mosquito-bites-this-summer/6968810

With the official start of summer just around the corner, humans are not the only ones ready to fill up at a backyard barbecue — mosquitoes too are ready for the feast.

Dr Cameron Webb, a medical entomologist from the University of Sydney, spends much of his time researching mosquitoes, and even more of it researching how to stop himself being bitten.

… his research has confirmed …that homemade repellents are not effective at keeping the bities at bay …

Dr Webb said the only effective way of keeping mosquitoes from biting was through one of the commercially available repellents.

But knowing what is actually going to work can be a difficult decision.

“Mosquito coils can provide some protection [but] generally speaking, they won’t protect you from all biting mosquitoes,” Dr Webb said. 

“Choose something that contains an insecticide rather than just botanical oils like citronella, because the insecticide will kill the mosquitoes that are buzzing about and not just drive them away.

Dr Webb said most of the commercially available body lotions and sprays contained DEET … which provide the longest lasting protection against stinging mosquitoes.

Dr Webb said one of the newest products on the market — a personal clip-on repellent — showed “some scientific basis for their effectiveness at knocking down local mosquitoes”.

“In some ways it’s like wearing a smokeless mosquito coil on your belt,” he said.

“It might seem like a bit of a gimmick, but in actual fact it contains an insecticide … which has been shown to be very effective at knocking down mosquitoes that are flying about.

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