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Local Link
ISSUE: December 2014
METRO NORTH BRISBANE
@MetroNorthBML
/MetroNthBris
Local child mental health program expands
A new Medicare Local-funded psychology service opened in Redcliffe in early November. It will meet the
significant local demand for mental health services that support disadvantaged children.
The new service forms part of the
Medicare Local’s enhanced and
expanded Brisbane MIND4KiDS Service
Network.
Federal Member for Petrie, Luke
Howarth MP, was on hand to launch the
Network and to visit the beyondblue
National Roadshow’s big blue bus,
which had called into Redcliffe for the
event.
Medicare Local Chief Operations
Officer Shelley Kleinhans said Brisbane
MIND4KiDS services were now available
in 11 locations across the Moreton Bay
region and Brisbane North.
“There is no cost to eligible clients for
these services,” Ms Kleinhans said.
“We now have around 20 child mental
health specialist clinicians working
with the Brisbane MIND4KiDS service
network through three established
service providers,” she said.
Continued page 2
Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth, Medicare Local Chief Operations Officer Shelley
Kleinhans, Young Minds Health and Development Network Director Dianne O’Malley and
State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath.
Christmas office closure
The Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local offices will be closed 5pm Wednesday
24 December 2014, re-opening Monday 5 January 2015. Our best wishes to all for the season.
CONTENTS
Local child mental health program expands .............................
Public health updates: Ebola and Hep A ...................................
Aged care info just a click away ................................................
Next Medical Assisting intake commencing April 2015 .............
Screening identifies unknown health needs for people with a
disability.....................................................................................
After Hours payment reminder ..................................................
Board reappoints leading GP to top post .................................
Medicare Local website compatibility .......................................
Double penalty for health worker assaults ................................
Service information at the end of the phone..............................
Translation of health documents ..............................................
1
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
Child health diploma scholarships available ................................. 7
Are you still meeting all your eHealth PIP requirements? ............. 7
Spotlight on sexual health ............................................................ 8
Support available for people affected by forced adoption .............10
Elective paediatric surgery now available at Redcliffe Hospital.....10
Childhood obesity prevention program for Brisbane’s north .........11
Children’s Health Queensland reminder ......................................12
eReferral changes in the Metro North Brisbane region ................13
Service notice: Host practice sought for Keeping Kidneys northside
service .........................................................................................14
Medicare Local calendar ..............................................................14
Noticeboard ................................................................................. 15
2
Public health updates: Ebola and Hep A
Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreaks in West Africa
Hepatitis A risk associated with Sunrise Beach shop
For information on Ebolavirus, please visit the Department
of Health Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreaks in West Africa
website - www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/
Content/ohp-ebola.htm. The website contains information for
health professionals and consumers.
Health professionals are reminded of a public health alert that
was distributed on 7 November 2014 regarding an individual
with hepatitis A from the Sunshine Coast. To read the full
health alert visit www.mnbml.com.au/health-alerts.
From page 1
The Brisbane MIND4KiDS Service
Network providers are:
• YoungMinds Health and Development
Network
• All About Kids
• Anita Trendle Psychology
“The YoungMinds clinic opened today
in Redcliffe, along with another in North
Lakes, will help to meet high needs in
the area identified through the Medicare
Local’s comprehensive planning
process,” Ms Kleinhans said.
“It will make a massive difference to
disadvantaged children in the area
and their families, who previously
had to travel significant distances for
appointments or go on waitlists for public
services,” she said.
According to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics, many suburbs on the Redcliffe
Peninsula are disadvantaged in terms of
their socioeconomic status.
Families in the area often cannot afford to
access mental health services, even after
problems have been identified, which
means affected children go untreated.
The Australian Early Development
Census has also identified that a
significant proportion of children
(20 per cent or more) living on the
Redcliffe Peninsula are developmentally
vulnerable on at least one critical
developmental domain.
YoungMinds Health and Development Network Redcliffe clinic.
At least 11 per cent of Redcliffe children
are developmentally vulnerable on two
or more critical developmental domains.
Developmental vulnerability is a risk
indicator for social, emotional, and
mental distress later in childhood.
Brisbane MIND4KiDS supports children
up to 11 years of age (and their families
and carers), who are considered to be
vulnerable and disadvantaged, and who
otherwise would not have access to
psychological support.
The Brisbane MIND4KiDS Service
Network now also offers holistic care for
children and families.
Brisbane MIND4KiDS clients can access
complementary services including
speech pathology, autism assessment,
psychometric testing, occupational
therapy, and educational assessment
(fees may apply for these services).
The child must have a Child Treatment
Plan (or Mental Health Treatment Plan)
completed by their referring GP.
SUBMISSIONS AND ADVERTISING
For terms and conditions, please refer to http://www.mnbml.com.au/newsletters-0
e [email protected] | w www.mnbml.com.au | t 07 3630 7300
© 2014, Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local.
Medicare Locals gratefully acknowledge the financial and other support from the Australian Government Department of Health.
3
Aged care info just a
click away
Finding aged care services
in the local area is now much
easier with Metro North Brisbane
Medicare Local’s Find Aged Care
service availability register.
Next Medical
Assisting
intake
commencing
April 2015
Positions are available for
receptionists working in
primary care looking to extend
their skills and undertake
the Certificate IV in Medical
Practice Assisting course in
2015.
Find Aged Care is a web-based search
engine developed by Metro North
Brisbane Medicare Local to provide
immediate access to information about
the availability of local aged care
services.
