The Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff  has just announced that free flu vaccines will be available at Pharmacies and GP Clinics for all Tasmanians over 6 months. 

Additionally, from this Saturday 4 June, infants aged 6 months and over can attend  and receive a flu vaccination at one of the Tasmanian Government's childhood community vaccination clinics operating across the state. 
 

This year, for the first time, Australia will be managing both COVID-19 and an influenza season.

Australia's acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sonya Bennett, has issued a public statement about the increasing importance of protection against both illnesses as we move into the 2022 winter season.

The Tasmanian Government issued a COVID-19 update to general practices on Friday 27 May, focused on expanded eligibility for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

As of Monday 30 May, a second booster (winter dose) may be given to additional selected population groups at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, four months after the first booster dose. 

Following the 1 May listing of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as a treatment for COVID-19 (see information here), some GPs and patients have reported difficulty with filling prescriptions for it at community pharmacies.

The Department has prepared this advice for prescribers and dispensers.

The Australian Government Department of Health's Dr Lucas De Toca has answered some common questions about winter preparedness in this video resource, which may help health professionals answer questions from their patients. They relate to:

• getting a flu vaccine
• making sure you're up to date with COVID vaccines
• treatments for COVID-19.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)'s new Winter Planning Toolkit is now available online.

It encourages general practices to implement winter preparedness activities for the health and safety of patients and practice teams, and covers:

• key priorities and principles of infection prevention and control
• workforce protection and planning
• processes for patient management
• processes for managing the risk of cross-infection
• other relevant resources.

With the current rise of respiratory illnesses, please check your PPE stock levels. 

Primary Health Tasmania holds a limited supply of PPE from the Australian Government's National Medical Stockpile to ensure access to staff in frontline health services who are likely to come into contact with COVID-19. General practices and immunising community pharmacies in need of PPE can place an order via this form (general practices) or this form (pharmacies).

Under the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015, it is mandatory for vaccination providers to report all COVID-19, influenza, and National Immunisation Program vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). 

The Australian Government Department of Health has identified that a significant number of AIR records have a batch number that has been recorded incorrectly.  

Please make sure you are reporting the correct batch number to the AIR. The Department is aware that some practice management software stores and/or autofills previously entered information which can lead to data entry errors. It is important to correct this information prior to submission.

The quickest and easiest way to record all vaccination information is via the AIR site in HPOS or through the relevant practice management software. 

The Australian Government Department of Health's Dr Lucas De Toca has answered some common questions about chronic conditions in this video resource, which may help health professionals answer questions from their patients. They relate to:

• heart health checks
• checks to help prevent 'silent killers'
• lifestyle changes to help prevent silent chronic illness.

The Tasmanian Government's Pulse Youth Health service reminds GPs that it does not provide services under a mental health plan and cannot manage severe and complex mental health presentations.

Pulse Youth Health has a prevention and early intervention focus and provides a mix of clinical services and education programs which assist young people (aged 12 to 24) to address a wide range of health issues. Young people can self-refer. More information here.

GPs are encouraged to contact the free, confidential service on 6166 1421 or by email to discuss potential referrals if unsure of suitability. 

Note that headspace Hobart does see clients under a mental health care plan (which must be addressed to headspace). This is also an early intervention service, and the centre provides an outreach service to Pulse at Glenorchy. The Link Youth Health Service further provides the Short Term Psychological Interventions Program in Bridgewater and Sorell for mild to moderate mental health concerns which also requires a mental health care plan with referral.

Many health professionals providing palliative care within the primary health setting experience uncertainty around funding mechanisms.

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) remuneration can be obtained by health professionals working within the primary healthcare setting and can be clearly linked to patient palliative care pathways. The website of the CareSearch Palliative Care Knowledge Network includes practical funding streams for palliative care activities undertaken by primary healthcare professionals. 

The Australian Government is seeking feedback on key findings from a recent review of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

The review report identifies opportunities in five key focus areas: appropriateness of the program, appropriateness of colonoscopy, governance, data collection and participation.

Submissions are due by 17 June and will help shape the future direction of the program. Read more.

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month - aimed at raising awareness of one of the most common cancers in Tasmania, and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.

