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WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA), Rural Health West (RHW) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners WA (RACGP) WA (the Steering Group) have partnered to create a WA GP Advisory Panel. The WA GP Advisory Panel will comprise a diverse range of GPs from across WA who will be able to provide timely guidance, advice or options to support the development and delivery of projects and initiatives being led, or input to, by WAPHA, RHW and RACGP WA. We are calling for expressions of interest from General Practitioners across WA who are passionate about their fields of expertise and able to commit to quarterly meetings as well as occasional ad hoc consultations. To express your interest in being part of this panel, please complete the Expression of Interest form by COB Friday 3 September.
To discuss the Panel, please contact Jane Harwood, Stakeholder Engagement Manger at WA Primary Health Alliance by email via jane.harwood@wapha.org.au
The MH Connext program helps connect general practice patients who are experiencing severe and complex mental health issues with the right mental health care at the right time.
This recovery-oriented program is provided in the community by experienced mental health practitioners who work together with general practitioners (GPs) to offer patients emotional and psychological help and connect them with local support services.
The MH Connext program is free for patients 18 years and over in the Perth metropolitan area referred by their GP with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
To find out more about the MH Connext program and download the referral forms, visit the WAPHA website.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) released a statement on 12 August urging general practitioners, to heed the advice issued by RANZCOG and ATAGI which recommends that pregnant women are routinely offered Pfizer (Comirnaty) at any stage of pregnancy.
The McGowan Government has expanded eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations to enable all Western Australians aged 16 years and above to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at WA Health clinics.
This is the first opportunity for people aged between 16 to 29 to get vaccinated at State-run clinics. People in this age group can now start booking their vaccination appointment.
Read the full media statement here.
The Australian Department of Health has created resources targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for health providers to access, download or print to use in their health clinics and practices. These materials include web pages, videos, posters, social media resources and handouts which can be accessed here.
On 9 August 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval to Moderna Australia Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax (elasomeran) making it the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia. Current approval is for adults aged 18 years and over. Prime Minister Scott Morrison provided a statement related to the supply of Spikevax (elasomeran) to primary care.
Individual states and territories may have implemented different eligibility criteria for state-led clinics within their jurisdictions outside of the national eligibility criteria agreed by National Cabinet. All primary care vaccination sites – including general practices, Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics and Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services should follow the national eligibility criteria.You can find the national eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines at When will I get a COVID-19 Vaccine? and the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker.
If you have excess doses left that may expire before you can run your next vaccination clinic, vaccines can be administered outside of existing eligibility to minimise wastage. You can review the excess dose policy here.
Accredited general practices still have an opportunity to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine program. As vaccine supplies increase, the Commonwealth is expanding the role of general practices within the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout. If your practice is not currently taking part in the rollout and would like to apply to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, please email practiceassist@wapha.org.au.
Updates have occurred in the COVID-19 vaccination training program on Friday 6 and Friday 13 August. Module progress and completion have not been affected.
Staff at vaccinating clinics are expected to log-in and view the new information. A summary of the updates can be found in the announcement forum. All changes within the modules are identified by 'NEW' in red.You can log-in to the training modules here.
WA Primary Health Alliance has been advised by the Australian Department of Health that the National Medical Stockpile is a strategic reserve and not a general supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE). The Stockpile is only intended to provide PPE where commercial supply is unavailable and there is a demonstrated need or clinical advice for its use. We appreciate that some providers have been accessing the Stockpile regularly until now. Due to the widespread commercial availability of PPE supply, as per Government advice, WA Primary Health Alliance will request a declaration from your organisation as proof it has been unable to source a commercial supply. WA Primary Health Alliance can only provide PPE where commercial supply is unavailable and requests meet the following criteria:
If you are experiencing difficulties obtaining PPE from a commercial supplier, please email WA Primary Health Alliance via practiceassist@wapha.org.au addressing the above points.
Immunisation is an essential health service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Immunisation providers must maintain routine immunisation services and ensure on-time vaccination according to the current recommended schedules. These routine services include:
The ATAGI Guiding Principles for maintaining immunisation services during COVID-19 pandemic provides further information for immunisation providers and is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has updated its factsheet on the use of zoster vaccines in Australian adults to align with new ATAGI advice. The updated factsheet includes information on the disease, the vaccines available, the benefits of the different vaccines, contraindications, and more.
