Sydney Health IssueA publication of Central and Eastern Sydney PHN

VOL 2. March 2016

Page 5. February community forums

Page 11. Translating and interpreting services

Page 17. Improving health literacy

Page 20. New hepatitis C treatments

Page 23. CPD calendar

Our BNA will inform planning, commissioning and integration of services, in line with our core functions, with preliminary work around the development of mental health plans already underway.

While details provided by the Commonwealth Government remain limited at this stage, we will continue to work with stakeholders throughout this process, to provide locally responsive solutions for the health needs of our community.

Community and clinical councilsOur Foundation Community Council and Foundation Clinical Council held their second meetings in February. Key agenda items included, providing guidance on the needs assessment, identifying areas for further consideration and discussing our role in the commissioning of mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment services. Turn to page 7 to see who’s who on our foundation councils.

Support for accreditation2016 will be a busy year for dental, physiotherapy and general practices going through accreditation within Central and Eastern Sydney. We are proud that our region maintains a high rate of accreditation and we continue to offer a number of services to support practices through this process. We also offer mock survey visits to your practice, which is a great way to involve all members of the practice team in the accreditation process.

These visits are an ideal opportunity to identify areas for improvement, and ensure all standards are met before the actual visit from surveyors. This is particularly useful to prepare practices who are undertaking accreditation for the first time. Sign up to our eNewsletters through the Media Centre on our website, for regular hints and tips to support you through the accreditation process.

We are proud that our region

maintains a high rate of

accreditation and we continue

to offer a number of services to

support practices through this

process

Welcome to our second edition of Sydney Health Issue. It’s been a busy start to 2016, with 14 continuing professional development events, six community forums, Foundation Community Council and Foundation Clinical Council meetings and a strategic planning workshop held over the last month alone. Thank you to all of our dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to bring these events to fruition.

Feedback gathered from these events, as well as results of our health professional and community surveys form a critical part of our baseline needs assessment (BNA). The BNA will be submitted to the Department of Health at the end of this month, and will inform our health priorities as we move into our second year of operation. Please turn to page 4 to read more about the needs assessment process and our community forums.

Primary health networks to take greater role in commissioning Our second year of operation will see Central and Eastern Sydney PHN take on a greater role in the planning, commissioning and integration of services. In the last edition of Sydney Health Issue we alluded to this role with respect to the Australian Government’s mental health reforms. Following publication, on 6 December 2015, the Australian Government also released its response to the Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce.

Our BNA will inform planning,

commissioning and integration

of services, in line with our core

functions, with preliminary work

around the development of mental

health plans already underway

The response revealed a $298.2 million investment to be provided over four years - commencing 1 July 2016 - to address drug education, prevention, treatment, support and community engagement. This amount includes $241.5 million allocated to PHNs to commission drug and alcohol services more broadly.

We are well-placed to lead this regional approach to commissioning, already having strong working relationships and shared geographical boundaries with our local health districts and local hospital networks.

1

Where to from hereContinue reading to find updates on HealthPathways Sydney, changes to My Aged Care, Partners in Recovery, headspace and much more. Keep up to date with our activities by visiting the Media Centre on our website, subscribing to our monthly eNewsletter, joining a member network or following our Twitter handle @cesphn

Exciting times lie ahead and there is much work to be done. We look forward to working together with all of you to support, strengthen and shape a word class, person-centred health care system for Central and Eastern Sydney.

Engaging practices in quality improvement initiatives Our commitment to engaging general practices in quality improvement (QI) initiatives remains strong. The Q Pulse (cardiovascular risk) project has successfully engaged 43 practices across our region, with 31 practices submitting data to us monthly. Delivered in partnership with the University of Notre Dame, the project assists practices in identifying high risk patients and in the provision of preventive care. It also employs an innovative electronic decision support tool, HealthTracker. The first wave of participants has now completed the control phase and is ready for the intervention arm.

The Putting Data Into Practice (PDIP) program has actively engaged 41 practices across the region, with the first data collection taking place in November 2015. Participating practices have received baseline reports and have also been working with our QI team on specific, chosen areas of need and developing individualised practice improvement plans.

Our third QI project - the Diabetes Breakthrough Collaborative - delivered in partnership with SESLHD, has successfully engaged 12 practices. These practices are already demonstrating significant progress towards achieving the goal of improving the number of patients with type 2 diabetes who have had their HbA1c level recorded at least once in the last 12 months. Read more about QI programs and how to get involved in our March eNewsletter.

Participating practices...have also

been working with our QI team on

specific, chosen areas of need and

developing individualised practice

improvement plans

Continuing professional development program growingOur CPD program is off to a flying start, with 14 events held during February. More than 130 events will be held from March to November. Some highlights for the next quarter include, New Opportunities for Pharmacy in HIV and Blood Borne Viruses, Paediatrics Update, Getting ready for ePIP, My Aged Care, Men’s Health, Travel Medicine, Youth Health for AHPs, Medical Problems During Pregnancy and much more. We will also be hosting network meetings for practice nurses and practice managers. CPD events will be hosted at nine venues across the region for your convenience. Check page 23 for a full listing of events from March to June.

GREETINGS FROM...THE CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Dr Charlotte Hespe and Dr Michael Moore

2

table of contents

If you would prefer to receive an electronic copy of Sydney Health Issue, please email your name and preferred email address to info@cesphn.com.au with the subject line “Electronic copy Sydney Health Issue”

Greetings From...Our PHNSupporting Health Professionals AFTER HOURSHEALTHPATHWAYSWorkforceHEALTH LITERACYHealth FocusPartners In Recovery headspaceContinuing Professional DevelopmentMembership

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While the Australian Government helped fund this document, it has not reviewed the content and is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided herein.

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Needs assessment

ESTABLISHING HEALTH PRIORITIES FOR 2016 AND BEYOND

Menai community forum held 4 February 2016

As a primary health network, one of our key objectives is improving the coordination of care to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place at the right time. To achieve this objective, it is vital that we understand the health needs of the region and how best to respond to them. Therefore, we will be conducting annual needs assessments where we review the health needs of the population both at a regional and sub-regional level.

At present we are working to complete our first needs assessment by the end of March. We have already completed a comprehensive review of existing plans as well as data on health conditions and service utilisation. From here, we identified the major issues emerging and sought confirmation of these through community forums, our Foundation Community Council and Foundation Clinical Council and chairs of our member organisations.