It can help with locating domestic and
personal care services, physiotherapy,
podiatry, nursing, residential aged care
beds and many other types of aged care
services.
The next Medical Assisting intake
commences in April 2015 with
students due to graduate in 2016.
Medicare Local CEO Abbe Anderson
said GPs, community care and allied
health service providers, can search
online by service type, suburb or agency.
Funding may be available for students
enrolling in this intake who have
not already completed a formal
qualification at or above Certificate IV
level. Those interested can register
their interest with the Medicare Local.
“This is just one more way we are
enhancing our community care
program,” Ms Anderson said.
Funding opportunities are subject to
confirmation from the Queensland
Government in early 2015.
The Medicare Local leads a community
care consortium of 17 organisations,
including large and small public and
private service providers, consumer/
carer advocacy experts and peak
bodies.
The course is delivered over 12
months via self-paced online learning
with practical support provided by
on-the-job training and face-to-face
clinical skills workshops held at the
Medicare Local’s Lutwyche office.
Ms Anderson said the Medicare Local’s
community care model had proven
very successful, having exceeded
government targets for the 2013/14
financial year across all service types.
The Certificate IV in Medical Practice
Assisting is suited to administration
professionals already working in a
medical practice.
“Over the same period, the number
of clients receiving services through
the Medicare Local’s community
care program grew from just over
3,400 people to more than 6,500,” Ms
Anderson said.
To Find Aged Care services in Brisbane
North and the Moreton Bay region, visit
www.mnbml.com.au/find-aged-care.
For more information call the
Medicare Local’s community care team
on 07 3630 7300 or email
[email protected].
The course gives staff the ability to
perform administrative tasks and front
desk duties as well as a wide range of
treatment room procedures.
To register your interest or for more
information contact course coordinator
Maralan Southern on 07 3630 7349.
4
Screening identifies
unknown health needs for
people with a disability
Ninety-four people had previously
unknown health needs identified
as part of a Medicare Local
project.
The project provided health assessments
to 212 people with a disability in North
Brisbane and Moreton Bay.
The Medicare Local contracted Blue
Care to undertake health assessments
for people with a disability in North
Brisbane and Moreton Bay between
January and June 2014.
Within the region, 4.3 per cent of people
have a disability and need assistance.
There is a higher prevalence in Redcliffe
(6.7 per cent or 3,733 people) and
Caboolture (5.7 per cent or 7,142
people).
Blue Care provided staff, clients, parents
and carers with an information session
about how clients with a disability could
access the program at 25 disability
service providers across the region.
Following the information sessions,
Blue Care performed 212 health
assessments using the Comprehensive
Health Assessment Program (CHAP) tool
developed by the Queensland Centre for
Intellectual and Developmental Disability.
!
As part of the program 94 people had
health needs identified.
Health needs included advanced
pregnancy, fungal nail infection, a
client entering palliative phase, urinary
incontinence, weight gain, depression,
mobility issues and chronic pain.
“By visiting people in
environments where
they feel comfortable
there has been health
screening that may
not have happened
otherwise.”
Cost, transport and the stress of visiting
unfamiliar clinical settings, such as
general practices, are just some of the
barriers people with disabilities face
when accessing health care.
The program overcame these barriers by
providing free health assessments in a
familiar community setting.
One service provider said, “By visiting
people in environments where they
feel comfortable there has been health
screening that may not have happened
otherwise.”
The staff have been flexible, sensitive,
non-judgmental and professional in their
approach.
They have been able to put clients at
ease in informal familiar settings,” the
service provider said.
Twenty-one people were referred to see
a GP and 14 referred to allied health
services including speech pathology,
dietetics, occupational therapy and
psychology.
Dental health was a high area of need
amongst people with a disability. Mobile
Dentistry Special Care conducted almost
200 dental assessments.
The health screening project provided
opportunities to increase client and
family knowledge of health services
available and also helped disability
service providers to create links to other
support services in the community.
After hours payment reminder
Claims for quarter 2 2014-15 after hours incentive payments are now open and will
close on Friday 19 December 2014.
All participating practices will be emailed a link to a pre-populated online claim form for their quarter 2 incentive payment.
Practices need to ensure compulsory fields are completed and upload a valid tax invoice to lodge their claim.
Additional information is available at http://www.mnbml.com.au/claiming-after-hours-incentive-payments.
For questions relating to the after hours incentive payments please contact the coordinator on 07 3630 7320 or email
[email protected].
5
Board reappoints leading GP to
top post
Professor Claire Jackson will continue in her role as Chair of the Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local
Board of Directors, following her election to the Board at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on
Thursday November 6.
Dr Anita Green and Mr Brendon
Hulcombe were also re-appointed, and
join Dr Trish Baker, Ms Karen Quaile,
Prof Philip Davies and Mr Stan Macionis
as Board Directors. Dr Anita Green will
continue in her role as Deputy Chair of
the Board.
Prof Jackson said experience and
stability was needed to successfully
chart a course toward establishing a
Primary Health Network.
“The current Board has significant
experience in primary health care,
corporate and clinical governance,
finance and business,” Prof Jackson
said.
“We are working closely with the
community and local health care
providers to ensure the Primary Health
Network we propose to establish will
provide the best result for our region,”
she said.
Prof Jackson thanked the organisation’s
Members for their continued support.
