MNCLHD Staff Publications

The Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) continually promotes and fosters a culture of research on the Mid North Coast. Research benefits the local area by attracting, recruiting and retaining skilled clinicians who are interested in research, and develop projects that will benefit our local community and in turn its healthcare system.

This post is to celebrate the achievements of MNCLHD's most recently published researchers and authors.

                                                                                                             Source: Tenor.com

Chan, B., R. Gray, A. French, C. Alexopoulos and K. Prados (2021). "Management and Outcomes of STEMI in a Regional Non-24/7 Cardiac Catheterisation Lab." Heart Lung and Circulation 30(Supplement 3): S232-S233. 

Dunn, H. P., S. D. Browning, D. Thomson, W. B. Yates, P. McCluskey, L. Keay, A. J. White and C. L. Fraser (2022). "Impact on patient management of non-mydriatic fundus photography compared to direct ophthalmoscopy in a regional Australian emergency department." Emergency Medicine Australasia 34(2): 186-193.

Dunn, H. P., S. Marks, K. Z. Teo, S. M. Dunn, P. R. Healey and A. J. White (2022). "Applications of electronic devices based on smartphones in ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment activities: Response." Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 50(3): 351-352.

Eather, S., G. Lester, D. Law, M. Kelly, D. Henderson, T. Stewart, J. Waites and B. Lambert (2021). "Experience and Outcomes of a Hybrid Reperfusion System of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) of a Regional Australian Centre." Heart Lung and Circulation 30(Supplement 3): S222. 

Henstrom, M., K. Duncanson, C. E. Collins, L. M. Ashton, E. Davidson and R. Ball (2022). "Online reach and engagement of a child nutrition peer-education program (PICNIC): insights from social media and web analytics." BMC Public Health 22(1): 836. 

Ireland, S., V. Carroll, D. Blanchard and R. Rossiter (2022). "Recognising and responding to communication and swallowing difficulties in Parkinson’s disease." Australian Journal for General Practitioners 51: 239-244.

Jambor, M. A., L. S. Kyang and M. Romero (2022). "Internal small bowel hernia via a peritoneal defect from laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair." ANZ Journal of Surgery 92(3): 603-604.

Lee, K., T. Le, E. Hau, G. G. Hanna, H. Gee, S. Vinod, S. Dammak, D. Palma, A. Ong, R. Yeghiaian-Alvandi, J. Buck and R. Lim (2022). "A Systematic Review Into the Radiologic Features Predicting Local Recurrence After Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 113(1): 40-59.

Lester, G., S. Eather, D. Law, M. Kelly, D. Henderson, T. Stewart, J. Waites and B. Lambert (2021). "Clinical Factors Associated With Failed Thrombolysis in ST-Segment Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in a Regional Setting." Heart Lung and Circulation 30(Supplement 3): S217.

Lester, G., S. Eather, D. Laws, L. Dowling, M. Kelly and B. Lambert (2021). "Safety of Same-Day Discharge of Outpatients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in a Regional Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis." Heart Lung and Circulation 30(Supplement 3): S242.

Magdy, J. S., D. H. Adikari, R. C. Gray, C. Alexopoulos and N. S. Jepson (2022). "Fire and Flood: The Cardiovascular Impact of Natural Disasters - A Regional New South Wales Experience." Heart Lung and Circulation.

Mak, B., H. M. Lin, E. M. Kwan, H. Fettke, B. Tran, I. D. Davis, K. Mahon, M. R. Stockler, K. Briscoe, G. Marx, A. Zhang, M. Crumbaker, W. Tan, K. Huynh, T. G. Meikle, N. A. Mellett, A. J. Hoy, P. Du, J. Yu, S. Jia, A. M. Joshua, D. J. Waugh, L. M. Butler, M. Kohli, P. J. Meikle, A. A. Azad and L. G. Horvath (2022). "Combined impact of lipidomic and genetic aberrations on clinical outcomes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer." BMC Medicine 20(1): 112.