Access the new factsheet here
The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) has introduced an online Healthcare Provider Portal and integration with clinical software, providing new ways to interact with the National Register. These channels enable healthcare providers to access and submit bowel and cervical screening data electronically in a self-service fashion. Clinical information systems MedicalDirector and Best Practice are now fully integrated with the National Register, with the aim to integrate more software vendors over time to ensure healthcare providers can seamlessly access and submit data for their patients. For more information visit the NCSR website or call the Contact Centre on 1800 627 701.
Patients who have experienced trauma can have difficulties with intimate examinations, such as cervical screening. To support these patients in accessing healthcare that is sensitive to their needs, the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) has developed a Sensitive Practice Request form. This form should be accessible for discreet patient use prior to an appointment. The information will help inform the healthcare provider on how to best support the patient during the appointment. For more resources on supporting patients who have experienced trauma visit the SARC website.
This free online module provides cervical screening providers with critical information about the change to the intermediate risk pathway within the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP). It includes:
This module was developed by Queensland Health and True Relationships & Reproductive Health, in partnership with Victorian Cytology Service (VCS) Foundation and the NCSP. For more information or to register, visit the True Relationships & Reproductive Health website.
The Practice Incentives Program – Indigenous Health Incentive (PIP IHI) encourages general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to appropriately and effectively meet the health care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a chronic disease. Chronic disease is responsible for 70% of the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. The PIP IHI seeks to address this gap. The Australian Government announced changes to the PIP IHI as part of the 2021–2022 Budget following a national consultation process. From 1 January 2023, the following will change:
You can read more about the PIP IHI on the Australian Government Department of Health website. You can also download a fact sheet with information about the changes to the PIP IHI here.
SMS costs for GPs issuing electronic prescription tokens to patients’ mobile phones will continue to be subsidised by the government until at least 30 June 2022. According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), it has been calling on the Department of Health and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) to develop long-term solutions to avoid SMS costs being passed onto prescribers. “The Department of Health is now considering the outcomes of this work and intends to engage in further consultation across the health sector,” the AMA said in an online news update. “It should be noted that SMS costs are specific to the provision of electronic prescription tokens to patients on their mobile phone. Alternatives exist for prescribers and dispensers to send electronic prescriptions to patients via email or through mobile applications that do not incur these SMS costs.” To read the full article on the AMA website, click here.
Users of nicotine vaping products are encouraged to make an appointment with their GP to discuss their smoking cessation options, ahead of changes from 1 October 2021. The regulatory changes mean that consumers will need a valid prescription to legally obtain nicotine vaping products, such as nicotine e-cigarettes, nicotine pods and liquid nicotine, from an overseas website. A valid prescription is already required to purchase nicotine vaping products from Australian pharmacies. Purchase of nicotine vaping products from other Australian sources is already not permitted and will remain illegal. These changes balance the need to prevent adolescents and young adults from taking-up nicotine vaping (and potentially smoking), while enabling current smokers to readily access these products for smoking cessation with appropriate medical advice. Read the full media release here
This topic discusses the options available to manage changed behaviour in this complex condition, including:
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) will host a webinar discussing what’s next for Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine program. Speakers include Dr Randall Hyer, Senior Vice President, Moderna Therapeutics and Professor Jodie McVernon, Director of Epidemiology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity In this webinar you will:
This webinar is open to all immunisation providers and health professionals. Visit the NCIRS website for more information and to register.
The 17th Women’s Health Day 2021 is a cancer education activity for general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses.
The Day is being developed and delivered in collaboration with Cancer Council WA, Sexual Health Quarters, BreastScreen WA, King Edward Memorial Hospital and WA Primary Health Alliance.
Morning tea and lunch will be provided. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the online registration webpage.
Lung cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, however diagnosis usually occurs at late stages limiting patients access to quality treatment.
Lung Foundation Australia is hosting a free one-hour, live panel discussion for health professionals to review the latest evidence and clinical recommendations for investigating symptoms of lung cancer.
For more information or to register, visit the Lung Foundation Australia website.
The Annual Review of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes (ARMED) 2021 is presented by South Metro Health Service, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Diabetes WA in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance and HealthPathways WA. During this free event for general practitioners (GPs) the following topics will be covered:
Morning tea and lunch will be provided. For more information, refer to the event invitation.
To register, submit the online registration form by Monday 4 October.
Advance care planning workshops: Residential Aged Care Presented by Cancer Council WA & PaSCE Wednesday 8 September