Author: healthprofessionalradio

Overview:

• James Cook University researchers in Cairns are harnessing the molecule produced by a Thai liver parasite that can “supercharge” the healing of wounds. Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine parasitologist Michael Smout said non-healing wounds were of particular concern for diabetics and smokers. But the scientists warn it could be at least a decade before the treatment is made available to humans.

•  South Australia’s ICAC has launched a maladministration probe into the health department’s management of the Oakden mental health facility in Adelaide’s north-east. It follows a damning report released last month by the chief psychiatrist that revealed elderly dementia patients had suffered abuse and neglect in two wards and that the mistreatment went back years.

• Measures in the Hodgman Liberal Government’s fourth budget announced today include 215 nurses, 106 extra beds, 20 doctors, 115 allied and support staff, and the purchase of a second helicopter to cope with the increasing numbers of lost and injured tourists requiring rescue. The Government said it would boost the previous Labor administration’s spending on health by $658 million over four years.

Overview:

• AMA Tasmania’s Chris Middleton said Time and again since the beginning of 2016 the RHH clinicians have raised highly credible warnings regarding an impending bed crisis. The Royal Hobart Hospital  is able to discharge patients home but not to wards when admission is required because of the “bed block”, placing pressure on the system at the other end of the day. As recently as March, the average number of patients being treated in the emergency department at 5:00pm was 54, which represents 200 per cent capacity.

• Lara Gidding’s (Labor Member for Franklin) speech in the Tasmanian House of Assembly kicked off the debate over the Voluntary Assisted Dying bill co-sponsored by Ms Giddings and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, which would allow people to voluntarily end their lives using a lethal drug. “The fact is that these patients are suffering intolerable pain that cannot be relieved, and their families are being left with the stressful memories of their loved one’s dying experience,” Ms Giddings said.

• Tasmania’s Health Minister Michael Ferguson said children who had seizures would be the first to be given the opportunity to access the scheme for medical cannabis. The Australian Medical Association’s Tasmanian president, Stuart Day, said he only supported medicinal cannabis that was prescribed through doctors.

Overview:

• Australian Red Cross Blood Service spokeswoman Jessica Willet said cold and flu viruses typically forced about 1,000 donors across the country to cancel their donation appointments over winter months. Ms Willet said 8,000 O-type blood donations were needed across the country in order to keep supplies at a safe level.

• In Central Australia, Ngangkari are supported by the medical community and their contribution to the mental wellbeing of Aboriginal people has been officially recognised. Alison ‘Tjulapi’ Carol, also a Ngangkari, credited the NPY women’s council with leading the charge for the Ngangkari’s esteemed place in the medical community of Central Australia. Tjulapi explained that Ngangkari have an invaluable role to play in bridging the divide between traditional and Western models of healthcare.

• Health authorities have urged passengers on a flight from Indonesia to Melbourne earlier this month to seek urgent medical attention after an unvaccinated child was diagnosed with measles. The three-year-old was admitted to hospital after arriving at Melbourne Airport on Garuda airlines flight GA 716 from Jakarta at 9:20am on May 13.

Overview:

• Belinda Downes was born with the rare facial difference condition bilateral oro-ocular cleft. She was recently featured on an episode of the ABC TV program You Can’t Ask That — a show aimed at breaking down stigma by showing the audience how people from diverse sections of the community respond to some of the tough questions they often attract.

• Health Minister Cameron Dick has announced a $20 million commission aimed at tackling the problem to reduce the growing number of overweight and obese families. The Healthy Futures Commission will provide grants and partner with community organisations to encourage Queenslanders to eat better and exercise more.

• In March, Facebook expanded its suicide prevention tools to Facebook Live, which gives Australian support groups the opportunity to target young people in the moment of their distress. It is new, and complex, ground for mental health advocates dealing with emerging platforms like Facebook Live according to SANE Australia — a national charity that helps those affected by mental illness. It is an ongoing debate as to whether Facebook is truly a platform that merely hosts the infrastructure that facilitates content — or a publisher of the content itself.

Overview:

• Tasmanian Health Service (THS) headed by Dr. David Alcorn failed to deliver its vision of improving the health and well-being of Tasmanians, according to the Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Stuart Day.

• Parents involved in an Anti-vaccination group were warned regarding the consequences of a disease outbreak, which could be dangerous for their kids and the community.

• The AMA calls for marriage equality and to end divisive public debate over same-sex marriage.