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Order in the House - December 2015

I opened the new Emergency Department at Casino Hospital last month.

This major $3 million upgrade is wonderful news for the Casino Hospital ED staff, patients and the wider community.

It was due to a Federal Government grant. The previous government promised this during the last election campaign. Visiting it after the election I could see it was badly needed and lobbied the [then] Health Minister Peter Dutton to also honour the commitment.

The upgrade includes a new triage area, two new resuscitation bays, a redesigned Ambulance entry, four new treatment bays, relocation of the ED waiting area, a multifunctional Safe Assessment Room, a dedicated ED staff room, a refurbished Clean Utility Room and improved security for the entire ED.

Details: Written by: Kevin Hogan, MP for Page; Published: 10 November 2015

Medical student, Nick Vitko, with GP mentor, Andrew Binns

Teaching medical students through role modelling

Jane Barker* reflects on coordinating practicum placements for medical students with local GPs, and the positive feedback they provide.

There are many joys in teaching medical students - their enthusiasm is infectious and is a reminder of all that I love in Medicine. Fortunately for us at UCRH (University Centre for Rural Health, North Coast), more GPs in our area take medical students into their practices than don’t.

Many make very significant commitments to teaching, being involved in the longitudinal placements in general practice or taking the more traditional shorter student placements regularly throughout the year. Others do what they are able to do within their own constraints of time and space. Most find this really rewarding.

Details: Written by: Dr Jane Barker; Published: 09 November 2015

Turkey is still a tourist treat

Despite a massive suicide bombing in its capital Ankara, an ambiguous role in the war against Daesh (ISIS), and two national elections in five months, Turkey retains its age-old appeal to visitors - justifiably, writes GP Speak team member Angela Bettess.

There are so many good things to see and do in Turkey, and reducing them to a short-list of five highlights has not been easy. Nevertheless, allow me to share my top five experiences from a recent trip to Turkey lasting three weeks…

1) Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia

Waking up before sunrise was well worth the effort as one hundred hot air balloons floated up into the air above Cappadocia --> . Serene, wild and unforgettably beautiful, Turkey’s central desert landscape was forged by three volcanic eruptions resulting in laval formations that have since been shaped by the elements. What remains is a surreal landscape of 'fairy chimneys' – or oddly shaped steeples of rock—that provide an amazing backdrop for the morning flock of multicoloured balloons . Also incredible was the skilful landing of the baskets directly onto the trailers as they came back down to the ground.

Details: Written by: Angela Bettess; Published: 09 November 2015

Study explores Byron parents’ vaccination refusal

Research has begun on a PhD study aimed at exploring why a greater number than the national average of Northern Rivers parents, especially those in Byron Shire, choose not to vaccinate their children.

North Coast NSW statistics show immunisation rates for one, two and five-year olds are less than most other areas in Australia, although not dramatically so

While these 2011-12 figures will be updated soon, the results are not expected to vary significantly.

However, the breakdown by local postcodes shows significantly higher non-vaccination rates in Byron Shire

Details: Written by: Robin Osborne; Published: 09 November 2015

Primary care spending a good investment for older Australians

The latest results of Australia’s longest running study of general practice activity has found that older Australians account for the nation’s highest use of primary care resources, and the proportion they are using is increasing over time.

However, the money is well spent, lowering overall health care costs by reducing expensive specialist and hospital visits, and contributing to greater longevity.

Noting that in any one year, about 85 per cent of the population makes at least one contact with a GP, The University of Sydney’s Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) analysis focused closely on the highest users of GP services - older Australians.