We will also be guided by the Needs Assessment Steering Committee which includes representatives from our member companies, local government, Family and Community Services, our local health districts and hospital networks.

one of our key objectives is improving

the coordination of care to ensure pEOPLE receive the right care,

in the right place at the right time

4

Community forumsIn February we held six community forums in Arncliffe, Burwood, Maroubra, Menai, Redfern and Riverwood. We partnered with South Eastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts to conduct the forums as part of our commitment to joint planning. Pino Migliorino from DiverseWerks did a fantastic job facilitating the events.

The forums were well attended by a diverse mix of stakeholders including: consumers, carers, GPs and allied health professionals, service providers working in Aboriginal health, mental health, aged care, disability, local health district staff, and local government. People were asked what was working well in the area, what needed improving and how this should be done. They were also asked to identify their top priorities for action. Some of the key themes arising from preliminary analysis are:

• the need to improve knowledge of how to navigate the health system amongst individual service users and the health workforce

• the need for integrated holistic service models• the need for education related to major system

changes happening in aged care, disability and mental health and particularly the shift to consumer directed care.

A full report on the forums will be available on our website shortly.

Burwood community forum held 9 February 2016

Riverwood community forum held 5 February 2016

Maroubra community forum held 2 February 2016 Arncliffe community forum held 4 February 2016

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Community health needs surveyTo complement the survey of allied health professionals, GPs and practice nurses completed in November 2015 we distributed a community health needs survey in February 2016. This survey sought to identify the views of people living and working in our region about the health services they use and any barriers they are experiencing. The survey also asked people whether they were caring for another person and if yes, to comment on their experiences as a carer.

The findings of this survey will contribute to improving our understanding of the diverse health needs within this region. We are grateful to the Sydney Health Community Network for reviewing the draft survey and providing advice on content and wording.

Where to next?We are about to commence individual interviews addressing areas where we did not get sufficient representation at the community forums. Again, these interviews will be supported by an independent facilitator. More specific consultation will occur with the mental health, suicide prevention and drug and alcohol sectors in March and April around needs planning and preparing for commissioning of services in these areas.

Our focus now is on prioritisation of issues and identification of options to address priority issues. Our Needs Assessment Steering Committee will assist with this process. Additionally, the Strategic Planning Workshop to be held on 27 February 2016 will provide the opportunity for further prioritisation and identification of options.

We need to report to the Department of Health on the needs assessment by 30 March 2016. Our report will outline the major health needs and service issues identified and options to address these as well as summarise the process we have followed. The needs assessment will inform our annual plan for 2016/17 and the commissioning activities associated with this. Our needs assessment will be updated annually allowing us to monitor the impact of activities and further deepen our understanding of health and service needs within this region.

We welcome your views on the health and services needs of the region. Please contact our Planning team for further information at Kogarah Office on 9330 9900 or Ashfield Office on 9799 0933.

Needs assessment

6

MEET OUR FOUNDATION COMMUNITY AND CLINICAL COUNCILSOur Foundation Community Council and Foundation Clinical Council held the second of their bimonthly meetings in February. These councils provide strategic advice to the Board from their community and clinical perspectives. Nominations for councils were sought through an expression of interest process in September 2015, with additional nominees approached to fill identified gaps and members appointed by the Board. A Board Director attends each of the council meetings to maintain good communication between the councils and Board.

The council members reflect a diverse range of stakeholders and interests. The expertise of these councils will be invaluable to the Board and the PHN as the organisation develops.

Foundation Community Council

• Dr Mark Bagshaw, Managing Director, Innov8 Consulting Group• Ms Rosemary Bishop, CEO, 3 Bridges Community• Mr Phinn Borg, Executive Director, The Gender Centre• Mr Ben Bravery, Consumer • Mr Peter Brown, Consumer • Ms Kerry Doyle, Chief Executive, Heart Foundation• Mr Mat Flynn, CEO, The Haymarket Foundation• Ms Jude Foster, Clinical Director, Regal Home Health• Mr Nathan Hider, Operations Manager, Just Better Care, In-Home Support• Ms Amanda Justice, Community Partnerships Coordinator, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District• Aunty Barbara Keeley Simms, Respite and Transport Coordinator, Guriwal Aboriginal Corporation• Mr Peter Kennedy, Regional Manager, Aftercare (Council Chair)• Ms Anita Kumar, CEO, The Infants Home• Ms Robyn Maurice, Consumer • Ms Sharlene McKenzie, Aboriginal Community Access Coordinator, Benevolent Society• Mr Peter Merrett, Consumer • Ms Julie Millard, Consultant, Community Development and Education in Mental Health • Mr Larry Pierce, CEO, Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies• Ms Lisa Woodland, Manager, Multicultural Health Service, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

Foundation Community Council

7

FOUNDATION COUNCILSFoundation Clinical Council

• Ms Catherine Abbott Grant, Practice Nurse, Healthplus Medical Centre, Oatley• Ms Michele Adair, CEO, Cystic Fibrosis NSW• Ms Sue Anderson, Registered Nurse, Maramali Consultancy• Dr Allison Bielawski, GP, Glebe Family Medical Practice• Ms Lou-Anne Blunden, Director Clinical Services Integration, Sydney Local Health District• Ms Sara Burrett, Social Worker, Clinical Program Director for CARPA, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network• Ms Leanne Clarke, Clinical Psychologist, Southside Health and Wellbeing, Hurstville• Dr Ann-Marie Crozier, Medical Director Hospital in the Home Program RPA, Sydney Local Health District• Ms Julie Dixon, Director Planning Population Health and Equity, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District • Dr Brett Gardiner, Director of Clinical Governance and Chief Medical Officer, St Vincent’s Health Network, Sydney• Dr John George, GP, Doctors R Us, Sans Souci• A/Prof. Peter Gonski, Director Aged Care and Rehabilitation, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District• Dr Jenny Harasty, Speech Pathologist, Child Think, Bellevue Hill• Ms Leisa Johnston, Marketing Consultant for primary health care organisations• Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac, GP, Northwest Medical Centre, Gymea• Mr Tony Merritt, Clinical Psychologist, Sydney Clinical Psychology, Camperdown• Prof Kathryn Refshauge, Dean Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney• Dr Roza Sage, Manager, Diabetes NSW• Dr Aline Smith, GP, Village Medical Practice, Summer Hill• Dr Greg Stewart, Director Ambulatory and Primary Health Care, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District• Mr Richard Walsh, Pharmacist, Walsh’s Village Pharmacy, Maroubra• Dr Michael Wright, GP, Woollahra Doctors (Council Chair)

At their February meetings the councils provided guidance on the PHN needs assessment identifying areas for further consideration. They also discussed the PHN’s role in commissioning mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment services. A key theme emerging from the Foundation Community Council was that the health system needs to strengthen user choice and control. In doing this we need to ensure people with lived experience are involved in the design and implementation of service and support models.