Marshall, A. D., A. Conway, E. B. Cunningham, H. Valerio, D. Silk, M. Alavi, A. Wade, T. Lam, K. Zohrab, A. Dunlop, C. Connelly, M. Christmass, V. Cock, C. Burns, C. Henderson, V. Wiseman, G. J. Dore and J. Grebely (2022). "Willingness of people who inject drugs to participate in a randomised controlled trial involving financial incentives to initiate hepatitis C treatment." Drug and alcohol dependence 235: 109438.

Osborn, E., M. Ritha, R. Macniven, T. Agius, V. Christie, H. Finlayson, J. Gwynn, K. Hunter, R. Martin, R. Moir, D. Taylor, S. Tobin, K. Ward and K. Gwynne (2022). "No One Manages It; We Just Sign Them Up and Do It": A Whole System Analysis of Access to Healthcare in One Remote Australian Community." Int J Environ Res Public Health 19(5).

Parkin, C. J., D. Gilbourd, R. Grills, S. Chapman, S. Weinstein, N. Joshi, B. Indrajit, J. Kam, T. Smilovic, A. Shepherd, N. Gikenye and M. W. Louie-Johnsun (2022). "Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy remains a safe method in confirming a prostate cancer diagnosis: a multicentre Australian analysis of infection rates." World Journal of Urology 40(2): 453-458.

Partridge, S. R., L. Reece, K. A. Sim, A. Todd, S. S. Jia, R. Raeside, T. Schirmer, P. Phongsavan and J. Redfern (2022). "An analysis of current obesity strategies for adolescents in NSW against best practice recommendations: Implications for researchers, policymakers and practitioners." Health Promot J Austr.

Shi, K., J. Westhuyzen, A. Gortman, T. P. Shakespeare and N. J. Aherne (2022). "Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients." Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science 52(1): 33-39.

Stockler, M. R., A. J. Martin, I. D. Davis, H. M. Dhillon, S. D. Begbie, K. N. Chi, S. Chowdhury, X. Coskinas, M. Frydenberg, W. E. Hague, L. G. Horvath, A. M. Joshua, N. J. Lawrence, G. M. Marx, J. McCaffrey, R. McDermott, M. McJannett, S. A. North, F. Parnis, W. R. Parulekar, D. W. Pook, M. N. Reaume, S. Sandhu, A. Tan, T. H. Tan, A. Thomson, F. Vera-Badillo, S. G. Williams, D. G. Winter, S. Yip, A. Y. Zhang, R. R. Zielinski and C. J. Sweeney (2022). "Health-Related Quality of Life in Metastatic, Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: ENZAMET (ANZUP 1304), an International, Randomized Phase III Trial Led by ANZUP." J Clin Oncol 40(8): 837-846.

Swart, G., S. Balgobind, C. Chan, M. Fulham, S. Riminton, E. Mitchell and S. W. Reddel (2022). "Spinal Cord Presentation of Biopsy-Proven PET-Positive Giant Cell Arteritis." Neurology.

Sweeney, C. J., A. J. Martin, M. R. Stockler, S. Begbie, K. N. Chi, S. Chowdhury, X. Coskinas, M. Frydenberg, W. E. Hague, L. G. Horvath, A. M. Joshua, N. J. Lawrence, G. M. Marx, J. McCaffrey, R. McDermott, M. McJannett, S. A. North, F. Parnis, W. Parulekar, D. W. Pook, M. N. Reaume, S. K. Sandhu, A. Tan, T. H. Tan, A. Thomson, E. Tu, F. Vera-Badillo, S. G. Williams, S. Yip, A. Y. Zhang, R. R. Zielinski, I. D. Davis, E. T. Investigators, A. the, U. New Zealand and G. Prostate Cancer Trials (2021). "Overall Survival of Men with Metachronous Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer Treated with Enzalutamide and Androgen Deprivation Therapy." European Urology 80(3): 275-279.

MNCLHD Staff Publications Database – Maintained & updated by PMBH Health Services Library.

 

International Nurses Day

Happy International Nurses Day to ALL Nurses worldwide!

Celebrating the diverse impact of nursing this International Nurses Day a short article in Hospital & Healthcare, highlights the wide scope of ways nurses shape the health of all Australians to mark International Nurses Day.