“Members’ confidence in the Board and
their active participation in the Primary
Health Network consultation process
shows good governance is an issue they
take most seriously,” Prof Jackson said.
Prof Jackson commended the Medicare
Local for working with local health care
providers to improve their access to
frontline services.
“The 2013/14 financial year was an
extraordinary 12 months, during which
the Medicare Local commissioned over
$20 million worth of local health services,
particularly targeted toward high-need
groups,” Prof Jackson said.
“The Medicare Local enabled partner
organisations to provide health advice
and health assessments to 2,597 people
from disadvantaged and hard-to-reach
groups.
“Home and Community Care services
were also delivered to 6,500 older
people, psychological services and
education to 8,378 people, and access
to after-hours services through 197
general practices,” she said.
More information on the Medicare
Local’s achievements can be found in
the 2013/14 Annual Report to Members:
http://www.mnbml.com.au/plans-andannual-reports.
“Developing and funding services in
partnership with established health care
providers will continue as a key feature
of the Primary Health Network in our
region,” Prof Jackson said.
Primary Health Networks will replace
Medicare Locals from July 1 next year.
The Medicare Local continues to consult
with area stakeholders about establishing
a Primary Health Network in the region.
According to the Australian Government
Department of Health, tender
documentation will be released in late
2014, with applications due in early 2015.
To find out more about the Brisbane
North Primary Health Network, or to
contribute to the conversation, visit
www.brisbanenorthphn.com.au.
Medicare Local website compatibility
The Medicare Local website is best viewed in the latest version of all internet browsers.
Users running Internet Explorer 9 or earlier may have issues accessing some website content. For this reason, we recommend
all users regularly upgrade their browser to ensure compatibility with all websites.
6
Service information at the
end of the phone
Double
penalty for
health worker
assaults
People who assault nurses,
doctors and paramedics
will face up to 14 years in
prison under tough new laws
introduced as part of the
Queensland Government’s safe
night out strategy.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg
said thousands of health workers were
punched, stabbed, bitten and spat on
every year in Queensland while serving
the public in their daily duties.
“Assaults, whether they are physical
or verbal, on our health workers will
not be tolerated and the Queensland
Government is appalled that even
one nurse, doctor or paramedic is
attacked. It is inexcusable and shameful
behaviour,” he said.
Implemented as part of the State
Government’s ‘Safe night out’ campaign
targeting alcohol and drug fuelled
violence the ‘Safe night out for health
workers’ campaign aims to prevent
violence against health frontline
employees who are just doing their job,
and raise awareness of the increased
penalty.
For more information and to view the
campaign video, visit http://www.qld.
gov.au/law/crime-and-police/crimeprevention-and-statistics/a-safe-nightout-and-banning-notices/a-safe-nightout-at-work/.
The Medicare Local Service Navigator helpline operators provided
local service information across areas including community health
services, allied health, general practice, aged care community and
nursing care during the helpline’s first year of operations in 2013/14.
Service Navigator is a helpline available to health professionals and others for
advice and information about health and community services available throughout
North Brisbane, the Moreton Bay Regional Council area and the Somerset Regional
Council area up to Kilcoy.
Service Navigator can provide information
about allied health and hospital services,
community and home support, and
government health related assistance
schemes.
For assistance locating local services,
phone Service Navigator on
1800 250 502.
Translation of health
documents
Patients who present to their GP with immunisation or other health
records issued in languages other than English can access a free
translation service offered by the Department of Social Services.
Permanent residents, eligible temporary or provisional visa holders and returning
Australian citizens are able to have personal documents translated into English
within the first two years of their eligible visa grant date or arrival in Australia
(whichever is later).
Practices are encouraged to tell patients of this service so they can have
any necessary documents translated before presenting for a consultation or
immunisation.
Amongst other identity, education and
employment documents, the following
documents qualify for the service:
• Medical certificate/report (issued
before immigration and needed for
medical treatment in Australia)
• Vaccination certificate.
For more information about the service, visit https://www.dss.gov.au/ourresponsibilities/settlement-and-multicultural-affairs/programs-policy/settle-inaustralia/help-with-english/free-translating-service.
7
DEADLINE EX
TENDED TO 1
2 DEC 2014
Are you still
meeting all your
eHealth PIP
requirements?
Child health diploma
scholarships available
The Medicare Local is offering GPs in north
Brisbane and Moreton Bay the opportunity to
apply for a scholarship to complete a Diploma
in Child Health through the new Lady Cilento
Children’s Hospital.
The one year postgraduate course comprises 111 lecture
units, delivered online with assessment including case
reports and a written and oral exam.
The course has been localised by Children’s Health
Queensland in collaboration with the Sydney Children’s
Hospitals network.
The Medicare Local is offering 10 scholarships to GPs
practising in north Brisbane and Moreton Bay to commence
the Diploma in January 2015. Preference will be given to GPs
working in areas of need.
If you are interested, please submit an expression of interest
(in no more than 500 words) to the Medicare Local outlining
the following:
• your educational background
• your practice profile
• why you are interested in completing a Diploma of Child
Health
If your practice is claiming the eHealth Practice
Incentive Payment (eHealth PIP) then you must
ensure that your organisation is continuing to meet
all five eHealth PIP requirements.
A few simple checks can be done on a regular basis to ensure
you are compliant:
1. Healthcare Identifier Integration (IHI)
•
2. Secure messaging capability
•
Expressions of interest should be submitted by email to
Cecelia Gore, Manager – Integration at
[email protected].