The role and membership of the councils will be reviewed during this first year of operations with recommendations on a final council structure to be presented to the Board for consideration in July.

For more information on the Foundation Community Council and Foundation Clinical Council please contact Nathalie Hansen, Manager Strategy and Evaluation, on 8752 4934.

Foundation Clinical Council

8

SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO ACCESS AGED CARE SERVICES THROUGH MY AGED CARE

Content in diagram sourced from: www.health.nsw.gov.au/agedcare

With the scope of My Aged Care having expanded on 1 July 2015, most referrals for older people (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, 65+ for general population) to access Commonwealth funded aged care support services are now processed through a centralised Contact Centre.

The Contact Centre has a number of functions as below.• Information point: Provides general information about

aged care services and supports individuals to make informed choices on how to manage their aged care journey

• Assessment point: The Contact Centre may ask questions about an individual’s health and lifestyle to determine the most appropriate referral pathway which is recorded on the National Screening and Assessment Form; and finally

• Referral agency: Assessment of the individual’s situation by a Regional Assessment Service (RAS) for a home support assessment or an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) for completion of a comprehensive aged care assessment.

The difference between a RAS and an ACAT relates to the level of functioning and needs of the person (see diagram). Where an individual is reasonably independent but has difficulty in some areas of daily living (transport, meals or shopping), the Contact Centre will direct the referral to the Regional Assessment Service. A member of the RAS Team will then contact and support the older person to access the right support service. Generally, the types of services available to the individual are provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Program which replaced the Home and Community Care program.

Older people with more complex needs are generally referred to the Aged Care Assessment Team who conduct a comprehensive assessment of their need for services. Generally, a person who is referred to the ACAT will need access to packaged care, residential care or residential respite.

How do I make a referral to My Aged Care?Use the online ‘Make a Referral’ form available at www.myagedcare.gov.au/referral. You can also fax the referral form to the My Aged Care Contact Centre on 1800 728 174 or call the Centre on 1800 200 422. The client does not have to be present for a phone or online referral. However, you will need your client’s consent before you provide information on their behalf.

What information do I need to provide in the referral?• Your name and contact details• The client’s name and contact details• Your relationship to the person (for example as a GP)• Information about why the person is being referred to

My Aged Care• Person’s consent to provide their information or for the

Contact Centre to contact the person• Any information that may support your referral

When the referral is accepted, a reference number is generated which can be used to track the referral. The current process does not provide advice to the referrer (GP) about the outcome of the referral unless the person advises his/her GP.

For more informationCentral and Eastern Sydney PHN has four Community and Residential Aged Care Program Officers. Call Kogarah Office on 9330 9900 or Ashfield Office on 9799 0933 to speak to a Program Officer, or check the website for direct numbers.

My Aged Care Contact Centre

Assessment Referral to Services

Service Planning and Delivery

Inbound Referral

RegistrationScreening

Regional Assessment

Service

Aged Care Assessment Team

Commonwealth Home Support

ProgramEntry-level support

services

Residential Aged Care

Complex multiple needs

Home Care Packages

Complex multiple care needs

Traditional Aged Care

9

supporting health professionals

eHEALTH PIP CHANGES TO COMMENCE IN MAY 2016?Preliminary announcements in trade media speculate that from May 2016, accredited general practices registered in eHealth PIP (ePIP) will be required to upload a shared health summary to the MyHealth Record system (formerly PCEHR) for 0.5 per cent of the practice’s standardised whole patient equivalent (SWPE). The Department of Health is yet to make an official announcement. This equates to approximately five shared health summaries per FTE GP per quarter, or for a practice with five FTE GPs, it would equate to 25 uploads per quarter. However, check your practice’s SWPE on your PIP statement for exact SWPE value.

Any changes commencing in May would be reflected in the August payment quarter. Australian Doctor reported that the new eligibility requirements could be met by one GP in the practice rather than each GP working in the practice, meaning the payment is tied to the practice rather than the practitioner. It is likely the Department will engage in GP consultations regarding introduction of tiered performance-based incentive arrangements later in 2016.

If your practice has registered for ePIP in the last three years, you will likely have most of the requirements in place. However, the National Authentication Service for Health (NASH) Certificate your practice received and had installed as part of initial ePIP would have expired after two years. While most practices have received a new NASH Certificate CD in the mail, some might not have installed it. Check if you have installed your current NASH Certificate. Without NASH installed, your clinical software is unable to interact with the MyHealth Record system. If you can’t locate your NASH Certificate, you will need to reapply and install this before you can use your clinical software to access the MyHealth Record system. Also check if health care identifiers of your practice (HPI-O) and your clinicians (HPI-I) have been set up in your clinical software.

Your practice will most likely have to register your patients in the MyHeath Record system with only 11% of Australians having registered so far. Clinical software has functionality to register your patients. We anticipate a significant demand for training on the use of MyHealth Record system – including accessing, uploading shared health summaries and patient registration – and we will conduct CPD to support your practice. You can also utilise the NEHTA On Demand Training portal available on the NEHTA website at http://www.nehta.gov.au. Follow the instructions to sign in and use the eHealth training environment for Best Practice, Communicare, Genie and Medical Director.

For more information and assistance please contact the Practice Support and eHealth Team via email atehealth@cesphn.com.au

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CENTRALISED INTAKE MODEL FOR ATAPS PROGRAM

REDUCING LANGUAGE BARRIERS FOR ALLIED

HEALTH PROFESSIONALSDid you know that we currently offer free translating and interpreting services for registered AHPs in the CESPHN region? This service enables AHPs to communicate effectively with non-English speaking clients and improves access to AHPs for this group.

The Access to Interpreting Service for Allied Health Professionals program is provided through Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS) National. The program provides AHPs with immediate phone interpreting, pre-booked phone interpreting and pre-booked and pre-approved on site interpreting at no cost. TIS National provides access to more than 2,400 interpreters, covering 149 different languages.

The benefits of the program include improved communication and enhanced coordination of care at no cost to the client or AHP. In 2014, the program was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by NSW Refugee Health Service for innovations in refugee health. For people concerned that they will be required to discuss private health issues in front of a community member they are familiar with, interstate phone interpreters can be organised. Simple guidelines are also available for AHPs who are unsure of how to correctly utilise translators and interpreters.

