Author: healthprofessionalradio

Overview:
• Nurse Elizabeth Bowell has been recognised for her outstanding services she has done at international disaster zones. Ms Bowell said she feels “a little bit embarrassed” by receiving an OAM, but privileged to do the work she does.

• Seniors rights advocates are urging the State Government to act quickly to introduce law reforms that would prevent the financial exploitation of older people and allow the appointment of a public advocate with wide powers of investigation.

• Thelma Bryan, 86 years old, has been practising Yoga for more than 35 years. For the past 26 years, she teaches weekly yoga classes in Cairns Hospital’s Mental Health Unit that brings smile to her yoga students.

Overview:
• Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has been named this year’s Australian of the Year as his research helped the world’s first successful restoration of mobility in a quadriplegic man. Professor Mackay-Sim said the award was an “unbelievable honour”.

• There is lead in the water being supplied to Perth Children’s Hospital. Water regulators reassure the public the drinking water in the area is safe. The persistent lead issue in the water has affected the opening date of the said hospital.

• A total of nine persons died of thunderstorm asthma after a freak weather event late last year. About 8,500 people sought hospital treatment when the weather changed abruptly on November 21, as a cool change and thunderstorms swept across Melbourne.

Overview:
• There’s a spike in cases of legionnaires’ disease  this month  in South Australia, with 2 latest reported cases. Experts say it could have been released from air conditioning cooling towers as a result of “strange weather” putting the units under heavy loads in a stop and start regime. The public health risk is low as the authorities had been disinfecting airconditiong towers.

• More Australian women are outperforming men when it comes to keeping active. 61% of women are exercising at least three times a week, while 57% of men perform exercises.

• Researchers had a major breakthrough in finding a solution to a potentially fatal pregnancy complication called Pre-eclampsia, which occurs when the placenta releases a toxin into the mother’s bloodstream, damaging her organs and forcing the early delivery of her baby.

Overview:
• Researchers analysed data from more than 300,000 Australian school children aged between 6 and 10 have found out that those who are younger than their classmates are more prone to be on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) than older classmates. However, concerns were raised and some of the younger children may have been misdiagnosed and may not have ADHD.

• Researchers from the University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital are conducting clinical trials on humans and they are optimistic that this will revolutionise the recovery for people with new spinal cord injuries as the trials on mice were proven to be effective.

• A wearable breast pump that fits in the bra is taking the market by storm. Lactating mothers can now travel, more around, cleanup and do chores without the discomfort of dangling bottles with this new technology.

Overview:
• AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said that having Greg Hunt as Health Minister provides the Government a perfect opportunity to change direction on health policy, and to consign any links to the disastrous 2014-15 Health budget to history. Dr. Gannon also advised to look at all health policies as investments in a healthier and more productive population.

• Cancer Council NSW is committed to funding high quality cancer research that is made possible by the support of the people of NSW. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) accepts application for cancer research via the Research Grant Management System (RGMS) process from January 11 2017 to March 15 2017.

• Doctors are concerned with the harmful effects on young children of alcohol promotion while watching sports. Research by the  Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) found New South Wales was one of the “worst-offending states” with five alcohol sponsorships spread across Cricket NSW, the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder.

Overview:
• Lap band surgery has significant benefits for severely obese teenagers, according to studies. It is a controversial procedure in which the stomach is banded to restrict food intake. Teenagers involved in this study showed improvements in their BMI.

• Hypnobirthing Australia director Melissa Spilsted would like to see a standardised, evidence-based antenatal education program introduced across all Australian public hospitals. Hypnobirthing is the practice of relaxation and self-hypnosis while going through childbirth.

• Choice, a consumer advocacy group, launched an online calculator to help people decide whether to pay for health insurance. The calculator works by entering personal details like income, state of residence and age, and the website helps you decide as to whether or not private health insurance is worth it or not.

Overview:
• According to an Australian-first national analysis from the Australian Venom Unit at the University of Melbourne, South Australia has the highest rate of death and hospitalisations caused by anaphylaxis from bee stings per capita across Australia. The research indicated that out of all Australia’s venomous creatures, bees not snakes or jellyfish were posing the biggest public health risk.

• The number of stingray incidents in New South Wales is the second highest form of injury caused by marine life in the state, closely behind bluebottle stings, according to figures by NSW Ambulance. Between September 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 there were 116 incidents involving stingrays and 169 bluebottle stings.

• From March, patients in Queensland suffering from conditions like severe epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and side effects from chemotherapy will be allowed to use the drug with permission from their doctor and health authorities.

Overview:
• Clown Doctors entertained seven-year-old Sarah at Sydney Children’s Hospital playing the song ‘You Are My Sunshine’ with a ukulele and bring the best medicine they can offer – laughter. The Clown Doctors became a regular program at the children’s hospital since January 1997  to cheer up sick kids as well as their parents during a very stressful situation.

• About one third of aged care residents have depression and anxiety, however, most are excluded from Medicare-funded psychological treatment available to the wider community. Aged and Community Services Australia believes that the government has a responsibility to make mental health services available to all Australians — including those living in residential aged care.

• Sunnydale Rest Home, a facility for people with disabilities and mental health conditions, says its future is in limbo, with fears it could lose at least $200,000 a year because of the further rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).