INTERVIEWS

Guest: Parry Aliferis
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Parry Aliferis is Editor and Publisher of ‘Your Health’, a National quarterly newsletter distributed to GPs for their patients. He also designs websites for GPs and specialists to help them communicate and educate their patients – as well as advising them on Social Media strategy. Before becoming Editor of Your Health in 2012, Parry held senior management roles in Banking Operations and Customer Service Strategy.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, have the opportunity to promote your medical practice online with the expert assistance from Your Health. We are joined by their Editor and Publisher Parry Aliferis to share more information about their firm as well as the various services they provide. Aside from offering quarterly health publications and websites to medical practices, they can also provide tools like that of free online appointments and other patient- request services.

Overview:
• In the largest study of its kind ever conducted, researchers from University of Sydney have determined that almost half of all bowel cancer survivors suffer memory loss and have trouble multitasking and concentrating because of the disease. 

• Many common medicines including paracetamol and aspirin will no longer be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from the start of next year. The Government said paracetamol, along with common drugs for heartburn and skin allergies, would no longer be subsidised as prescription drugs.

• One of only four medical illustrators in Australia is hoping to keep the niche field alive by moving into 3D modelling and animation. Madeleine Kersting Flynn helps doctors and researchers present their work in pictures. “There is a lot of problem-solving with medical and scientific illustration, it is all about communication to get the point across” Ms Kersting Flynn said.

Overview:
• Veterans opposed to the closure of the Repatriation General Hospital have accused the State Government of a double-cross over plans to shift a post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) unit to Glenside. In August the Government announced a $15 million veterans mental health precinct at the inner-city suburb, including a Centre for Excellence for PTSD to replace the Repat’s Ward 17 at Daw Park.

• The Queensland Brain Bank has conducted research into Alzheimer’s, brain damage and brain structure, and holds 600 brains and tissue from donors. The facility, based at the University of Queensland (UQ), had been relying on research grants from Australia and the United States.

• The Australian Medical Association has accused Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley of “unprecedented” politicisation of a review that shows doctors were ordered to repay more than $4 million worth of benefits claimed in the 2014-15 financial year.

Overview:
• Health authorities are scrambling to contain an outbreak of syphilis that is believed to have claimed the lives of 10 babies across northern Australia. Professor Basil Donovan, of the Sydney-based Kirby Institute, said while instances of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) were in decline, an outbreak that started in northern Queensland in 2011 had swept across the Top End.

• The World Health Organisation declared Australia polio free in 2000. But the disease remains a threat in Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which recorded its highest level of polio infections in a decade last year. And in Australia, the disease is still very much with us.

•  A mental health care model pursued for close to a decade has not worked, the South Australian Government has now conceded as it makes changes. A report done for the Government in 2007 by David Cappo recommended moving to a preventive model of mental health care, with a focus on intermediate care beds and fewer acute facilities.

Guest: Louise Davies
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Louise is Deputy CEO at Autism SA and has been with the organisation in a variety of roles for the past 8 years since emigrating from the UK. Louise is responsible for the governance and strategic decision making within Individualised Services and Programs area of the organisation. She has been responsible for the development and implementation of services for Autism SA thorough a variety of funding mechanisms from State and Commonwealth funding through to NDIS and fee for service initiatives. Louise has worked with a variety of levels of state and federal government, Department for Social Services and has good relationships with the NDIA. In her recent term as Acting CEO assisted the organisation to transition from an Incorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee. Louise has worked in the Education, Disability and Not for Profit sectors for the past 23 years, she has a BSc(Hons), Postgraduate Certificates in Teaching, Special and Inclusive Education, autism and a Diploma in Management.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, learn more about the diagnosis and treatment for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from our guest Autism SA Deputy CEO Louise Davies. It is an organization founded by people with family members that have autism and they wanted to make sure that their loved ones will have access to the best information, education, treatment and support. They provide individualised and person-centred services and support for people living with ASD and/or a family member, carer or a professional looking for the latest information about ASD. They offer a range of quality services that are innovative and follow evidence based practice that are of world class standards. They also advocate acceptance and understanding in the community of people living with this type of disorder.