The program is currently funded until 31 May 2016, with an evaluation and budget approval for continuation of the program expected in April 2016. All registered users will be informed of any changes to the service.

If you are an AHP in the CESPHN catchment, and believe you and your clients would benefit from free translating and interpreting services, please complete the expression of interest form found on the website at www.cesphn.org.au/current-initiatives Alternatively, contact National Health Priorities Program Officer Stuart Wright on 8752 4967 or by email at s.wright@cesphn.com.au

The Central and Eastern Sydney PHN ATAPS program continues to provide psychological services to low-income and hard-to-reach population groups in our region. The ATAPS team have successfully integrated Eastern Sydney, Inner West Sydney and South Eastern Sydney to a centralised intake model. This involved training approximately 110 ATAPS allied health providers in the use of a new online client management system. ATAPS AHPs were approved to deliver approximately 8,400 sessions during the July to November 2015 period.

ATAPS provides effective, short term, focussed psychological strategies (FPS) to individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns such as anxiety and/or depression, who may otherwise have difficulty in accessing psychological services due to financial or other barriers. Within a 12-month period, people can access up to 12 free sessions with an ATAPS registered mental health professional. After the first set of six sessions a GP will be required to conduct a review to access the remaining sessions.

The ATAPS team is located at Kogarah Office and welcome enquiries around patient accessibility and the referral process. Call our Mental Health Line on 9330 9999. Within the CESPHN region the ATAPS program will accept eligible referrals with mental health treatment plans for the whole of area.

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GP AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE CARE: LINKING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTHPeople living with severe mental illness (such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar affective disorder) are at greater risk of chronic cardiovascular and metabolic illness, leading to a life expectancy that is 15 – 25 years less than the general population.

In conjunction with Sydney Local Health District, we are working with GPs to provide better health care for people who are linked with mental health services. This forms part of broader efforts by SLHD and partners to improve physical health and wellbeing outcomes for people living with mental illness.

What is changing? A new cycle of care is being established to help coordinate primary and mental health care to better meet the needs of clients linked with SLHD Mental Health Services. This cycle of care is focused on:

1. Initial long appointment at the GP practice with the client and mental health care coordinator to establish a GPManagement Plan, including roles and responsibilities.

2. Annual GP health review and multidisciplinary case conference to update care planning.

This cycle of care was piloted during 2015, in a trial involving around 40 GPs, 400 clients and their mental health care coordinator (case manager). During this trial period the cycle of care was associated with more coordinated care between GPs and mental health services (a 20% increase in linking clients with GPs to 74%). There were also improvements to clients’ health care indicators, such as the completion of regular screening and annual physical health reviews, which increased from 22% to 30%.

What can you expect? As this cycle of care becomes part of ‘business as usual’ you may notice:

• Care coordinators attending a long appointment with clients and supporting the person’s engagement in their healthcare.

• New tools for care planning, such as templates for GP Management Plans.• Care coordinators may contact you or encourage your client to attend your practice if there are major changes to

the person’s health. They may provide information on basic health indicators such as blood pressure, weight andwaist measures.

• Better communication with and support from the nominated case manager and/or psychiatrist when required.• An improvement in your client’s health.

Where to get more information There are several supports for GPs managing clients living with enduring mental illness.

• HealthPathways provides a clinical pathway on the ongoing management of health in people living with mentalillness. This includes an overview of key health risks and their management.

• People living with illness may be eligible for chronic disease management supports through the SLHD ConnectingCare Program, if they have other chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart failure.

• In addition to providing mental health interventions, mental health care coordinators support their clients’ connectionswith a range of services and activities including referral to SLHD services such as dietetics, exercise physiology anddental care.

Would you like to learn more or provide feedback? CESPHN will be holding a CPD event for GPs, practice nurses and mental health professionals on 15 March 2016 at our Ashfield office where you can learn more about this collaboration and the management of complex health conditions in people living with mental illness. For more information, please visit the ‘Education’ page on our website.

Alternatively, please contact Ms Ishara Senanayake, Acting GP and PHN Clinical Partnerships Coordinator, SLHD Mental Health Services on 0457 568 228 (during business hours) or Asma Yusra, CESPHN Mental Health Program Officer on 8752 4965.

supporting health professionals

12

AFTER HOURS

St George GP After Hours Service now operating from Hurstville Private HospitalSt George GP After Hours Service has moved to state of the art, larger premises at Hurstville Private Hospital. The new site is now providing cover to both the Sutherland and St George regions. The new arrangement offers the advantage of providing a stronger GP roster with a larger number of participating GPs. The new premises have better access to parking, pharmacy, radiology and pathology services.

The service will continue to provide high-quality general practice services to local residents who require treatment outside of business hours, and cannot wait until regular primary health care services are next available. After hours GP services also keep individuals from presenting unnecessarily at the local emergency department for conditions which could be addressed by a GP.

Medical records have been transferred from both St George Private Hospital and Kareena After Hours GP Service to the new Hurstville site to ensure a smooth transition and seamless continuity of care. See the flyer opposite for the new location and operating hours.

Kareena After Hours GP Service site closureThe Kareena After Hours site closed on 31 January 2016. The primary reason for the closing this site was the lack of GPs able to fill the roster. More and more local GPs in the Sutherland region are providing after hours services from their own practices. While an increasingly smaller number of dedicated GPs continued to contribute to the Kareena roster, this was not sustainable in the long term.

More than 60,000 people attended the Kareena site during its 28 years of operations which is a testament to the calibre of local GPs at the service. This is a tremendous achievement and we would like to commend all staff and GPs who provided this wonderful service over the last 28 years.

People in Sutherland wishing to attend a service which operates under the same model as Kareena will be able to attend the newly enlarged St George GP After Hours Service now located at Hurstville Private Hospital.

For a comprehensive listing of local general practices or medical centres that provide after-hours care visit the National Health Services Directory website at www.nhsd.com.au.

CHANGES TO AFTER HOURS GP SERVICES

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HURSTVILLE PRIVATE HOSPITALSUITE 2, LEVEL 2,

37 GLOUCESTER ROAD, HURSTVILLEPH: (02) 9553 0795

OPENING HOURSMONDAY-FRIDAY: 7-10PM

SATURDAY/PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1-9PMSUNDAY: 9AM-9PM

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The HealthPathways Sydney Team are very much in blockbuster mode at the moment with the growing numbers of GPs and practitioners logging on to the HealthPathways Sydney website and discovering the wealth of locally relevant clinical information. It’s a bit like ‘The Force Awakens’. As the HealthPathways Program Team of clinicians and GPs develop and publish more locally relevant clinical pathways and service referral pages, the more local GPs are discovering the benefits of using the web portal and finding invaluable support for managing patients. In the two months leading up to Christmas the website attracted an additional 130 users which resulted in a fifteen percent increase in the number of sessions undertaken, taking the monthly sessions-of-use average to more than 1,500.