The day is held each year to acknowledge the birth of Florence Nightingale in 1820. The International Council of Nurses initiative shines a light on the crucial role played by nurses in providing care at all stages of life from birth to death.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Blue Planet Studio

The article asks Australians to reflect on the times that the expertise helped improve the health of themselves of a loved one. Perhaps through the care provided in hospital, the vaccinations received or essential support at the end of life.

Nurses are highly trained professionals and should be recognised as such. Many hold specialist qualifications including masters and doctoral level.

Nurses work in a diverse range of places including schools, prisons, hospitals, aged-care facilities, GP clinics, universities and homes. They work in the busiest cities and towns as well as remote communities in Australia.

The last few years have been especially taxing for Nurses in Australia and worldwide.They've faced many challenges and uncertainty during multiple waves of COVID-19. Let's give them the respect they deserve.

Thank a Nurse not only today but every day. THANK YOU!

Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities - A Poly Forum Podcast

Preventing violence against women and girls with disabilities

On this episode of Policy Forum Pod, Patty Kinnersly from Our Watch and Jen Hargrave from Women with Disabilities Victoria join us to discuss the Changing the landscape report, a new national resource to prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities.

Source: www.policyforum.net

Australian women and girls with disabilities are twice as likely to experience violence than woman and girls without disabilities. How can policymakers address ableism and gender inequality, two intersecting drivers of this violence? Why is co-design so important to policy-making in this area? And what role do all Australians have to play in preventing this violence from taking place? Professor Sharon Bessell and Dr Arnagretta Hunter are joined by Patty Kinnersly, Chief Executive Officer of Our Watch, and Jen Hargrave, Senior Policy Officer at Women with Disabilities Victoria, to discuss their new Changing the landscape report.

Patty Kinnersly is CEO of Our Watch, an independent not-for-profit organisation and national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia.

Jen Hargrave is Senior Policy Officer at Women with Disabilities Victoria and Research Assistant at the University of Melbourne’s School of Population Health.

Sharon Bessell is Professor of Public Policy and Director of Gender Equity and Diversity at Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU.

Arnagretta Hunter is the Human Futures Fellow at ANU College of Health and Medicine, a cardiologist, physician, and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at ANU Medical School.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Hastings Macleay - PMBH Library Newsletter - Jan-Feb 2022

 

COVID-19 Pandemic impact on children

Potential indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children: a narrative review using a community child health lens

Sharon Goldfield, Elodie O'Conno, Valerie Sung, Gehan Roberts, Melissa Wake, Sue West, Harriet Hislock.

With the increasing worldwide concern about the probable disproportionate effect of the current pandemic on children facing adversity, widening existing inconsistencies in child health and developmental outcomes. 

Source: news-medical.net

The review identified 11 impact areas under three broad categories:

Child-level factors  

- poorer mental health 

- poorer child health and development 

- poorer academic achievement 

Family-level factors that affect children 

- poorer parent mental health

- reduced family income and job losses

- increased household stress

- increased abuse and neglect

- poorer maternal and newborn health

Service-level factors that affect children 

- school closures

- reduced access to health care

- increased use of technology for learning, connection and health care

The article published in the Medical Journal of Australia suggests five potential strategy areas that could begin to address these equities. 

Addressing financial instability through parent financial supplements; expanding the role of schools to address learning gaps and wellbeing; rethinking health care delivery to address reduced access; focusing on prevention and early intervention for mental health; and using digital solutions to address inequitable service delivery.

Congratulations to MNCLHD Staff on article publication

Writing for publication is no easy feat. Library staff acknowledge the hard work and commitment shown by staff toward increasing the body the knowledge available in various fields of expertise. The following articles were published by Mid North Coast Local Health District staff members (highlighted).

Ball, R., K. Duncanson, L. Ashton, A. Bailey, T. L. Burrows, G. Whiteford, M. Henström, R. Gerathy, A. Walton, J. Wehlow and C. E. Collins (2022). "Engaging New Parents in the Development of a Peer Nutrition Education Model Using Participatory Action Research." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(1): 102.

Bramble, M., A. Wong, V. Carroll, D. Schwebel and R. Rossiter (2021). "Using an economic evaluation approach to support specialist nursing services for people with Parkinson's in a regional community." Journal of Advanced Nursing 77(12): 4722-4732.