Expressions of interest must be submitted by 12 December
2014.
call your secure messaging provider e.g. Medical
Objects, Healthlink or Argus, and ask them to run a
compliance test.
3. Data Records and Clinical Coding
•
are you continuing to encourage diagnosis being
recorded in patient records using clinical coding?
4. Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (eTP)
•
are barcodes being printed on each GP’s prescriptions?
•
you could also check with your local pharmacy that the
barcodes are scanning correctly
• what value you believe the Diploma of Child Health would
provide to the health of our local community.
can you validate or look up patients IHI numbers through
your clinical software?
5. Personally Controlled eHealth record system (PCeHR)
•
ask each of your GPs to check that the PCeHR button in
a patient record is not receiving an error and that they
are able to view a patient’s PCeHR record if the patient is
registered
You should also check that all your eHealth policies are
current and review and update when necessary.
The information above provides a simple way for practices
to check that eHealth systems are still working. It is not a
complete list of all the requirements for claiming eHealth PIP.
If you encounter issues with any of these checks, please
contact your Medicare Local Primary Care Liaison Officer for
assistance.
For further information on eHealth or the five eHealth PIP
requirements, please go to www.mnbml.com.au/pip-ehealth or
contact your Medicare Local Primary Care Liaison Officer.
8
Spotlight on sexual health
World Aids Day (1 December 2014) presents an important opportunity to promote messages about
safe sex among high-risk population groups and to highlight the work being undertaken to improve
sexual health services in the local community.
It is estimated that 461 people living with HIV – and an
additional 73 with AIDS – were accessing services in the
Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS) area in 2011.
Over the five years from 2008 to 2012, there was average of
61 HIV notifications per year in the Metro North HHS area.
This is equivalent to 6.72 notifications per 100,000 people.
While these figures are justifiably concerning – even one
new HIV infection is one too many – they belie the real rate of
sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the community.
For example gonorrhea notifications rose 62.5 per cent, from
312 cases in 2008 to 507 in 2012. The same period saw a 74
per cent increase in sexually transmissible chlamydia, with
3,578 notifications just in 2012, reaching 16,000 in total.
Combined with the changes to clinical services at the
Brisbane Sexual Health and HIV Service (Biala), these
circumstances prompted the Medicare Local to prioritise
initiatives designed increase access to sexual health services,
particularly among disadvantaged and vulnerable population
groups.
Sources:
Queensland Health, 2012, 2011 HIV/AIDS Report: Epidemiology and
Surveillance, <http://www.health.qld.gov.au/sexhealth/documents/2011_hiv_
report_sm.pdf>
Queensland Health,2013, HIV in Queensland 2012, <http://www.health.qld.gov.
au/sexhealth/documents/HIV-in-qld-2012-report-sm.pdf>
Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local, Population Health Report 2014/15
(unpublished) or Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local, 2014, Comprehensive
Needs Assessment 2014-15
Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local, 2014, Comprehensive Needs
Assessment 2014-15.
Medicare Local releases pathways for STI testing and assessment
The Medicare Local has released sexual health and HIV testing Map of Medicine pathways to support
GPs to undertake sexual health assessments in primary care.
The Medicare Local’s Map of Medicine care pathways reflect best
practice management for diagnosis, treatment and referral within the
Metro North Brisbane region.
As patients may be unaware of their HIV status, early diagnosis and
treatment can help to reduce the risk of transmission.
Pathways available for sexual health testing and assessment in
primary care include ‘HIV testing’ and ‘Assessment of STIs’, with
the latter broken down into separate pathways for symptomatic and
asymptomatic patients.
The HIV testing pathway is designed to improve knowledge among
GPs of the different methods available for HIV testing locally.
Medicare Local and Metro North Hospital and Health Service
General Practitioner Liaison Officer (GPLO) Dr Tim Staunton-Smith
recently visited RAPID - a new point of care testing site in Fortitude
Valley.
“RAPID is a fantastic site that allows anybody to access a HIV test for
free with a result available in 20 minutes,” Dr Staunton-Smith said.
The HIV testing pathway also covers the presentations of HIV
infection, post exposure prophylaxis, models of care and GP referral
guidelines for HIV positive patients, and links to HIV clinical and
patient support information.
Dr Tim Staunton Smith - General Practitioner Liaison Officer
(left) with RAPID Practice Manager Jime Lemoire (right) at the
HIV RAPID point of care testing site in Fortitude Valley.
Access to the Map of Medicine is free. For more info, contact
[email protected].
9
Sexual health onlin
e
tr
ai
ni
ng
m
odule now
available
GPs in North Brisb
ane and Moreton Ba
y can now access
a free self-paced on
line learning modu
le
to build skills and
confidence in cond
ucting sexual healt
h
co
nsultations with
young people.
Education for health professionals
The Medicare Local has increased opportunities
for professional development in the area of
sexual health through innovative partnerships in
North Brisbane and Moreton Bay.
Supported by small
grant funding by the
Medicare Local, the
Family Planning Qu
eensland (FPQ) mo
du
le
will be available
to GPs and practic
e nurses in Metro No
rth
Br
isbane. A limited
number of places are
available for GPs an
d
practice nurses to
complete the cours
e for free prior to Ma
y 2015.
The self-paced mo
dule developed by
FPQ provides tools
and frameworks to
support health profe
ssionals in confide
assessing young pe
ntly
ople and their capa
city to consent to
treatment and sex,
utilising short intera
ctive knowledge
assessments and vid
eo case examples
to support learning
takes approximate
. It
ly two hours to comp
lete the module.
