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“Stop talking nonsense on cannabis”

Lismore psychiatrist Harry Freeman is a straight talker whose words may not please everyone, especially lawyers, doctors and politicians when it comes to discussing cannabis.
“The only objections to a sensible approach on cannabis availability and consumption come from those in positions of authority,” said Dr Freeman over a green tea in a Lismore café.
“They talk nonsense, bring nothing to the subject but prejudice and ignorance, and have done so for too many years. All this stuff about the supposed harm caused by consuming marijuana is total rubbish.”

Details: Written by: Robin Osborne; Published: 10 December 2018

The photo features (L-R): Dr Ian Falson from Ballina, Dr Mark Rikard-Bell from Muswellbrook, Dr Delma Mullins from Muswellbrook, Dr Neroli Lawrence from South Grafton, Dr Richard Abbott from Scone, Dr Peter Lee from Singleton, Dr Anil Thakur from Maclean and Dr Chris McKenzie from Ballina. Photo provided by NSW RDN

Ballina doctors win rural service awards

Ballina GPs Ian Falson and Chris McKenzie are among the regionally based doctors to win a prestigious 2018 NSW Rural Medical Service Award. Drs Falson and McKenzie were honoured for their long-standing medical service at the presentation dinner hosted by the NSW Rural Doctors Network in Sydney last week.

The Rural Medical Service Award recognises GPs who have provided 35 years or more of medical service to the people of rural, regional and remote NSW.

Details: Published: 08 December 2018

Pictured at the Horses Helping Humans property in the Gold Coast hinterland are (l-r) Narelle van Egmond, Scottish born jockey Gina Mitchell, badly injured in a race fall, and program founder Sue Spence.

Horses help kids to grow stronger

Equine therapy is becoming an increasingly popular support for young people who have experienced significant trauma, neglect or difficult life circumstances. Robin Osborne meets the ‘horse whisperer’ who helped found the program

Apart from talking horse Mr Ed, star of a 1960s sit-com, horses are not known for their conversational skills, but they are astute readers – not of books but of human emotions.

Details: Written by: Robin Osborne; Published: 29 November 2018

Book Prescription - Byron Bibliotherapy

The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village
Joanna Nell
Hachette

The main characters of this romantic comedy set in a retirement village are 79-year-old widow Peggy Smart and her love interest the debonair Brian. Their quiet lives will be changed dramatically when Peggy’s old school friend, Angie, turns up.
The author, a Sydney GP, extracts genuine humour from everyday health issues: “Naturally, a professional man like Brian had had both his knees replaced in a private hospital under a double-barrelled surgeon. On the other hand, Peggy had gone public for hers. Her specialist had had only one surname, and she’d shared a bay with another lady who screamed all night.”

Details: Written by: Dr Zewlan Moor; Published: 29 November 2018

Summer 18 Editorial

International comparative studies put Australia near the top of OECD nations for health care systems. The 2017 Commonwealth Fund study ranked Australia second after the UK, using five parameters. We led the other countries on administrative efficiency and health care outcomes, and ranked second on “care process”.

Health has been the fastest growing sector in the economy for over 15 years, accounting for 10% of GDP and 13% of the total workforce. Despite this, government health care expenditure is only slightly above the OECD average.