One of the reasons for this increase in users is all the new content. There are now more than 330 locally relevant pathways on the website and since the last edition of Sydney Health Issue a further 30 pathways have been published. Some of the new pathways include hypertension, kidney disease, sexual assault, alcohol withdrawal, anaemia management and referral pages for paediatric surgical services and migrant support services. With an additional 160 pathways already in development you can expect a steady stream of new releases for conditions such as COPD, asthma and tuberculosis. By late autumn expect to find pathways for benign gynaecology and colorectal conditions on the HealthPathways Sydney website.

Popular pathwaysWith more than 120 page visits in the last two months, Antenatal First Consult, has become the most used clinical pathway, usurping Chronic Hepatitis B which had been the most viewed pathway since April 2014. Other popular pathways are Lung Cancer Assessment, Heart Failure and our Hospital in the Home access pathways:

• Acute Care in the Home• Cellulitis• Community Acquired Pneumonia• Mastitis• Pyelonephritis

Reviewing HealthPathwaysEver fancied being a critic? The HealthPathways Team are currently looking for some budding Margaret and Davids to be part of HealthPathways Sydney Review Team. As we approach the second anniversary of the website going live we are undertaking the first of our two-year review cycles and we are looking for reviewers from across the community to provide an additional point of view to the content of the pathways that have been developed by local GPs, clinicians and practitioners. If you think you have the skills or want to offer a fresh perspective to the content of a pathway then we want to hear from you. Just contact us by email as below to discuss being a reviewer in more detail.

If you need a username and password or would like to have one of the program team visit your practice contact us at health.pathways@sswahs.nsw.gov.au or call 0477 735 472.

HEALTHPATHWAYSAssessm

entDiabetes

Hypertension

HealthChronic

InvestigationsRespiratory

Cardiology

Gastroenterology

Imm

unisation

Haematology

Heart

ChildrenM

ental

RequestsPhysiotherapy

Cancer

Lung

Cirrhosis

DVT

Advice

ResourcesShoulder

UrgentW

arfarin

Orthopaedics

Drugs

Podiatry

Oral

Liver

Bereavement

Speech

Allied

Alcohol

Lifestyle

Nephrology

PathologyPregnancyRefugee

Suicide

Pneumonia

FracturePyelonephritis

Febrile

15

WORKFORCE

STRENGTHENING THE WORKFORCE: SUPPORT CONTINUES

Practice visits for GPs, practice nurses, GP registrars and allied health professionalsWe are delighted to offer practice visits to orientate staff to our organisation. Visits include familiarising GPs, AHPs, practice nurses, and GP registrars with our programs and activities. Our website demonstration is also valuable, taking you through how to access program information and resources for your practice.

Our visits to GP registrars are particularly beneficial, as registrars rotate on a six-monthly cycle, from region to region. Now would be an ideal time to organise a visit, with the current rotation having commenced in February. If you believe your staff would benefit from a visit, please don’t hesitate to contact Practice Support and eHealth Program Officer, Jan Sadler on 9330 9926 or email j.sadler@cesphn.com.au

Dedicated webpage availableVisit the ‘Practice Support’ webpage and select ‘Workforce’ to find information on topics such as:

• GP Registrar Support Program• How to become a registered training facility and a

GP Supervisor• Medical Student Placements in General Practice

and the PIP Teaching Incentive Payments• Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP)• Links to information on District or Workforce

Shortage• Links to information on Area of Need• Links to information on Overseas Trained Doctor

(OTD) Working in Australia• Starting and Closing a Medical Practice – Links to

the RACGP General Practice Management toolkit(members only)

• Doctors’ Health Advisory Service

Do you need to advertise for general practice or allied health staff?If you would like to list a position on our website (exclusive to stakeholder members) and you are a financial member of Central Sydney GP Network, GP Crew, General Practice Eastern Sydney, St George Division of General Practice, Sutherland Division of General Practice or Central and Eastern Sydney Allied Health Network please visit the ‘Careers’ page.

16

HEALTH LITERACY

Communication is a two-way street. Whether you are a health care provider who can’t work out why a client’s medication isn’t working, or a person who is confused about why you’ve been given a referral, there are times when we feel like there is a gap in our understanding.

Using the simple strategies below, health care providers and consumers can both work towards better understanding of the consumer’s health.

Each day, health care providers have the potential to improve consumers’ health literacy by using these simple communication techniques:

1. Keep to 3-5 key points2. Use plain language; be specific and concrete, not

general3. Be positive, helpful and empowering: talk about what

people should do, not what they should not do4. Draw pictures or demonstrate with models5. Engage the person to ask questions

The above strategies are even more effective when health care providers and consumers work together.

Through clearer communication consumers will be better equipped to make smart decisions about their health. By employing the three simple steps below, consumers become empowered to take charge of their own health care, and that of their family. These techniques are a proven way to address low health literacy.

1. Ask questions. Take a list of questions to your appointment.

2. Listen and repeat. Listen to instructions from your health care provider and repeat back.

3. Take someone you trust with you. Take a family member, friend or interpreter for support.

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. According to the 2006 Australian Literacy and Life skills survey, 60% of Australians have low health literacy, and therefore have trouble making decisions about their health.

Furthermore, levels of health literacy are lower among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations; those who are more likely to use health services and experience poor health. Health literacy has been directly and indirectly linked to poor health outcomes, poor understanding of health information (verbal and written), less engagement in healthy lifestyles, poor knowledge of chronic disease and decreased self-management skills.

This month, we are excited to re-launch a suite of resources for health care providers, community organisations and consumers interested in improving health literacy. Our sketch video ‘three simple steps to better health’ encourages individuals to make better and more informed choices about their health care, and is available by using the URL on the poster opposite.

For providers and community organisations, the video is supported by the poster on the opposing page. This is also available in Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Korean and Vietnamese and can be downloaded from the Health Literacy page on our website.

To order hardcopies, contact Cancer Screening and Prevention Program Officer, Caroline Kaczorowski on 9330 9919.