FPQ has applied for
Category 2 RACGP
points for this onlin
module.
e
The Medicare Local’s sexual health taskforce collaborated
with the Metro North HHS and the University of Queensland
last year to survey local GPs on the sexual health treatment
and advice they provided to patients.
The survey found 51 per cent of respondents were
undertaking between one and five sexual health related
consultations per week, while 85 per cent were interested in
participating in additional sexual health education activities.
This led to a series of sexual health education events for GPs
and practice nurses, which were presented by the Metro
North HHS and the HIV and HCV Education Projects Division
at the University of Queensland School of Medicine and
supported by the Medicare Local.
GPs and practice nu
rses can register the
ir interest to access
the module when it
to
launches on 1 Dece
mber 2014. To regist
your interest, email
er
[email protected] wi
th your practice na
me.
Better care in the community
The Medicare Local has increased access to sexual health
services in the community for vulnerable and disadvantaged
population groups.
A new sexual health clinic has been
established in the inner-city area and
operations at other community health
clinics have been improved with help
from Medicare Local’s Primary Care
Liaison Team.
Michael Scott, Clinic 30
Back: QuAC executive director
y Schrader and Dr
Trac
Dr
,
man
Bark
psychologist Jen
Bella George.
ams and Sharon Friel –
Front: QuAC volunteer Gary Willi
l.
Loca
icare
Med
Metro North Brisbane
Queensland Injectors Health Network
Ltd, Queensland AIDS Council
(QuAC), and Brisbane Youth Service
were among the organisations given
help to improve practice management
and reduce time spent on practice
administration.
They were also given advice on
sustainable business models.
QuAC’s Clinic30 — a dedicated
sexual and mental health clinic
launched in September 2014 and
provides general practice services,
sexual health testing and mental
health counselling to the LGBTI
community.
The Medicare Local also supported
the establishment and expansion of
QuAC’s testing point clinic, through
‘The Pitch’ small grants initiative.
Support for school students
Two projects Medicare Local-funded projects addressed sexual health in young people through
community-based approaches in schools and pharmacies.
The Queensland University of Technology’s community theatre
team received funding through ‘The Pitch’ small grants initiative
to create scenario-based workshops and modules on the topic
of sexual health for young people.
The workshops were then trialed with QUT drama students and
in some community settings.
Topics included sexually transmitted infections, with a particular
focus on chlamydia, and issues around consent, negotiation
and decision making.
Also funded through ‘The Pitch’ small grants, The Pharmacy
Guild of Australia (Queensland) distributed chlamydia postal
testing kits to 18 community pharmacies across the region
which could be purchased at a reduced cost by young people
(12 - 25 years).School-based youth health nurses supported
the campaign by referring students to community pharmacies
to purchase the test kit.
Until existing supplies have been exhausted, test kits will
continue to be available for purchase by young people as an
additional option to accessing sexual health testing.
10
Support available
for people affected
by forced adoption
The Medicare Local’s Brisbane MIND program
can provide psychological services to support
people affected by forced adoption.
In the past, adoption of children of unwed mothers was
common, particularly during the period of 1951–1971.
Unwed pregnant women had little or no choice about what
would happen to their babies.
Many of these adoptions were arranged without willing or
informed consent, were unethical, dishonest and in many
cases illegal and are therefore considered “forced”.
On 21 March 2013, Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered a
national apology ‘for the policies and practices that forced
the separation of mothers from their babies, which created a
lifelong legacy of pain and suffering’.
Issues of trauma, loss, identity, attachment, grief and selfesteem are common themes in affected people’s lives today.
Support is available under the Brisbane MIND program for
people living in North Brisbane and Moreton Bay who have
been affected by forced adoption.
GPs can refer people affected by forced adoption to
Brisbane MIND following the same process using the
general GP referral form.
For more information about specialist support services for
people affected by forced adoption visit http://dss.gov.au/
our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programs-services/
forced-adoption-practices or email forcedadoptions@dss.
gov.au.
Elective paediatric
surgery now available
at Redcliffe Hospital
Redcliffe Hospital has enhanced its paediatric
surgical and orthopaedic service for patients from
the Redcliffe Peninsula and surrounding areas
(north of the Pine River).
Although the hospital has always managed a limited number
of paediatric surgical and orthopaedic cases, new dedicated
paediatric clinics are being established.
Services will be delivered by:
• Dr Craig McBride, Paediatric Surgery Redcliffe Hospital for
paediatric surgical referrals
• Dr Hugh McGregor, Paediatric Surgery Redcliffe Hospital
for paediatric surgical referrals
• Dr Sheanna Maine, Paediatric Surgery Redcliffe Hospital
for paediatric orthopaedic referrals.
GPs referring to paediatric surgical services at Redcliffe
Hospital should use existing Redcliffe Hospital eReferral
templates (v 3.3) to send a named referral to one of the
specialists above via secure messaging or fax to Central
Patient Intake.
Children requiring more complex specialist services or
prolonged inpatient care may be required to have their
operations performed at LCCH. Where appropriate, outpatient
care will be undertaken at Redcliffe Hospital paediatrics
outpatients’ clinic.
For enquiries about paediatric surgical services at Redcliffe
Hospital, contact Nurse Unit Manager Specialist Outpatients
Department at Redcliffe Hospital on 07 3883 7777.