Only 49% of Tasmanians are completing and returning their bowel cancer screening tests. Evidence shows a recommendation by a primary care provider is a key motivator for patient participation in bowel cancer screening. Care providers are encouraged to discuss bowel cancer screening with relevant patients and urge them to complete the test when they receive it in the mail. Read more.

Musculoskeletal Australia's program for young people, MSK Kids, has recently launched Teen Talk, an online chat group for people aged 13 to 20 years who live with a musculoskeletal or chronic pain condition.

The group is free to use and administered by three young ambassadors with oversight from MSK staff. Read more.

Primary Health Tasmania has a suite of Aboriginal health resources available for general practices.

These resources were developed in consultation with local Aboriginal health organisations and outline:

• healthcare options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• information and referral pathways relating to the Integrated Team Care (ITC) program for Aboriginal and and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania
• MBS claiming pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

These resources are available online and practices or health professionals can request a printed pack via email. 

The Australian Government has issued an important reminder regarding the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program Registration Grace Period.
 
If you have any questions in relation to this request please email your query to pbs-indigenous@health.gov.au, Attention – Natalie Relph.

Each year the skills, professionalism and dedication of doctors working in rural and remote Australia are recognised through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia's Excellence Awards.

Nominations for this year's awards are open until 30 June. 

The Pen CS Awards recognise excellence in data-driven quality improvement in accredited general practice and Aboriginal medical services.

Nominations for this year's awards are open until 31 July. All nominees must have an active software licence with Pen CS, such as CAT or Topbar.

Lung function test request forms for the Tasmanian Lung Service – Hobart have been updated on Primary Health Tasmania's website. Please ensure you use the updated form when referring patients.

Referrals can be sent securely and directly to the Tasmanian Lung Service from your clinical software using the HealthLink EDI: taslungs.

End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) is calling for expressions of interest from aged care service providers who wish to develop palliative care and advance care planning activities within their organisation.

Organisations selected for participation can receive an administrative grant of up to $20,000 to support engagement in ELDAC program activities. Expressions of interest close on 15 June. Read more.

The Tasmanian Health Service is presenting a free webinar for GPs and pharmacists on Tasmania's Mental Health Act from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Thursday 23 June as part of an Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) program of events.

Dr Mike King, North West Regional Hospital emergency department staff specialist, will present on how to perform a mental capacity assessment (including tips and pitfalls) and the Mental Health Act (including protective custody, duty of care and making an application for assessment order).

Primary Health Tasmania is holding a free webinar for GPs from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday 28 June as part of the Mental Health Education Series of events.

This first webinar in the series will include an overview of the current state and federal mental health reforms relevant to general practice, plus a clinical update on perinatal mental health from Dr Stephanie Lorimer, clinical lead for the Perinatal Mental Health Service (Tasmanian Health Service).

Primary Health Tasmania and NPS MedicineWise are partnering to deliver a free one-hour educational webinar for primary healthcare professionals from 6pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 29 June, promoting the safe and effective use of medicines with anticholinergic effects.

This case-based educational activity will focus on key local issues and is designed to promote collaboration and communication between health professionals.

The Mental Health Professionals' Network and the Butterfly Foundation are holding a free event and dinner for GPs and allied health professionals in Hobart from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday 29 June on the role of the multidisciplinary team in eating disorder management.  

For more information and to register by 27 June, email Georgina Taskunas. A Zoom link will be available for people unable to attend in person. 

The Immunisation Coalition is holding a free full-day virtual conference on Monday 22 August to:

• better understand the burden of vaccine preventable diseases in adults
• build awareness of the challenges and strategies for improved vaccination in adults 
• hear the latest developments in vaccine programs for adults    
• consider ways of improving knowledge about immunisation best practice.    

This event will be of particular interest to health professionals, immunisation specialists, policy makers and anyone else working on the frontline of public health.

The sexual health team at the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) is developing a new course on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) for GPs, nurse practitioners, practice nurses and practice managers. 

The team is undertaking a needs assessment to understand confidence and current practices with LARC, which includes a 2-minute survey. For more information, contact Elloise Barry.
 

Are you a health professional involved in the treatment of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)?

Researchers at the University of Newcastle invite you to participate in a survey investigating healthcare delivery for women with GDM in metropolitan and rural Australia. For more information, contact Ellen Payne.