Immunisers are advised the Therapeutic Goods Administration has received a report of a potential product quality issue relating to Afluria Quad inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine, when used with BD Eclipse Needles 25G.
The report describes vaccine leakage and instability at the connection site between the pre-filled, needle-free Afluria Quad syringe and the attached BD Eclipse needle.
The TGA advises providers to continue to be vigilant in undertaking visual inspection of all vaccine doses prior to administration, and exercise the usual standard principles of handling and disposing of sharps, and use of personal protective equipment where appropriate.
If you become aware of any additional reports, please contact the email below.
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Primary Health Tasmania has created a new web page that aims to point GPs and other primary healthcare professionals to key information and resources to help them plan for, and manage, winter illness.
The page covers topics such as influenza prevention and management, relevant Tasmanian HealthPathways and after hours medical services.
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Public Health Services has resumed issuing regular updates on laboratory-confirmed influenza activity in Tasmania for 2019 via the FluTas website.
As at 21 April 2019, 529 laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications have been received since 1 January (comprising 515 influenza A and 14 influenza B cases).
Please remember to report all immunisations to the Australian Immunisation Register and any adverse events following immunisation for children less than five years to the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
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The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) national due and overdue rules for immunisation information have been recently updated and are now available for download.
The rules are based on the Australian Immunisation Handbook, to help better understand how the AIR works.
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Primary Health Tasmania is currently sending all general practices a details update form.
Having the correct contact information for all health professionals is important as these details are used by the public hospitals to send patient clinical information - such as discharge summaries and patient notifications - to all GPs.
Please take the time to confirm your details are correct, or to notify us of any changes by emailing the form to directories@primaryhealthtas.com.au or fax to 03 6213 8260.
Acknowledging general practice is busy, if you would like one of our staff members to visit your practice, answer any questions and assist you with the form, simply email us via the button below.
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The recommended age at which infants can receive the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in special circumstances has been lowered from 9 months to 6 months.
Infants as young as 6 months of age can receive MMR vaccine for travel to highly endemic areas during outbreaks and as post-exposure prophylaxis.
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GPs who currently participate in the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program may be interested in registering for an innovative mental health pilot.
The CVC Pilot will test whether the use of a digital coaching app can assist veterans to manage mild to moderate mental health concerns, in conjunction with traditional treatment through a GP.
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The Lymphoedema Service will be moving from Telstra 5 to Glenorchy Community Health Centre (phone 6166 1615 and fax 6173 0340), with the move to be completed by 1 July.
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The Cygnet Community Health Centre has a new phone and fax number, accessible via the button below.
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The Australian Department of Health has created a fact sheet about the adolescent meningococcal ACWY vaccine providing information about National Immunisation Program eligibility, repeat doses, contraindications, and more.
The Tasmanian Department of Health also encourages local practitioners to continue to offer free, state-funded vaccines to Tasmanians aged six weeks to 14 years, and those aged 20 years (born after 1 August 1997) while vaccine stock lasts. Read more here.
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The Australian Government's Get the facts about immunsation has released a range of resources specifically targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and children.
They include a video and motion graphic, as well as a facts brochure.
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A new template for the Tasmanian Health Service Statewide Antenatal Referral on Primary Health Tasmania's website has been updated to reflect a change to the service's fax number.
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Diabetes Australia has launched a new website called KeepSight, where people can nominate when they last had an eye check.
Health professionals can also register people with diabetes for the program.
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GPs and nurse practitioners may now integrate the easy-to-use palliMEDS app as a tool to proactively prescribe appropriate medications to manage common emergent symptoms in home-based palliative care patients in the last few weeks of life.
The palliMEDS app was developed by NPS MedicineWise for the caring@home project, is available for free download for Apple and Android devices.
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The National Eating Disorders Collaboration has produced a new digital, five module professional development video series that aims to support the professional development of the health workforce across Australia.
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The Immunisation Coalition’s annual update for GPs, immunisation nurses, pharmacists, and other immunisation professionals will be held on 7 May.