Blennerhassett, R., J. H. Moses, N. Coulits, A. Horne, J. Simpson, J. Marshall, L. Weston and J. Moore (2021). "Recurrent secondary graft failure likely due to a DRB4 donor-specific antibody in a patient with aplastic anemia and DRB4 null allele." Bone Marrow Transplantation 56(10): 2603-2605.

Carroll, V., R. Rossiter and D. Blanchard (2021). "Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease." Australian Journal Of General Practice 50(11): 812-817.

Dower, K., A. Ford, M. Sandford, A. Doherty, S. Greenham, L. Kerin, P. Dwyer, C. Hansen, J. Westhuyzen and T. Shakespeare (2021). "Retrospective evaluation of planning margins for patients undergoing radical radiation therapy treatment for bladder cancer using volumetric modulated arc therapy and cone beam computed tomography." Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences 68(4): 371-378.

Dunn, H. P., S. Marks, K. Z. Teo, S. M. Dunn, P. R. Healey and A. J. White (2021). "eFOCUS 2: A randomised crossover trial of smartphone fundoscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy aiming to improve optic disc interpretation by medical students with e-learning support." Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 49(7): 704-713.

Garga, S., M. T. Thomas, A. Bhatia, A. Sullivan, F. John-Leader and S. W. Pit (2021). "Motivations, dating app relationships, unintended consequences and change in sexual behaviour in dating app users at an Australian music festival." Harm Reduction Journal 18(1): 49.

Gibberd, A. J., J. Tyler, K. Falster, D. B. Preen, M. Hanly, M. J. Clarke, B. J. McNamara, S. J. Eades and K. J. Scurrah (2021). "Pregnancy and birth characteristics of Aboriginal twins in two Australian states: a data linkage study." BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth 21(1): 448.

Louie, E., K. C. Morley, V. Giannopoulos, G. Uribe, K. Wood, C. Marel, K. L. Mills, M. Teesson, M. Edwards, S. Childs, D. Rogers, A. Dunlop, A. Baillie and P. S. Haber (2021). "Implementation of a Multi-Modal Training Program for the Management of Comorbid Mental Disorders in Drug and Alcohol Settings: Pathways to Comorbidity Care (PCC)." Journal of Dual Diagnosis 17(4): 304-312.

Nitchingham, A., A. Milne, B. Toson, B. Tuch, M. Agar, J. Close and G. Caplan (2021). "Intranasal insulin for treatment of delirium in older hospitalised patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial." BMJ Open 11(10): e050765.

Rashid, P., M. Ronald and K. Kong (2021). "Cultural safety and racism." ANZ Journal of Surgery 91(12): 2829-2832.

Travers, A., A. Jalali, S. Begbie, C. Semira, S. Kosmider, S. Ananda, R. Wong, M. Lee, J. Shapiro, M. Burge, D. Yip, J. Torres, B. Ma, L. Nott, A. Dean, J. Tie, A. Khattak, S. Lim, H. L. Wong and P. Gibbs (2021). "Real-World Treatment and Outcomes of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients With a Poor or Very Poor Performance Status." Clinical Colorectal Cancer 20(1): e21-e34.

Toby, J., T. Eade, G. Hruby, A. Kneebone, N. Aherne, C. Brown, L. Guo, M. Hoffmann and T. P. Shakespeare (2021). "Assessing ISUP prostate cancer grade groups in patients treated with definitive dose escalated external beam radiation." Radiotherapy & Oncology 162: 91-97.

Urquhart, L., K. Fisher, K. Duncanson, K. Roberts, S. Munro, C. Gibbs and L. Brown (2021). "First Nation Peoples' nutrition and exercise group programmes: transforming success through the lifeworld." International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 16(1): 1990197.

Zhang, N. and H. Ward (2021). "Safety and efficacy of external cephalic version after a previous caesarean delivery: A systematic review." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 61(5): 650-657.

MNCLHD Staff Publications Database – Maintained & updated by PMBH Health Services Library.

If you have published recently and your article has been missed please contact the MNCLHD Library. 