IMPROVED COMMUNICATION FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

According to the Australian Literacy and Life skills survey, 60%

of Australians have low health literacy, and therefore have

trouble making decisions about their health

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand

basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions

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Make smarter choices about your health.visit bit.ly/phn-healthlit

1.Ask questions 2. Listen and repeat

3.Take someone you trust

Do you sometimes leave your medical appointments feeling confused?

Here’s what you can do:

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Influenza is an illness caused by a particular group of viruses that infect the respiratory tract, which can be life threatening in certain people. In most of Australia, influenza outbreaks are seasonal, occurring between late autumn and early spring. Influenza occurs every year and varies from mild sporadic outbreaks to serious epidemics. It is estimated that five to twenty per cent of the population may be infected annually.

Influenza vaccines are available which offer a substantial degree of protection against illness and the severe consequences of influenza, including hospitalisation and death. In 2016, the National Immunisation Program (NIP) will - for the first time - provide free quadrivalent (QIV) vaccine for eligible ‘at-risk’ people. The vaccine contains four influenza strains, available from autumn:

• A/California(H1N1)• A/Hong Kong(H3N2)• B/Brisbane• B/Phuket.

Both the trivalent (TIV) and QIV vaccines will be accessible for those not eligible for free NIP vaccine, with specific vaccines for children aged six months to less than five years.

Regarding choice between QIV and TIV, surveillance data indicates that in some influenza seasons, QIV should provide better protection than TIV against influenza B. This variance is due to the fact that it is not entirely predictable which of the two type B lineages will circulate. However, the degree to which QIV will translate into additional clinical protection for patients when compared to TIV remains to be demonstrated clinically, and will vary from season to season. TIV vaccine will provide equal protection against the three strains common to both TIV and QIV and is, therefore, preferred over delayed or non-vaccination.

This article was supplied by The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG).

ISG is a special interest group within the Immunisation Coalition, and consists of medical and scientific specialists from around Australia and New Zealand with an interest in influenza. The Immunisation Coalition’s vision is to improve the protection of all Australians against infectious diseases by advocacy for immunisation.

INFLUENZA IN 2016

Influenza occurs every year and varies from mild sporadic outbreaks to serious epidemics. It is estimated that five to twenty per cent of the

population may be infected annually

TIV vaccine will provide equal protection against the three strains

common to both TIV and QIV and is, therefore, preferred over delayed or

non-vaccination

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More than 230,000 people are living with hepatitis C in Australia

HEALTH FOCUS

NEW HEPATITIS C TREATMENTS FROM MARCH 2016More than 230,000 people are living with hepatitis C in Australia and from 1 March 2016, all will have access to new interferon-free treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme. For the majority, this treatment will offer them cure1. The treatments being made available2 are highly effective, direct acting antivirals (DAAs); all oral regimens which have few side effects and cure rates of more than 90 per cent. Most people will only need 12 weeks of treatment.

GPs and other medical practitioners will be able to prescribe these regimens under the S85 General Schedule in consultation with a specialist. The consultation can be by phone, mail, email or video conference, but patients do not need to be seen by the specialist. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has recognised the need to broaden access to treatment to reduce the burden of disease, therefore new DAAs will be available both on the General Schedule (‘Section 85’) and under the Section 100 (S100) Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) Program.

Approved community pharmacists will be able to dispense these new medicines if a prescription is written under the S85 General Schedule. Scripts written under the S100 HSD arrangements by an eligible hospital prescriber can only be dispensed by a hospital pharmacy, but this listing will also enable prisoner access to treatment.

For further training, resources and support for GPs, nurses and other medical practitioners see the ASHM website at www.ashm.org.au/courses or contact education@ashm.org.au. For further details on the new treatments, visit the PBS website to view the factsheet for patients and consumers, and frequently asked questions document.

Written by Sonja Hill and Vanessa TowellASHM (Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine)

1.“Cure” or Sustained Virological Response (SVR) means undetectable plasma HCV RNA at least 12 weeks after treatment has ceased.2.Harvoni® (sofosbuvir/ledipasvir); Sovaldi® and Daklinza® (sofosbuvir and daclatasvir); Sovaldi® and Ibavyr® (sofosbuvir and ribavirin)

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PARTNERS IN RECOVERY

Homelessness impacts a significant number of people who experience severe and persistent mental illness. Nineteen per cent of all people entering the South Eastern Sydney Partners In Recovery (SES PIR) program from December 2013 to the present, identified as experiencing homelessness. Thirty four per cent of those people were sleeping on the street and the remaining were experiencing other types of homelessness such as short stays at refuges or couch surfing with friends or family. In response, SES PIR have coordinated a number of initiatives to reduce homelessness in the Sutherland Shire.

Assertive Street Outreach Identifying a lack of specialised homeless services in the region, SES PIR partnered with Neami National and Sutherland Shire Council to deliver an Assertive Street Outreach project, beginning in January 2014. The project is ongoing, with PIR Support Facilitators conducting early morning assertive outreach street patrols twice per week around Cronulla and Sutherland metropolitan areas. These patrols focus on building relationships with people who are sleeping out and facilitating access to the supports that they need such as accommodation, health, employment and social support. Staff also attend local community hubs every week at Sutherland’s Orana Hub Central and Cronulla Uniting Church to allow regular access points for support.

Sutherland Shire Registry WeekSES PIR coordinated Sutherland Shire Registry Week from 1 - 3 September 2015 to gain a clear understanding of the number of people sleeping outdoors in the Sutherland region and their level of vulnerability and housing needs. Information about individuals’ vulnerabilities and support needs was collected through completion of a validated tool known as the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritisation Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT). Registry Week found that there are currently 30 people in the Sutherland Shire who are without homes and sleeping in places such as cars, streets and bushland with 13 of those completing the VI-SPDAT. Involved in planning and conducting Sutherland Registry Week were staff from St George Community Housing, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN, Neami National, Wesley Mission, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mercy Foundation, Orana Inc and Sutherland Shire Council.

Sutherland Street to Home The Sutherland Street to Home project was developed in partnership with St George Community Housing and Neami National, commencing in July 2015. The project will provide permanent housing and home based support to seven vulnerable people who were identified as rough sleeping in the Sutherland region. The project uses a best-practice Housing First model, which recognises the importance of first providing housing for people experiencing long term homelessness and combining this with holistic supports in the community. As of January 2016, five people have been housed with another two people waiting for a property. Moving from a tent in local bushland into an apartment in a suburb of choice has allowed one of the individuals housed through the project to focus on other aspects of their life. This has included accessing support for chronic physical health issues, reconnecting with family and friends for the first Christmas in a long time and setting goals to work towards employment. These outcomes highlight the importance of viewing housing as a fundamental human right and the positive benefits that can come from treating it as such.