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Date: Monday 6 May and Tuesday 7 May
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: Lifeline Australia
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This two-day training will upskill frontline workers to work effectively with an interpreter in the context of domestic and family violence.
The course is funded through the Department of Social Services and offered free to health, allied health, community leaders, education, childcare and community workers.
Click here to find out more, and here to enrol.
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Date: Saturday 22 June
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Launceston
Host: Black Dog Institute, supported by Primary Health Tasmania
Cost: $50
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This new workshop aims to increase health professionals’ skill and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide.
The workshop provides practical tools for health professionals managing the full spectrum of suicide risk presentations including the acute suicidal crisis, care after a suicide attempt, and assisting families experiencing suicide bereavement.
Click here to find out more.
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Date: Saturday 29 June
Time: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: $495 for members, $627 for non-members
Host: RACGP
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This workshop is designed to support rural GPs to increase their understanding of the applications of point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnostic process. The training is delivered by rural GPs and sonographers who are experienced in using ultrasound in their practice environment.
Click here to find out more and register.
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Date: Monday 22 July
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm (including light dinner)
Location: Launceston
Cost: Free
Host: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Date: Tuesday 23 July
Time: 6:45am to 8:30am (including breakfast)
Location: Launceston
Cost: Free
Host: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Date: Tuesday 23 July
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm (including light dinner)
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Date: Wednesday 24 July
Time: 6:45am to 8:30am (including breakfast)
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
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The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is consulting on National Primary Health Care Safety and Quality Standards and seeks input from local health workers.
Involvement in these workshops by local health professionals is essential to developing standards that will be of value to the sector, focus on safety and quality outcomes and are patient-centred.
Consultations will be held throughout Australia over May to July 2019.
To find out more and register, click here.
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This year, Primary Health Tasmania made six sponsorships of up to $2000 available to practices nurses from across the state to attend the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association‘s national conference in Adelaide.
Ultimately, six practices nurses and one Health Care Homes practice nurse made the trip to South Australia – a professional opportunity that, given it was happening interstate, may not have been possible otherwise.
Here’s what they took away from their time in Adelaide:
- Sophie Lee, Summerdale Medical Centre: "One lesson I took away from Adelaide is that primary healthcare nurses can be the first line of health professionals a patient is able to see when seeking medical advice and assistance. We are privileged with the opportunity to help people through all phases of life, implementing preventive health across the lifespan in order to reduce the burden of disease, prevalence of co-morbidities and exacerbation of chronic illnesses."
- Aleara Crichton-Gill, Derwent Valley Medical Centre: “Make it a policy to discuss barriers and enablers with at least two other nurses from different practices before embarking on research or initiating changes.”
- Elesha Fromm, Rural Health Tasmania, Waratah-Wynyard: “By embracing preventive health education, the community has the ability to become self-determinate.”
- Anita Street, Northern Suburbs Medical Service, Launceston: “The discussion of air and bone conduction was progressive, and included correct technique of using the tuning fork to perform a Rinne and Weber test to check for any hearing loss before ear irrigation.”
- Britta Svenson, Ochre Health Medical Centre, King Island: "The talk on hepatitis C inspired me. I learnt so much and was exhausted by the end, as I didn’t want to miss anything.”
- Deirdre McGowan, Huon Valley Health Centre: "At the APNA conference I learnt about the WHO Nursing Now campaign and APNA Nurse 2022 campaign. Nursing Now is a global campaign to raise the profile and status of nursing worldwide. Through nursing, countries can improve the health of their populations, improve gender equality and develop economies."
- Tamara Young, Don Medical Clinic: “I took away from the APNA conference how to better manage my patients anxieties by asking the right questions and how to have difficult conversations, not only patients but also to staff members, to get the best outcomes.”
Pictured: (Back row, left to right) Sophie Lee, Britta Svenson, Tamara Young, Anita Street (front row, left to right) Elesha Fromm, Deirdre McGowan, Aleara Crichton-Gill
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Did you know every Tasmanian general practice is eligible for two visits from our provider support team, per financial year? You can find out more about our practice visit program here, or click on the link below to request a visit.
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