Consultation on general practice residential aged care standards closing
The consultation period for the draft Standards for general practice residential aged care (1st edition) (Standards for GPRAC) will now close on 19 August 2022. The RACGP released the draft Standards for GPRAC for a second public consultation in May 2020. Since then, a pilot of the Standards for GPRAC has been successfully conducted at several residential
Warning: harmful drugs detected in fake alprazolam
NSW Health has issued a public drug warning following the detection of an increasing number of unregistered benzodiazepines in counterfeit alprazolam. NSW Health warns taking non-prescribed alprazolam can cause serious harm or death. The tablets have variable appearance and can look like a variety of local or overseas alprazolam 2mg brands, such as Kalma, Xanax,
Westside Medical Centre tops 80% influenza vaccination rate for over 65s
The team at Westside Medical in Port Macquarie were concerned about the vulnerability of their high-risk patients to influenza this year. To increase vaccine uptake, they decided to apply the lessons learned from the past 18 months of vaccinating for SARS-CoV-2. These included: communicating vaccine availability providing information about vaccine safety and effectiveness, and addressing
Healthy North Coast webinar series explores a week of men’s health
Healthy North Coast is discussing men’s health over 5 days of informative lunchtime webinars this August. Join us over 5 days from 1:15pm – 1:55pm when 5 different speakers will talk 5 different health concerns for men. Click here to register for the series — you only need to register once and we’ll send you the links
Bowel cancer screening campaign: Get2It
Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer, but if detected early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated.  A note from Cancer Council Australia: Unfortunately, only 43.5% of all eligible people aged 50-74 complete the kits sent to them every two years. If we could increase the participation rate to 60%, 84,000
A step closer to improving primary care access
Healthy North Coast’s Primary Care Access project has reached a significant milestone, with the recent awarding of two new contracts to Medibank Health Solutions and The George Institute for Global Health. The team at Medibank Health Solutions will be partnering with North Coast communities and clinicians to develop a new model of care aimed at improving access
HealthPathways a one-stop shop for MBS items
A new pathway – ‘Guide to MBS Items’, has been added to HealthPathways, capturing on one page frequently used Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers for general practice, including those related to COVID-19. HealthPathways Clinical Editor, Dr Kate Allan, said the page was designed as a quick reference guide to the MBS. Its information applies Australia-wide,
New temporary home for headspace Lismore
headspace Lismore has a new home at the Lismore Health Precinct located at Southern Cross University’s Health Clinic, P Block, Rifle Range Road, East Lismore. headspace is open and ready to support young people with their mental health and wellbeing, and help them navigate life’s challenges. Call headspace Lismore on (02) 6625 0200, email at enquiries@headspace-lismore.org.au or drop
‘First 2000 Days Webinar Series’ webinar 5: sleep and settling
The First 2000 Days webinar series has been designed to build capacity of MNC NGO service providers and health professionals who support families and young children with the priority health areas identified in the First 2000 Days. The Mid North Coast Local Health District’s (MNCLHD) Health Promotion team invites health professionals to attend session 5:
Webinar on after hours care for general practice
Quality Practice Accreditation (QPA) is offering a client-only webinar on After Hours Care for General Practice. When your practice is closed you have a responsibility under the RACGP Standards for general practice, 5th edition to provide after hours care options for your patients. The webinar will explain the RACGP Standards requirements for areas of common
State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention Survey
Suicide Prevention Australia exist to provide a clear, collective voice for suicide prevention. The third iteration of their annual State of the Nation in Suicide Prevention survey has been released to continue developing a view of the current suicide prevention landscape in Australia. Take the Survey About the survey The survey invites researchers,
For GP reimbursement: NSW free influenza vaccination program
Following the recent NSW free influenza vaccination program (implemented 1 June and extended until 17 July), NSW Health has released a reimbursement form for GPs to claim the cost of privately purchased 2022 influenza vaccines. The NSW universal free influenza vaccination program was introduced to complement the National Immunisation Program and make influenza vaccines available
