As flood recovery continues, Healthy North Coast is reminding health professionals that detailed disaster management information and advice is available on Mid and North Coast HealthPathways.
HealthPathways Clinical Editor Dr Sarah Mollard said lessons learned from the 2019-20 bushfires and 2021 floods helped inform recent updates to the pathway Disaster Management – General Practice Response.
The page includes information on accessing patient records; flooding and severe storms; medication safety; residential aged care facilities; vaccine storage and GP self-care.
Patient resources include a range of fact sheets about safety during and after floods and other emergencies. There are links to local and national emergency and utilities services contacts, road closure and traffic information, animal welfare and agricultural contacts, weather forecasts, health advice and supports in natural disasters, and financial and welfare assistance services.
Dr Mollard said practical advice was available for those who may wish to volunteer in an evacuation centre, or who may see patients experiencing health impacts from a disaster. The pathway links to information about common conditions seen following a flood, including skin infections, gastroenteritis, and leptospirosis.
Also included is information on the risk of mosquito-borne diseases – the need for health professionals to be vigilant and for the public to safeguard against mosquito bites.
One of these diseases, Japanese encephalitis, can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions and reduced consciousness in some cases. To date, there have been no reported cases in northern NSW, although there have been several incidences elsewhere, including a death in the Riverina region last month.
Other pathways that may be useful in assisting patients affected by flooding are:
Disaster Management – Mental Health has information on anxiety, depression, suicide ideation and intent, and bereavement.
The page describes the principles of trauma informed care and risk factors for mental health problems following a disaster. There is assessment and support advice and links to services, resources and organisations offering professional development for healthcare workers.
It also offers guidance on accessing disaster recovery payments, and provides details on Healthy North Coast’s free GP telehealth service, telephone 1800 931 158.
There are some great patient resources available such as:
- Australian Psychological Society – Preparing Children Psychologically for the Threat of Disasters (video)
- Emerging Minds – Community Trauma Toolkit.
New ‘About HealthPathways’ Vimeo
The HealthPathways Team would like to share with readers our new two-minute Vimeo – About Mid and North Coast HealthPathways
This is also available to users on the HealthPathways homepage. Take a look and learn about how our Mid and North Coast Health Pathways can help deliver better healthcare to patients.
To access Mid and North Coast Localised Pathways, follow the link below:
manc.communityhealthpathways.org
Username: manchealth
Password: conn3ct3d