14 December 2008

Therapist's work with children recognised by OT Australia
www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=7645&m=52

ACT Minister for Community Services, Katy Gallagher has congratulated Therapy ACT after one of its therapists received national recognition through the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists (OT Australia).

03 December 2008

Community generosity reaps rewards for Paediatrics at the Canberra Hospital
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=7616&m=52

Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA today accepted a very generous donation of $121,000 for Paediatrics at the Canberra Hospital (PatCH) thanks to the continued support of the local community through the Woolworths Fresh Food Kids Hospital Appeal.

12 December 2008

Rabies health warning for Australians travelling to Bali
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/2008/20081212_02.html

The Indonesian Government has formally declared that rabies is present in Bali, with two dogs having been diagnosed with the virus. Previously Bali was considered rabies free; hence this presents a new risk to Australians visiting Bali.

26 November 2008

Independent Audit into Hospital Triage Times
www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/2008/20081126_01.html

NSW Health has released an independent report into triage indicators used within Emergency Departments at the state's public hospitals which confirms the commitment of clinical staff to caring for patients within performance benchmark times.

12 December 2008

Near fatal sting confirms dangers of Box Jellyfish Season
www.health.nt.gov.au/Agency/News_Archive/Near_fatal_sting_
confirms_dangers_of_Box_Jellyfish_Season/indexdl_1905.aspx

Territorians are again being warned against entering the water after a three-year-old girl from a remote community was stung by an adult box jellyfish. The girl collapsed after becoming severely envenomated in shallow water and was rushed to the local health centre by her family. Dr Paul Spillane, a visiting GP to the community, said she was lucky to survive.

5 December 2008

Timeout! How long do your kids need to stay home when sick?
www.health.nt.gov.au/Agency/News_Archive/Timeout_How_long_do_
your_kids_need_to_stay_home_when_sick/indexdl_1880.aspx

An updated poster from the NT Centre for Disease Control gives child care centres, schools and preschools a list of all infectious diseases and their exclusion periods from school and childcare for children and staff. The exclusion periods are based on National Health and Medical Research Guidelines and also apply to children who may have come into contact with an infected child.

12 November 2008

Under-16 car smoking ban laws introduced
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.
aspx?id=61368

Tough new laws banning smoking in cars carrying children were introduced in State Parliament today.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the under-16 car smoking ban was one of a raft of measures contained in the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008.

12 November 2008

Report Card Confirms Queensland Is On The Right Track
www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=61387

An AMA Report Card released today confirms the Queensland Government is on the right track to delivering Australia’s shortest public hospital waiting times.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the Report called for state and territory Governments to commit to decreasing public hospital waiting times.

09 December 2008

Precautionary TB Screening
www.health.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=52&mid=449&ctl=
ViewDetails&ItemID=1821&PageIndex=0

Health authorities are offering precautionary tuberculosis (TB) screening to approximately 300 patients and some staff at the Women's and Children's Hospital.

This follows the positive testing of a doctor at the hospital during screening on 3 and 4 December.

03 December 2008

Independent review of chemotherapy treatment
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=52&mid=449&ctl=
ViewDetails&ItemID=1820&PageIndex=0

The Women’s and Children’s Hospital has been in contact with 10 out of 11 cancer patients who received a slightly higher than planned dose of the chemotherapy drug Etoposide Phosphate between January 2005 and October 2008.

Attempts are being made to contact the family of the eleventh child, who lives overseas.

25 November 2008

Tasmania Officially ‘Baby Friendly’
http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=25379

Tasmania has become the first Australian State where all maternity facilities have earned the internationally recognised ‘Baby Friendly’ accreditation, Health Minister Lara Giddings announced today.

4 December 2008

Meningococcal infection alert for WA school leavers
www.health.wa.gov.au/press/view_press.cfm?id=806

The Department of Health today confirmed meningococcal infection in a female student who attended school leavers’ celebrations in Dunsborough last week.

Acting Director of Communicable Disease Control Dr Gary Dowse said the Department had traced the close contacts of the girl and provided them with information on the disease.

1 December 2008

Swim safe this summer
www.health.wa.gov.au/press/view_press.cfm?id=805

The Department of Health is reminding people to be mindful of the increased risk of catching amoebic meningitis when swimming during warm weather this summer.

Environmental Health Director Jim Dodds said amoebic meningitis was a rare but potentially fatal disease, which was contracted when recreational water contaminated with the amoeba bug entered the nose.

18 November 2008

CHILDREN'S WARDS S-O-S
NATIONAL STANDARDS LAUNCH FOR HEALTH CARE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
www.awch.org.au/pdfs/child_health_nationalstandards_media.pdf

With a 30 per cent drop in the number of designated children's wards since 1992 - which has been to the detriment of too many young Australians - leading organisations have banded together to establish new 'National Standards for the Care of Children and Adolescents in Health Services'.