High pertussis numbers on the North Coast

Pertussis numbers remain high across the North Coast region, particularly in Northern NSW. Practitioners on the North Coast are being advised to suspect pertussis when a patient of any age presents with a coughing illness with the following characteristics, regardless of age or immunisation status, especially when there is an increase in local pertussis activity:

No pain no gain: Opportunity for Port Macquarie clinicians to participate in chronic pain research

In Australia 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain represents a significant burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and our society. While chronic pain affects populations across all ages and demographic categories, there is a disproportionate amount of people impacted in rural and regional areas. Healthy North Coast

Stay up to date with Gold Coast Health digital correspondence

To ensure you receive Gold Coast Health discharge summaries, outpatient letters, Emergency Department letters and patient admission notifications via secure electronic transmission, please update GP details by adding new doctors (including GP Registrars) and removing GPs who have left your practice via the STS Address Book Update Form and submitting to GCGPLU@health.qld.gov.au. Up to date

Supporting those escaping family violence in Byron Bay

Last night, we presented 20 Healthy North Coast iPhones to the Rotary Club of Byron Bay for their DV Safephone program. These phones will be repurposed and distributed to people escaping family violence so that they can be free of contact from those threatening to harm them. Locally, these phones are distributed via Fletcher Street

Join a local Community Conversation led by Palliative Care NSW

Are you keen to learn more about the services and community supports available in relation to ageing, loss, dying and grief? Join us at a Community Conversation where palliative care experts will provide information and resources to help you consider what’s important to live a full and comfortable life, right to the very end. These

Acne Connect improves access to dermatologists across rural Australia

Acne Connect is a new and innovative telemedicine dermatology service designed exclusively for the management of acne. It offers convenient, high-quality dermatologist care with a number of advantages, tailored to meet the needs of patients. Key features: Dermatologist consultation (telemedicine):  delivering the same high standard of care you would expect from an in-person consultation. Early

Invitation to take part in interviews for improving blood pressure management

Researchers from the University of Sydney are conducting a study to develop a blood pressure (BP) Toolkit to support people to manage their blood pressure. They are interested in understanding the barriers and enablers to blood pressure management in primary care and need your help to identify strategies to implement the BP Toolkit in your

Board Chair update with Dr Adrian Gilliland

Primary Care Conference highlights Back in September, I attended the national Primary Care Conference (2-4 September 2024), where the key strategies of prevention and early intervention, health equity, leveraging health technology and health system integration were discussed. I’m pleased that on the North Coast, we are taking steps towards system integration and joint governance with

Hepatitis C can be cured in primary care

Hepatitis C can be cured in primary care. Treatment is simple, safe and highly effective. Join us for this free interactive training and help eliminate hepatitis C by 2030! Curing hepatitis C in Primary Care Time: Tuesday 10 December 2024 Date: 6:30pm to 9:00pm (AEDT). Dinner and refreshments will be available from 6:30pm. Venue: Rydges,

General Practice Aged Care Incentive (GP ACI) webinar series announced

A series of webinar dates have been announced to support various stakeholder groups with implementation of the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GP ACI). These webinars will include conversations on: What this incentive means for you and the potential benefits How to utilise the incentive to support high quality, integrated, patient centred care in

Welcoming essential workers and their families to the North Coast

The Welcome Experience is a free service aimed at encouraging essential workers and their families to relocate to the North Coast. Essential workers include employees in health, aged care, education, early education, disability support, child protection & out-of-home care, corrections and justice, emergency services, NSW Police, NSW Fire & Rescue, NSW Ambulance, NSW Health, Department

New ADHD co-management model providing care closer to home for children in Northern NSW 

Northern NSW children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will soon be able to visit their general practitioner for ADHD medication scripts instead of visiting a specialist paediatrician.  This change brings ongoing ADHD care closer to home for children and their families and increases the availability of paediatric appointments for diagnostic and assessment services.  Healthy