The Health News – 2 September 2016

Overview:
•  A dispute over a lack of clinical trial room at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital may be resolved by using space at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) building. Two internal reports showed not all clinical trials could continue at the new hospital due to space constraints.

• The opening of a new emergency department on the New South Wales north coast will not result in an immediate increase in capacity.
The ward is part of a $280 million redevelopment of the Lismore Base Hospital. The old 19-bed emergency ward consistently struggled to meet national benchmarks for the timely treatment of some patients.

• Lighting up in Queensland will be outlawed at or near childcare and aged care facilities, bus stops and taxi ranks, public pools, children’s sporting venues, skate parks and outdoor malls. The sale of tobacco products from pop-up retail outlets, such as at music festivals, has also been banned. The laws passed through Parliament in February.

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the  2nd of September 2016. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/clinical-trials-may-be-held-sa-health-medical-research-institute/7804830

A dispute over a lack of clinical trial room at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital may be resolved by using space at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) building.

Two internal reports showed not all clinical trials could continue at the new hospital due to space constraints.

The Government had suggested moving some trials to the Eleanor Harrald building at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but clinicians rejected the plan.

Eight staff involved in administration functions will now be located at the SAHMRI next to the new hospital on North Terrace.

There will be space in the new hospital for 132 staff involved in face-to-face patient consultations as previously planned.

About 140 staff are currently working on 287 clinical trials at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with another 100 trials expected to start in the next year.

Clinicians had said that beneficial research and drug funding could be lost interstate if there was not room for all trials at the new hospital.

Health Minister Jack Snelling said the trials being conducted were world class.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/lismore-base-hospital-new-future-proofed-emergency-opens/7804678

The opening of a new emergency department on the New South Wales north coast … will not result in an immediate increase in capacity.

The ward is part of a $280 million redevelopment of the Lismore Base Hospital.

The old 19-bed emergency ward consistently struggled to meet national benchmarks for the timely treatment of some patients.

The new facility, which accepted its first patients on Thursday morning, has the capacity for 54 patients, but visiting medical officer (VMO) Chris Gavaghan said only 19 beds would be open at this stage.

The union representing nurses said a dispute about staffing levels in the new emergency department was resolved at the eleventh hour.

Local branch secretary Gil Wilson said it was agreed an extra nurse would be rostered on for a 10-hour shift each night during a four-week trial period.

Chief executive of the Northern New South Wales Local Health District, Wayne Jones, said the extra capacity could be used in the event of a crisis.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/queensland-tough-new-smoking-laws-in-effect-today/7795738

Finding a legal spot to light up in Queensland just got a whole lot harder, with some of the toughest smoking laws in the country coming into effect.

… lighting up will be outlawed at or near childcare and aged care facilities, bus stops and taxi ranks, public pools, children’s sporting venues, skate parks and outdoor malls.

The sale of tobacco products from pop-up retail outlets, such as at music festivals, has also been banned.

The laws passed through Parliament in February.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said it was about changing attitudes.

Mr Dick said the smoke-free buffer around all non-residential building entrances had been increased from four to five metres.

“These laws are a breath of fresh air for Queensland,” he said.

From next February, smoking will also be banned within 10 metres of campsites, picnic areas and boat ramps.

Dr Margaret Young, the director of the Wide Bay Public Health Unit, said smokers would be educated about the new rules before fines kicked in from January.