For more information on the SES PIR program visit the website at www.sespir.com.au

SES PIR INITIATIVES ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN SUTHERLAND SHIRE

We provide support for

CONTACT US (02) 9330 9999

ASSISTANCE

TO ACCESS

ACCOMMODATION

& HOUSING

WE REGULARLY ATTEND COMMUNITY BREAKFASTS:

SUTHERLAND: STAPLETON AVE, SUTHERLAND - TUESDAYS 9.30am CRONULLA: GOSPORT ST, CRONULLA - WEDNESDAYS 11.30am

SUPPORT SERVICES TO

ACCESS HEALTH & COMMUNITY

SERVICES

WE CAN

COME TO YOU!

ANYWHERE IN

SOUTH EASTERN

SYDNEY

PEOPLE SLEEPING ROUGHin the Sutherland Shire

Registry Week found that there are currently 30 people in THE

Sutherland Shire who are without homes and sleeping in places such as

cars, streets and bushland

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HEADSPACETHE LATEST FROM HEADSPACE HURSTVILLE AND MIRANDA2015 was a great year for both our headspace centres with new clinical groups, community fundraising events, new staff and excellent projects run by our Youth Reference Groups. Some of our key statistics from July to December 2015 include:

Another huge highlight of 2015 was recognising our headspace Hurstville GP, Dr Vasilios Papakostas for his tremendous dedication and professionalism working with young people in the St George area. We nominated Dr Papakostas for Individual Distinction in the HESTA Primary Health Care Awards as he makes an incredible difference to the lives of young people at headspace Hurstville.

2016 is shaping up to be even bigger and better. So what’s in store you ask? Clinical and psychoeducation groups for headspace young people including:

headspace HurstvilleNumber of young people seen: 377

Sessions provided: 1,667

headspace MirandaNumber of young people seen: 356

Sessions provided: 1,139

In addition to this, we will be involved in a number of upcoming events such as parent/carer seminars, Youth Week, Harmony Day, National Day Against Bullying, Mental Health Month and a few more along the way.

Keep an eye on our website and headspace Hurstville and headspace Miranda Facebook pages for further details about our events and how you can get involved. We look forward to another successful year.

headspace Hurstville• In the know• What if• Riding the wave• Body image• Exercise group

headspace Miranda• Get work ready• Tuning into teens• HSC stress less• Exercise group• Supporting girls at risk

Age of young person accessing service Age of young person accessing service

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2016 promises to be an eventful year for our CPD program, with more than 150 events in the pipeline from February through to November. We are delighted to offer a diverse range of topics for GPs, practice nurses, allied health professionals and practice administrative staff within our region. We have worked particularly hard to ensure a wide distribution of events across the region, with the following venues currently on offer:

• CESPHN Ashfield Office• CESPHN Kogarah Office• Chris O’Brien Lifehouse (Camperdown)• Hazelhurst Gallery (Gymea)• Prince of Wales Private Hospital (Randwick)• Spectrum Medical Imaging – Silver Street (Randwick)• St Luke’s Care (Darlinghurst)• St Vincent’s Clinic in partnership with St Vincent’s

Private Hospital (Darlinghurst)• Torwood Lounge (San Souci)

We would like to remind GPs that this year marks the final year of the current RACGP QI&CPD triennium. As many of you will already know, RACGP introduced a new mandatory quality improvement requirement for GPs in the 2014-2016 triennium. In addition to the standard requirement of completing 130 points of accredited education activities, GPs are required to complete CPR training and two Category 1 activities – one of which must be a Quality Improvement activity. There are a range of Category 1 activities that inherently embed a quality improvement approach – including clinical audits, PDSA cycles (Plan, Develop, Study, Act), small group learning and supervised clinical attachments. We recommend that GPs consult the specific guidelines as to what constitutes a Quality Improvement activity available on the RACGP website.

We will be offering a range of Quality Improvement Category 1 accredited

activities, so please keep your eye on the Education page of our website

We will also display a range of eligible Quality Improvement Category 1 activities from external providers on the External Education page on our website. Moreover, we are hosting multiple CPR workshops across the region for those who still need to complete their CPR training. Please review the Education page on our website and our Weekly Update for the latest information on CPD in our region. If you have any enquiries, we are always happy to assist. Call CPD Program Officer Tracey on 9930 9959 (Kogarah Office) or Tammy on 8752 4957 (Ashfield Office).

APRIL EVENTS

MARCH EVENTSMarch

14March

15March

16March

16March

22March

22March

23March

29March

30March

30

April

5April

5April

6April

7

New Opportunities for Pharmacy in HIV and Blood Borne VirusesCESPHN Kogarah Office

Physical Health of Patients with Mental Health ConditionsCESPHN Ashfield Office

Lunchtime CPR TrainingCESPHN Ashfield Office

Comprehensive Update on Hand Injuries St Luke's Care

Obstetrics UpdateChris O'Brien LifeHouse

Practice Nurse Wound Management WorkshopKareela Golf Club

eHealth Update - Getting ready for ePIP "Meaningful Use"CESPHN Kogarah Office

Domestic Violence UpdateCESPHN Kogarah Office

Practice Management Network MeetingCESPHN Ashfield Office

Paediatrics Update: A Focus on Chronic Abdominal PainHazelhurst Gallery

CPR Training - Practice Administrative Staff and AHPsCESPHN Ashfield Office

Hepatitis UpdateCESPHN Kogarah Office

Medical UpdatesPrince of Wales Private Hospital

Youth Health Lifestyle AHP WorkshopCESPHN Kogarah Office

CPD UPDATE

*Calender subject to change 23

MAY EVENTS

April

13May

12April

14May

17April

19May

17April

19May

18April

21May

19April

26May

21April

27May

21April

27May

23April

28May

24

May

3

May

24

May

4

May

25

May

5

May

25

May

10

May

26

May

10

May

31

April

12April

12May

11Medico Legal Update: WorkCover NSW ChangesChris O'Brien Lifehouse

Domestic Violence UpdateEastern Suburbs (venue TBA)

eHealth Update - Getting ready for ePIP "Meaningful Use"Prince of Wales Private Hospital

Lunchtime CPR TrainingCESPHN Ashfield Office

My Aged Care UpdatePrince of Wales Private Hospital

Comprehensive ENT UpdateSt Luke's Care (Darlinghurst)