11
Childhood obesity
prevention program
for Brisbane’s north
Children struggling with their weight are the focus
of the PEACH (Parenting, Eating and Activity for
Child Health) healthy lifestyle program commencing
in February 2015 in several locations across the
Metro North Brisbane region.
Developed by dietitians, the program has already been
delivered to 95 families across North Brisbane and Moreton
Bay since it was launched in September 2013. The program
takes a family-focused approach by helping parents and carers
make healthy eating and activity a part of everyday life.
The program runs for six months and consists of 10 group
sessions. The first nine sessions are held weekly within a school
term. Ongoing individualised family support is offered through
the second half of the program via phone calls and SMS ending
with one final group session.
Some of the topics covered in the program include nutrition
skills, relationships with food and eating, changing family
lifestyle behaviours, making healthy eating affordable and
overcoming resistance.
The PEACH program is evidence-based, internationally
recognised and meets current guidelines and
recommendations.
The program will run in Kelvin Grove, North Lakes, Redcliffe
and Caboolture.
Referring to the PEACH program
In Australia, overweight and obesity rates in children have
doubled over the past 30 years and in 2011-12 in Queensland,
one in four children were above their healthy weight.*
If you know a family who could benefit from the PEACH
program, you can refer them by going to the ‘Refer a Family’
section of the PEACH program website under ‘Professionals’
or advising them to call 1800 263 519 or register directly on
www.peachqld.com.au.
GPs and allied health professionals across the region are
encouraged to refer families to the program or to encourage
patients to self-refer via the PEACH website or free call number.
To request PEACH brochures or posters please contact
Sylvia Vincenc, marketing and communications officer at
07 3138 0246 or [email protected].
To be eligible, families must have a child aged between 5–11
years whose BMI is above the 85th percentile.
*Source: Queensland Health. The health of Queenslanders 2012: advancing good
health. Fourth report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. Brisbane 2012.
Children’s Health Queensland reminder
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital launches 29 November
The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (LCCH) will open on Saturday 29 November 2014, and on this
day the Royal Children’s and Mater Children’s hospitals will close permanently.
LCCH will bring together services and staff from the two original hospitals to form the largest and most advanced paediatric
facility in Australia.
Emergency
Emergency departments on move day (29 November 2014)
Sub-specialty paediatric services
The emergency department at LCCH will open at 8:00am on
Saturday 29 November 2014.
LCCH will provide sub-specialist services for all of
Queensland.In some situations, GPs will be able to refer
directly to the LCCH for sub-specialist services.
The Royal Children’s and Mater Children’s emergency
departments will close at the same time and the Queensland
Ambulance Service will take all emergency paediatric
patients to their closest emergency department - Caboolture,
Redcliffe, The Prince Charles or LCCH.
Patients presenting to the Royal Children’s and Mater
Children’s emergency departments after 8:00am on Saturday
29 November will be stablised and transferred to LCCH.
Contact information for LCCH
Switchboard: 07 3068 1111
Pre-referral information and eligibility criteria is available at
www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/referapatient.
How to refer to LCCH
Practices within the LCCH catchment should direct referrals
to LCCH instead of the Royal Children’s Hospital from 29
November 2014. eReferral templates for LCCH will be
available on 29 November 2014 at www.childrens.health.qld.
gov.au/referapatient.
Emergency department: 07 3068 1080
Medicare Local PCLOs will begin visiting practices shortly to
install the new LCCH referral forms into practice software.
Services provided at LCCH
Existing RCH referral forms will continue to be accepted at
LCCH until early 2015.
General paediatric services
LCCH will provide general paediatric services for children in
the inner Brisbane catchment. This catchment includes all
north Brisbane suburbs within the Brisbane City Council area,
except the following suburbs:
Aspley
Chermside
Stafford
Bald Hills
Chermside West
Stafford Heights
Boondall
Deagon
Taigum-Fitzgibbon
Bracken Ridge
Everton Park
Virginia
Bridgeman Downs
Geebung
Wavell Heights
Brighton
McDowall
Zillmere
Carseldine
Sandgate
Practices within the suburbs listed above fall within the Prince
Charles Hospital catchment and should refer children to the
Prince Charles Hospital for general paediatrics.
A new Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS)
paediatric referral template for services available at the Prince
Charles, Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospitals is now available
at www.mnbml.com.au/hospital-ereferral-templates.
Changes to paediatric referrals within
Metro North Brisbane
Practices referring to general paediatrics at the Prince
Charles, Redcliffe or Caboolture Hospital should use the new
HHS paediatric referral template. This is available from www.
mnbml.com.au/hospital-ereferral-templates.
Existing RCH referrals will continue to be accepted by LCCH
as they transition to the new templates. The Medicare Local
PCLOs will be available to assist practices in removing out-ofdate templates and installing new ones into practice software.
13
eReferral changes in the Metro North Brisbane region
Visit www.mnbml.com.au/hospital-ereferral-templates to download the latest eReferral templates.
Medicare Local Primary Care Liaison Officers will be visiting general practices to install the new eReferral
templates.
Metro North gets its own
maternity shared care referral
Changes to maternity referrals in the region have
been made following the recent maternity shared
care events hosted by the Metro North Hospital
and Health Service and the Medicare Local.
As part of the ongoing commitment to improving patient
care, all maternity services in North Brisbane and Moreton
Bay are now using the statewide maternity referral template.