ACSQHC Update - Precautions for aged care homes

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a number of resources to assist healthcare organisations, facilities and clinicians including PPE use for aged care staff caring for residents with or suspected of having COVID-19. The Australian Government Infection Control Expert

Group provides guidance regarding use of particulate respirators (e.g. P2/N95) and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in circumstances where the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is assessed as high.

This recently updated poster includes easy to follow instructions for aged care workers on how to put on and remove PPE (including gowns, P2/N95 respirators, protective eyewear and gloves) when they are caring for residents with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. It also includes instructions on how to fit check P2/N95 respirators.

Source: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/

Note the section highlighted in red 

Important -To protect yourself and your family and friends, when your shift finishes, change into clean clothes at work if possible and put your work clothes in a plastic bag. Go straight home, shower immediately and wash all of your work clothes, and the clothes you wore home.

Other COVID-19 resources are available including visitor restrictions posters, and general information to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission. FAQs for clinicians and consumers on elective surgery as well as the latest information on mask wearing in multiple languages.

NSW Health Report - Vaccination among COVID-19 cases in the NSW Delta outbreak

 The NSW Health in focus report, Vaccination among COVID-19 cases in the NSW Delta outbreak Reporting period: 16 June to 7 October 2021  describes the vaccination status of locally acquired cases of COVID-19 with reported onset of infection with the dates mentioned.

Of 61,800 COVID-19 cases, the vast majority were unvaccinated; 6.1% of cases had two doses of vaccine, 9.2% had one dose, 63.1% reported having no vaccine. The proportion of those who were vaccinated increased with the age of the patients. This could be a reflection of the way that the role out was conducted in that the older people were eligible earlier.

8,660 cases were hospitalised, 1,015 admitted to ICU and 412 died with COVID-19. Of these, 493 of the hospitalised, 30 of those admitted to ICU and 47 of those who died had received two doses of vaccine. Of the 47 cases who died with COVID-19 having received two doses of vaccine, their average age was 82 years; 29 (61.7%) were residents of aged care facilities and the other 18 had significant comorbidities. Of the 30 admitted to ICU, 26 (86.7%) had significant co-morbidities and 4 had no reported comorbid conditions. 

Source: Vaccination among COVID-19 cases in the NSW Delta outbreak Reporting period: 16 June to 7 October 2021 health.nsw.gov.au

In the peak fortnight of the outbreak (25 August to 7 September), the COVID-19 case rate among 2-dose vaccinated people was 49.5 per 100,000 while in unvaccinated people it was 561 per 100,000, a more than 10 times more. The rates of COVID-19 ICU admissions or deaths peaked in the fortnight 8 September to 21 September at 0.9 per 100,000 in 2-dose vaccinated people compared to 15.6 per 100,000 in unvaccinated people, a more than 16-fold difference.

The effect of the vaccine proved greatest against serious disease, but vaccination also protected against infection. Protection seemed greater in younger compared to older people. In the fortnight 8-21 September, the rates of infection in the 2-dose vaccinated population compared to the unvaccinated population was 21 versus 488 per 100,000 in those aged 12-19 years and 61 versus 193 per 100,000 in those aged 80+ years. 

Throughout the NSW outbreak, across all ages, people who have received 2 doses of vaccine have significantly lower rates of COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 than unvaccinated people. But, vaccination does not completely protect people from infection and the other recommended public health measures should continue to be followed. 

These facts might help clinicians convince those who are still unsure to get vaccinated. Download the full report using the link above.

Mental Health Literacy Development

The Health literacy development program, developed with the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, offers digital resources to help organisations improve mental health literacy responsiveness.

Mental health literacy responsiveness is the provision of services, programs, information and support in ways that promote equal access and engagement for all members of the community. Mental health literacy responsive organisations and services are those that meet the many and varied mental health literacy strengths, needs and preferences of all people; and support individuals with lived experience, their families and kinship groups, and wider communities to make decisions regarding their health and wellbeing. 

Source: blog.f1000.com

The resources are available to any health and social care organisation that is providing services to members of the community, including.

• Primary Health Networks
• Community manage organisations
• Local Health Districts
• Other care workers, health administrators, academics and community members

The resources are designed to be used together or individually as part of educational programs or by services as part of quality improvement activities. They are inter-related so you can select and match resources depending on your needs.