Guest: Belinda Reynolds
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Belinda Reynolds is the Education Manager at BioCeuticals. She graduated with an Honours Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2003. She has been involved in the complementary medicine industry for nearly 15 years – 10 of these working for BioCeuticals as the Practitioner Sales Consultant, Team Leader, Presenter, Educator and Writer, with an involvement in Marketing and Product Development. Outside of this Belinda has spent time working in hospitals and lectured at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies. Belinda’s greatest passion is assisting practitioners in developing their knowledge by presenting new research in the area of integrative medicine. Now a mother of two, pre- and postnatal, infant and child health have evolved as subjects particularly close to her heart.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, we welcome BioCeuticals Education Manager Belinda Reynolds who is here to share the latest information about their wide array of nutritional and therapeutic supplement products. We will also be learning about the use liposomal encapsulation technology to improve absorption and more accurately deliver active ingredients. This technology is very efficient because it allows dose levels to be smaller while still delivering effective ingredients and BioCeuticals Liposomal Range is created using cutting-edge technology and high-shear equipment to scientifically control the size of the nanoparticles in each product. In addition, this is a more effective delivery at a lower dose means a lower cost per dose for patients.

Guest: Jane Hill
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Jane joined OCA in May 2015. She has over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector across health, education, telecommunications and finance. Until recently, Jane was Chief Executive Officer at Stride Foundation, an organisation dedicated to improving the physical, mental and social wellbeing of young people and their communities. In Jane’s earlier career she was the CEO of the Fight Cancer Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to saving lives of patients with leukaemia and other blood disorders. Jane’s experience also includes three years at KPMG within the Board Advisory Services Division. Jane has a BA, LLB, MBA and a Grad. Dip. in Marketing and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a Board member of the Freemason’s Foundation Victoria.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, know how you can show support and help spread awareness about ovarian cancer as we listen to Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO Jane Hill. The group is an independent national organisation that takes action for people affected by ovarian cancer in Australia. They aim to ensure that women with ovarian cancer have a strong voice and they have access to best practice diagnosis, treatment, information and support. They also aim for vibrant and growing national ovarian cancer research effort in Australia to inform practice and translate into improved quality of life and survival for women. They hold community fundraiser events and also offer teal ribbons for purchase to those who want to help spread awareness of the disease and show support of those affected by it.

Overview:
• The AMA has lodged its submission in response to the MBS Review Taskforce Consultation Paper with the Department of Health. AMA President, Professor Brian Owler, said that the AMA supports a systematic review of the MBS, which involves genuine consultation with all medical specialties.

•  A unique collaboration of organisations and individuals have come together to form The Pancreatic Cancer Alliance – a collaborative voice driven to raising awareness of pancreatic cancer in Australia.

• ssociate Professor Kumud Dhital believes that within two years doctors from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute may be able to drastically increase the number of livers, kidneys and lungs available for transplant using a new technique that brings them back to life after their donor has died.

Overview:
•  New evidence has emerged showing that a sophisticated Medicare scam that involves stealing people’s identities and setting up bogus bank accounts is operating in at least three states. New South Wales Police are investigating the theft of personal details from Medicare records and now an identical scam has emerged in the Northern Territory.

• Ranks of childless foreign couples have flocked to the India in recent years looking for a low-cost, legal and simple route to parenthood. Health industry estimates put the size of India’s surrogacy business at nine billion rupees ($138 million) and growing at 20 per cent a year. But critics have said a lack of legislation governing surrogacy encourages “rent-a-womb” exploitation of young, poor Indian women.

• Local health chief Chris Crawford says he was pleasantly surprised by the findings of a recent patient survey. The Bureau of Health Information quizzed 27,000 patients across the state about the care they received in public hospitals last year. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed in the local area rated their care as very good, compared to a state-wide average of 63 per cent.

Overview:
• A world-first study has found a hormone used to induce labour in pregnant women, oxytocin, has significant benefits for some children with autism. Associate Professor Guastella said the results were promising, with about a third of participants in the study showing significant improvement.

• The World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has released findings which may prompt many of us to ditch bacon, ham, salami, sausages and other processed meats. Consumption of red meat was classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) with the WHO saying there was also an association with pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

• Canberra’s pollen levels are twice as high this hay fever season compared with last year, according to researchers at the Australian National University (ANU). The university’s Canberra Pollen project shows record high pollen levels, with Canberra identified as Australia’s hay fever capital.