This new referral template is available at www.mnbml.com.
au/hospital-ereferral-templates and supports one referral
template for all maternity referrals to either the Royal
Brisbane and Women’s, Caboolture or Redcliffe Hospitals.
All referrals to maternity are still sent electronically or faxed
to HHS Central Patient Intake. The Medicare Local Primary
Care Liaison Officers will be visiting general practices to
help install the new eReferral templates or practices may
download it directly from www.mnbml.com.au/hospitalereferral-templates. Named referrals are requested to be
addressed to the director of maternity outpatients.
Community palliative care
now available through
Metro North Hospital and
Health Service
Palliative care patients in the North Brisbane and
Moreton Bay region will now be able to access
end of life care in their own homes under a new
Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS)
arrangement.
GPs and specialists will now be able to refer patients who
live in the region to community-based services provided by
Blue Care and Silver Chain.
All palliative care referrals must be submitted using the
specialist palliative care referral and directed to the Central
Patient Intake via secure messaging or fax. Referrals for
community-based services will be processed by the SubAcute and Ambulatory Service and directed to Silver Chain
or Blue Care to provide the service.
GPs and specialists will also have direct access to the
community-based palliative care service through the Central
Patient Intake booking system.
Executive Manager and Director of Nursing Mary Slattery
said the new partnerships will ensure palliative care services
continue to provide emotional, physical, social and spiritual
support to maximise patients’ quality of life and maintain
their independence for as long as possible.
New adult eReferral templates
With the introduction of the new Lady Cilento,
Metro North Brisbane paediatric, palliative care
and maternity referrals, the Medicare Local has
introduced a Metro North adult referral template
for The Royal Brisbane and Women’s, The Prince
Charles, Caboolture and Redcliffe hospitals.
These eReferral templates will replace the current version
3.3 hospital eReferral templates.
The Medicare Local Primary Care Liaison Officers will begin
to install these templates at upcoming visits. They can also
be downloaded from www.mnbml.com.au/hospital-ereferraltemplates.
“Specialist palliative care services will continue to be
provided at the Redcliffe and The Prince Charles Hospitals,
while Silver Chain and Blue Care will provide communitybased palliative care services in the home,” Ms Slattery
said.
Ms Slattery said that in addition to the new arrangement with
Blue Care and Silver Chain, the HHS continues to support
funding arrangements with Karuna and St Vincent’s for
ongoing delivery of community palliative care services within
the catchment.
Download the Specialist Palliative Care Referral from the
Medicare Local website at www.mnbml.com.au/hospitalereferral-templates.
For more information contact the Central Referral Unit
enquiries line on 1300 658 252.
14
Service notice:
Host practice
sought for Keeping
Kidneys northside
service
The Keeping Kidneys service piloted at Inala
Primary Care wants to offer community-based care
for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in
the Metro North Brisbane region.
The Keeping Kidneys service is a community-based model of
care for patients with CKD. The service is designed to support
patients in the community and reduce the number of people
needing to access dialysis.
Expressions of interest are sought from general practices
to host the Keeping Kidneys service in North Brisbane and
Moreton Bay. The participating practice would be provided with
paid access to training and support.
calendar
NPS EDUCATION
Exploring inhaled medicines use & asthma control
Visits available one-to-one or to a small group. RACGP
QI&CPD and ACCRM points apply. Eligible for Quality
Prescribing Initiative of PIP ($1/SWPE).
For more information visit www.mnbml.com.au/npseducational-visits. To book, contact Danielle Beauchamp
on 07 3630 7331 or [email protected].
ADVANCE CARE PLANNING
Advance Care Planning is about helping your residents
to plan ahead for their future health care, in case they
are ever too sick to speak for themselves.
The Keeping Kidneys service provides an opportunity for
GPs from other practices to refer patients for review by a
nephrologist while retaining care of their patients in the
community.
This “train the trainer” course is provided free of charge
to registered and enrolled nurses working in aged care
(both residential and community) in North Brisbane
and Moreton Bay. There are three components to the
training:
Practices that host the service will receive a contract outlining
subsidies for:
1. Online module (must be completed before the
face-to-face workshop)
• GP time spent in training, coordination meetings and
2. Face-to-face workshop
reviewing clinic outcomes
• practice nurse time spent educating patients, receiving
referrals, entering patient data into research databases and
case managing more complex patients
• reception time
• practice manager activities including performance
reporting, marketing and liaison between sites
• overhead costs like room hire, software licenses, electricity,
phones, postage and marketing.
For more information about this opportunity, contact Project
Officer Robin Armstrong at Inala Primary Care on 07 3275 5444
or email [email protected].
3. Assessment module
March 2015 course
April 2015 course
Workshop:
Thu 26 Mar 2015
9:00am - 4:00pm
Workshop:
Thu 16 Apr 2015
9:00am - 4:00pm
Assessment:
Thu 2 Apr 2015
9:00am - 12:00pm
Assessment:
Thu 23 Apr 2015
9:00am - 12:00pm
RSVP by Thu 26 Feb 2015
RSVP by Thu 19 Mar 2015
Both modules will be held at Metro North Brisbane
Medicare Local, North Lakes Office,10 Endeavour
Boulevard, North Lakes.
Enrol as early as possible to ensure enough time to
complete the online module ahead of the face-to-face
workshop. Registration is free but places are limited.
Contact Ginett Argiro on 07 3490 3413 or email Ginett.
[email protected] for more information.