Go through each tab and explore. I don't find the site at all intuitive nor do the tab / section names really explain what they are. There are some moving video stories and well as downloadable resources and fact sheets. Special mention goes to the "Let's learn from research" section. These stories can be used to generate ideas for quality improvement activities.

The "Take actions to respond to communities" section shows 11 action areas, while the "Resources for action" section provides the tools you need to get the action started. Resources include complete toolkits for training and refreshers for staff involved at every stage of a person's journey; facilitator guides to run workshops complete with training videos and slides.

Check out these resources today!

  

Reliable Dermatology Information, Images and More - Free!

Are you a clinician looking for reliable information and images to help you make informed, evidence-based decisions on how to treat skin conditions without expense?

DermNet NZ : All about the skin, is what you are looking for.

DermNet NZ is supported by and contributed to by New Zealand dermatologists on behalf of the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. 

The images section might be just what you are looking for to include in an educational presentation or as an example to show a patient. The images are free. They have a small watermark on them that does not spoil the image as you can see in the example below, and you can purchase a watermark free copy if you wish.

There is a A-Z topics section that is easy to navigate. The topics and some useful patient information is printable.

Under the "More" tab there is a quizz section that is recommended for family physicians and dermatologists in training. Questions are presented as cases and solutions are provided.

The site does include adds but that would be expected on a free site.

CPD Reading Materials

Did you know that you can accumulate CPD hours by reading articles related to your field of expertise?

NSW Health employees can search CiAP for the following articles or request them from the library.

Source: BMJ

Subacute small bowel obstruction or chronic large bowel obstruction, by Marc Winslet, Kevin Barraclough and Gregory Campbell Hewson. BMJ 21-28 August 2021, pp 241-243. 

This is one of a series of occasional articles highlighting conditions that may be missed at first presentation.

Long covid - mechanisms, risk factors, and management, by Harry Crook, Sanara Raza, Joeph Nowell, Megan Young and Paul Edison. BMJ 21-28 August 2021, pp 244-247.

This article is a summary of a State of the Art Review that discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, and long term impact of symptoms of long covid, and the evidence about how to manage it.

Does depression screening in primary care improve mental health outcomes? by Brett D. Thombs, Sarah Markham, Danielle B. Rice and Roy C. Ziegelstein. BMJ 7-14 August 2021, pp 199-201.

This is one of a series of occasional articles the highlights areas of practice where management lacks convincing supporting evidence.

Ward based management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, by Jenny Nguyen, Ina Ko, Santiago Martinez-Sosa and Ruth Mizogichi. BMJ 7-14 August 2021, pp 202-206.

Each of these articles is worth .5 CPD hours. You can create an account with BMJ Practice if you wish to to record your points that way and download certificates. It's free to all NSW Health employees. Alternatively keep your own records. Happy reading!

Health Services Library Newsletter - Oct / Nov 2021

Contact the Library for information regarding services available for Hasting Macleay Network staff.

Should health and care staff have to have a covid vaccine?

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination has been approved by law makers in the United Kingdom, Italy France and Greece, and now also in NSW Australia. Medical exemptions are available. In NSW anyone who works in health care and social assistance must have their first dose of vaccine by September 30. 

 Credit: abc.net.au

A recent article in the BMJ 2021;374:n1903 presents a debate on this complicated issue. The 'Yes' argument by Michael Parker, professor of bioethics and the 'No' argument by Helen Bedford, professor of children's health, state their positions. There is an interesting 'Patient Commentary' on page 184 for a quick insight into a patient's perspective entitled Protect patients, with staff exemptions only for medical reasons.

NSW Health staff can read this via CiAP. Use your single sign on information. Problems? Contact your librarian through the Library website.

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Resources

The Commission has developed and provided a range of resources to give advice on how to reduce the risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure and infection. These resources are freely available for Australian health service organisations, healthcare professionals and consumers.

The Commission supports all healthcare professionals in continuing to provide safe, high-quality care during the pandemic, with advice on infection prevention and control, risk assessment and management, managing medications and caring for people with cognitive impairment.

On the resources page find helpful information graphics, guidelines, fact sheets and brochures.