Alfred Imaging Radiology Update for GPsCESPHN Ashfield Office

Multidisciplinary Care UpdateCESPHN Kogarah Office

Men's Health UpdateSt Vincent's Clinic/St Vincent's Private Hospital CPD

ATAPS UpdateCESPHN Ashfield Office

Quality Improvement Initiatives in General Practice CESPHN Ashfield Office

RHW ANSC Intake MeetingRoyal Hospital for Women

Obstetrics TutorialPrince of Wales Private Hospital

May Obstetrics and Gynaecology Update MeetingRoyal Hospital for Women

Practice Nurse Network MeetingCESPHN Kogarah Office

eHealth Update - Getting ready for ePIP "Meaningful Use"CESPHN Ashfield Office

Event TBAHazelhurst Gallery

Physical Health of Patients with Mental Health ConditionsEastern Suburbs (venue TBA)

CPR Training - GPs and Practice NursesEastern Suburbs (venue TBA)

Can Get Health and Healthy Homes and Neighbourhood Project UpdatesCESPHN Ashfield Office

Medical UpdatePrince of Wales Private Hospital

Practice Manager's Network MeetingPrince of Wales Private Hospital

Cardiovascular Disease UpdateCESPHN Kogarah Office

Drug and Alcohol UpdateCESPHN Ashfield Office

Practice Management Workshop - When Things Go Wrong in General PracticeCESPHN Kogarah Office

Orthopaedics UpdateHazelhurst Gallery

Women's Health Radiology UpdateSpectrum Medical Imaging - Silver Street

Dementia UpdateCESPHN Ashfield Office

New Opportunities for Pharmacy in HIV and Blood Borne VirusesPrince of Wales Private Hospital

Practice Management Workshop - Teamwork in General PracticeCESPHN Ashfield Office

Mental Health Update (Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Schizophrenia)Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

continuing professional development

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Since the last edition of Sydney Health Issue SHCN has been busy with orientating new Directors to the Board, draft strategic planning and working with the PHN to ensure the diverse community voices are heard. The vision for SHCN is ‘healthy people, vibrant communities’.

As the role of SHCN has grown due to the expansion of the region so has the need for clear strategic planning. The Board has agreed that the three primary goals for SHCN for 2016 are:

1. increased community engagement across the region2. increased membership of SHCN, and3. financial sustainability.

Membership of SHCN is free and is open to community organisations who:• advocate for better health care for people living or working in the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region• have members from the community they serve• are incorporated.

SHCN looks forward to working with member organisations to enhance the health needs of the rich and diverse communities. Further information about membership is available on the website at www.shcn.org.au

PHN Health Needs AssessmentsAs you may have recently noticed there has been an enormous amount of work by the staff of the PHN to ensure there is community consultation about the region’s health needs. In early February six community forums were facilitated at Arncliffe, Burwood, Maroubra, Menai, Redfern and Riverwood. Each forum had small group discussions on key issues for the region, that is, Aboriginal health, aged care, child and youth health, drugs and alcohol, eHealth, mental health and population health.

Reflections from SHCN Directors who attended were very positive, with acknowledgement of the wide range of participants attending, the good work by services currently being undertaken in the areas, and the difficulty in determining what are the key health issues for people. A common thread however was that best practice dictates that a number of strategies are required to elicit information, with community consultation on health needs and identification of gaps occurring within communities, in local facilities with local population groups.

Factsheets on current population statistics were available with key messages coming from the forums including the need for individual health knowledge and competence, better service navigation and information about the major changes to service systems (for example, National Disability Insurance Scheme and mental health reforms), support for the growing culturally diverse populations, integration of mental and physical health care and the need to clearly define the role of the PHN.

In addition, the Health Needs Assessment Survey – Community was circulated; available to every adult who lives or works in the PHN region. SHCN Directors were involved in adding content to the draft survey, as a clear and comprehensive picture of the health needs of the diverse communities of the PHN region is being sought.

The PHN will be releasing a report with more detail shortly. To keep updated visit the website at www.cesphn.org.au

Julie Millard, SHCN Chair

SYDNEY HEALTH COMMUNITY NETWORK CHAIR UPDATE

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MEMBERSHIPCENTRAL AND EASTERN SYDNEY ALLIED HEALTH NETWORK CHAIR UPDATEBreakfast seminars commence this monthIn March and April 2016, Central and Eastern Sydney Allied Health Network will be hosting our first two breakfast seminars. We hope this will be an alternative, accommodating format for busy practitioners looking for innovative and interesting CPD opportunities. Our aim is to provide cross-disciplinary CPD that addresses common problems faced by many allied health professionals.

With that in mind we are excited to announce that Dr Monica Moore, GP psychotherapist, will be running two breakfast seminars on motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is based on a theory and set of techniques aimed at helping the people we work with when they get stuck. Motivational interviewing helps clients who are unwilling or unable to make changes. It has good evidence in a diverse range of areas including drug and alcohol, weight loss, cardiac rehabilitation and chronic pain. In fact, it is now recognised by NSW Health, who have said motivational interviewing should be part of all clinicians’ professional development and training. It is very practical and it’s easy to pick up the basics. Techniques are also very applicable for clinicians from all sorts of backgrounds.

Dr Monica Moore is a highly skilled trainer and practitioner of motivational interviewing. Her presentation on motivational interviewing at our Annual General Meeting was very well received. She hopes that her two seminars will provide you with enough knowledge and skills to start employing motivational interviewing in your clinical work. She will also be offering further support, supervision and training for those wishing to develop more advanced skills in the area.

Details and invitations to attend the breakfast seminars will be distributed shortly. The events are free for CESAHN members and $44 per event for non-members. With membership being only $88 per year, now would be a great time to consider joining CESAHN. In addition to free entry to all CPD events for allied health, membership is also a great way to help ensure the voice of allied health is heard within Central and Eastern Sydney. Visit our website at www.cesahn.org.au for more details on joining the network.

The Board look forward to seeing you at the breakfast seminars. It is always great to meet and chat with fellow clinicians. We are sure that Monica’s presentations will be CPD highlights of 2016, so make sure you enrol early. You won’t want to miss out!

Tony Merritt, CESAHN Chair

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Kogarah OfficeLevel 3, 15 Kensington St

Kogarah NSW 2217T 9330 9900F 9330 9933

Ashfield OfficeLevel 1, 158 Liverpool Rd

Ashfield NSW 2131T 9799 0933F 9799 0944

www.cesphn.org.au

CENTRAL ANDEASTERN SYDNEY

An Australian Government InitiativeCentral and Eastern Sydney PHN is a business unit of EIS Health Ltd ABN 68 603 815 818

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