North Coast Health Connect launches in Port Macquarie
Residents living in Port Macquarie area postcodes will be the first to benefit from a free new service that aims to improve access to local healthcare. North Coast Health Connect, launched on 8 December, offers a free 1800 phone number or live web chat for residents to speak with a registered nurse any time of
Survey will help improve access to skin cancer care
Healthy North Coast is seeking feedback from GPs via a short survey to better understand their needs around improving local communities’ access to skin cancer care. The survey, which takes about five minutes to complete, is open until Friday 13 January 2023. It explores what existing services are used, what barriers to patient care are
Hilton Koppe launches ‘One Curious Doctor’ memoir
What might cause a 60-year-old Far North Coast GP with a well-balanced life to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, turning his world upside down? Lennox Head-based author, teacher and doctor, Hilton Koppe, set out to discover the answer, compiling a selection of life stories from the heart that became One Curious Doctor. A Memoir of Medicine,
RACGP guide focuses on optimising patient care
First do no harm: A guide to choosing wisely in general practice, is a new evidence-based resource from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners that focuses on reducing patient harm and avoiding low value care. It provides GPs with QR codes linking to patient-facing information, allowing GPs to talk through tests and treatments with
Coffs Community Health curtails referrals over holiday period
Due to reduced capacity, the Coffs Harbour Community Nursing Service will not accept new referrals over the upcoming Christmas and New Year period. The service will not accept any new referrals between Monday, 19 December 2022 and Tuesday, 3 January 2023. Home visits will not be available. In exceptional circumstances, an appointment may be available
EOI for general practice provision of urgent care services have now closed
Healthy North Coast is partnering with NSW Health to seek expressions of interest from general practices that are willing and able to provide urgent care services to the community. NSW Health sees eligible urgent care services as being inclusive of: Urgent care triage lines, urgent care clinics, rapid response hospital teams, services delivered in a
Nurse support for cancer patients in Port Macquarie
The Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI) is trialling a Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic (SURC) at the Port Macquarie MNCCI facility. The clinic is for patients who are currently undergoing treatment at the institute. It will operate on Tuesdays – 12:30pm – 4:00pm, Thursdays 12:30pm – 4:00pm, and Fridays 8:00am – 12:30pm. The clinic is
Changes to Japanese encephalitis vaccine administration
Authorised nurse immunisers can now administer Japanese encephalitis vaccines. The Authority for Nurse/Midwife Immunisers has recently been amended to include the following additional vaccines: Japanese encephalitis vaccines – mandatory training required typhoid vaccines herpes zoster – Shingrix only. Does not include Zostavax The Authority is available to download from the NSW Health website. In order
Prepare for the future at Resilient Communities workshops
OzGREEN’s ‘Resilient Communities’ is an empowering program bringing communities together to take action, develop disaster preparedness and create more sustainable and resilient homes and lifestyles. As part of the program, OzGREEN will host two community landscape preparedness days – at Kyogle from 9:30am – 4:00pm on Saturday, 12 November and at Evans Head on Sunday,
Trauma informed care for allied health professionals
Many allied health professionals have clients with underlying trauma-related issues. Responding to this, the North Coast Allied Health Association (NCAHA) and Southern Cross University invite allied health professionals to attend a forum and interactive workshop on Saturday, 26 November 2022 at Southern Cross University Coffs Harbour Campus. This event is for allied health professionals wanting
Quit smoking: First 2000 Days webinar series
The 12th session of the First 2000 Days Webinar Series aims to provide you with the understanding and confidence to support patients or clients to consider stopping smoking, or help you to assist someone who is on their journey to become smoke free. Registration is essential to attend the workshop. To register, visit the Blue Sky
New palliative care clinic in Bangalow
Dr Kat Urban, a palliative care specialist at Lismore Base Hospital, is opening a new private supportive and palliative care clinic at the Bangalow Consulting Centre. Dr Urban said that while there were established community palliative care services in the area, there were a lack of available clinic options for those able to attend a