15
notices
Parenting book improves
parents’ coping skills and
problem solving
Department of Human
Services community
website launched
A parenting book written by Australian
psychologists is available for expectant
parents to support them with the
transition to parenthood.
The Department of Human Services
has recently launched a section of
their website providing information
and resources for community groups,
representative bodies, welfare
organisations and advocacy groups.
Evaluated by beyondblue, Towards
Parenthood provides an antenatal
intervention to reduce depression, anxiety
and parenting difficulties. The book covers
expectations of parenthood, the couple
relationship, family problems, rethinking
childhood experiences, coping and
parenting skills, attachment to infants
and dealing with isolation. For more
information about the book, visit http://
towardsparenthood.org.au/.
OCD resource for young
people now available
An online resource from Curtin
University Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder Clinic has been launched to
support young people with obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD).
The eight week ‘OCD? Not Me!’ program
provides young people aged 12 – 18
years with evidence-based information,
tips, activities and support to help them
overcome the symptoms of OCD. The
program also provides support for parents
and caregivers, with weekly information
and tips to help them manage their child’s
OCD and support them through the
program.
It is recommended that children obtain a
diagnostic assessment from a qualified
mental health professional prior to
commencing the program.
For more information about the program
visit www.ocdnotme.com.au or email
[email protected].
The website includes information on
Government programs, information
in other languages for multicultural
organisations, resources and houses
relevant forms and publications for
download. To access the website, visit
www.humanservices.gov.au/community/.
Depression study seeks
patient input
The University of Queensland (UQ)
is conducting a study to investigate
the importance of aligning depression
conceptualisations or explanatory models
between patients and their GPs. The
study will help GPs to better understand
the expectations of their patients,
which in turn may improve GP-patient
communication effectiveness, levels of
patient stigma and treatment outcomes.
UQ PhD researcher Jen Lee Teh is
requesting that GPs pass on information
of the study to patients aged 18-65 with
depression or depressive symptoms.
If you have a patient that may be suitable,
please download the study flyer from
http://tinyurl.com/surveyflyer and email to
the patient directly. This contains all the
information patients need to complete the
survey at https://surveys.psy.uq.edu.au/
Depression.survey.
Patients that complete the survey can
nominate to include their GP in the study.
A GP survey will be emailed to the GP to
complete if relevant.
Participants will receive a small gift
as a thank you for participating in the
study. For more information contact PhD
researcher Jen Lee Teh on 0414 491 925
or email [email protected].
Know Your Numbers GP
survey
The National Stroke Foundation would
like to understand more about GPs’
familiarity with the Know Your Numbers
program.
GPs are invited to complete a quick 10
minute survey on their experience with
the Know Your Numbers tool and are
offering a $20 Coles Myer gift card for
those who take part.
The survey is now open and closes on
Sunday 7 December 2014.
Know Your Numbers is an initiative of the
National Stroke Foundation that aims
to improve public awareness and early
detection of individuals at risk of stroke,
type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular
diseases.
Supported by Queensland Health and
in partnership with The Pharmacy Guild
of Australia QLD Branch, the Know Your
Numbers program facilitates opportunistic
screening assessments in pharmacy and
community settings.
For any questions regarding this study
or for further information on Know
Your Numbers, please contact Lisa
McGuinness, Queensland Coordinator,
Know Your Numbers on 07 3218 7303 or
email lmcguinness@strokefoundation.
com.au.
What’s on elsewhere
13 Dec
2 Dec
2 Dec
3-5
Dec
10 Dec
CPR workshop - RACGP
Buranda, Queensland
t 07 3456 8944
e [email protected]
Maternal influences on infant’s
future health - Healthed Pty Ltd
University of Queensland
t 1300 797 794
e [email protected]
50 shades of pain conference
- Palliative Care Queensland and
the Australian Pain Management
Association
Southbank Institute of Technology
w http://50shadesconference2014.
com.au/
t 07 3848 0089
14 Dec
18 Dec
Visit http://www.mnbml.com.au/events-health-care-professionals for more
details. Note, these events are not Medicare Local events. Use the contacts
provided to register.
Bringing comfort: caring for
others at the end of life - Karuna
Karuna House, Windsor
t 07 3632 8300
e [email protected]
World Indigenous health
conference - convened as a
private joint venture made up of
Indigenous members from several
countries
Pullman Cairns International
p 0455 776 668
e [email protected]
Food for thought: how nutrients
affect the brain - Brisbane North
Orthomolecular Clinic
North Lakes
e [email protected]
CPL skills development expo Cerebral Palsy League
NDS Hub, Lutwyche
t 0408 699 561
e [email protected]
11 Feb
2015
19 Feb
2015 16 Mar
2015 Migration, social disadvantage
and health conference - Global
health and Society Unit, School
of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine, Monash University
Melbourne
e [email protected]
w http://www.international-migrationconference2015.net.au/
Pharmacotherapeutics for nurse
practitioners and non-medical
prescribers - Ausmed Education
Mercure Hotel Brisbane
t 03 9326 8101
e [email protected]
Asia-Pacific Gastroesophageal
cancer congress - Cancer Council
Queensland
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition
Centre, Brisbane
t 07 3634 5306
e [email protected]
December events
World AIDS Day (1 December 2014)
Christmas Day (25 December 2014)
International Day of People with
Disability (3 December 2014)
Boxing Day (26 December 2014)
International Volunteer Day
(5 December 2014)
New Year’s Day (1 January 2015)
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital