This Newsletter covers Federal and State policy and legislative developments in the area of health. Copies of documents referred to can be obtained by clicking on the reference in this Newsletter or through Capital Monitor's collection at www.capitalmonitor.com.au or from the source quoted.

Major Announcements

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

3 June

Extending COVID-19 Vaccine access for the region
The Government will contribute an additional $50 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) to ensure more people in the region and across the world have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. This additional contribution will help COVAX deliver on its objective of vaccinating 30% of populations of AMC countries, from an original goal to reach 20% of their populations. Australia has now committed a total of $130 million to COVAX AMC, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Minister for Women Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja.
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McKinsey gets another $2m for mRNA vaccine help
The Federal government has awarded McKinsey another $2 million contract to assist with its efforts to establish an onshore mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability, after the consulting giant developed a secret business case earlier this year. The government has now paid McKinsey more than $4 million to provide advice on local mRNA vaccine manufacturing, with the process still in its infancy. At a Senate Estimates hearing, industry department general manager David Luchetti revealed that McKinsey was recently awarded a $2.1 million contract to provide assistance to the government during its approach to market for a local mRNA manufacturing capability, said InnovationAus.
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ACT: More Canberrans eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Canberrans between the ages of 40-49 will now be able to book in for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination at the ACT COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic at Garran. The increased eligibility will be supported by an improved online booking system for ACT vaccination clinics and extended opening hours for the telephone booking line. Canberrans have embraced the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, with more than 100,000 doses administered across the ACT Government vaccination clinics, primary healthcare providers and through the Commonwealth Aged Care program, said ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith.
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QLD: Massive expansion for Qld vaccination effort
Queensland Health will expand its Covid-19 vaccination rollout following a massive spike in demand for vaccinations for people aged 40 to 49. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 18 vaccination centres would deliver Pfizer vaccinations, including three new dedicated community facilities. 'We've always said we will vaccinate more people as we have more certainty of supply,' the Premier said. Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D'Ath said she was proud of the response from Queenslanders so far.
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QLD: Victoria hotspot declaration remains in place
The hotspot declaration for Victoria will remain in place for at least another seven days following Victoria's Department of Health announcement of extended lockdown and restrictions. Queensland's acting Chief Health Officer Dr Sonya Bennett said the Queensland Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation in Victoria. 'We've seen how quickly COVID-19 can run rampant, and that Victoria is still identifying unlinked cases, which is why we're keeping the hotspot declaration in place for a little while longer,' she said.
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NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW Health recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm. Two new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,401. There were 18,672 tests reported to 8pm, compared with the previous day's total of 21,551. NSW Health administered its highest-ever number of vaccines in one day, giving 14,595 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm, including 5,496 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
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NSW: Recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm
Two new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,401. There were 18,672 tests reported to 8pm, compared with the total of 21,551. NSW Health administered its highest-ever number of vaccines in one day, giving 14,595 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm, including 5,496 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
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SA: Vaccine rollout realigned to protect residential aged care facilities
The SA Government is taking a further step to protect South Australians from the effects of COVID-19 by opening SA Health Pfizer clinics to all residential aged care workers. SA Premier Steven Marshall said the COVID-19 vaccination plan in South Australia is being realigned to support the Commonwealth to complete the vaccination of residential aged care staff. 'The COVID-19 vaccination program is our doorway out of the pandemic and giving all South Australians access to the vaccine a key priority in keeping our state safe and strong,' said Premier Marshall.
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SA: COVID-19 Update 3 June 2021
There has been one new case of COVID-19, reported from a medi-hotel. There have been a total of 760 cases notified in South Australia. The case is a child who acquired their infection overseas. The child was transferred to the Women's and Children's Hospital but has since been discharged back to their medi-hotel where they will remain under close observation. A man in his 60s has also been transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and is in a stable condition, said the SA Department of Health.
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VIC: Coronavirus restrictions to lift for Regional Victoria
The restrictions in place to keep Victorians safe from coronavirus will be eased in regional Victoria, following advice from Victoria's Chief Health Officer. From 11.59pm the five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria and there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home. People will only be able to travel to Melbourne for a permitted reason and must follow the Melbourne restrictions once there, said Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino and Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley.
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WA: COVID-19 update 3 June 2021
The WA Department of Health has reported no new cases of COVID-19 in WA. The State's total remains at 1018. Western Australia now has one active case of COVID-19 - 1008 people have recovered from the virus in WA. 895 people were swabbed at WA Health COVID clinics.
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2 June

$60 million to continue life-saving COVID-19 support for aged care
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that the Government is investing $60 million to extend support for COVID-19 response measures for Australia's impacted aged care facilities until 30 June 2022. The extension means a second tranche of COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program grants will be available to support providers with costs incurred from 28 May 2021 to 31 March 2022. Surge workforce arrangements will also remain in place to meet future demand in the event of further outbreaks. The Government is ensuring providers affected by an outbreak can access surge workforce staff and receive financial support for eligible expenses. The program supports costs including additional or replacement staff, personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning and infection control, waste management, and travel and accommodation.
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AMA calls for stronger COVID response
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called for a deadline of 30 June for the completion of the 1A COVID-19 vaccination rollout, with vulnerable populations still at high risk of contracting the virus. AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid has written to Minister for Health Greg Hunt calling for the deadline and has said the AMA supports the mandatory vaccination of aged care workers, which is due to be discussed at National Cabinet. Dr Khorshid urged Minister Hunt and the Federal Government to strengthen its COVID-19 response and said urgent measures were needed in response to the pandemic, including a Commonwealth program to support businesses and workers in lockdown.
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ACT: New COVID-19 exposure locations in NSW
NSW Health has issued a public health alert about a confirmed case of COVID-19 from Melbourne that was in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on 23 and 24 May. The case visited a number of venues in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious. ACT residents who were at any of the following locations at the times listed, are asked to contact ACT Health on (02) 5124 6209 (between 8am to 6pm), get tested and isolate until they receive further information from ACT Health.
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NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW Health recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm. One new overseas-acquired case was recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,399. There were 21,551 tests reported to 8pm, compared with the previous day's total of 9,801. NSW Health administered 14,313 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm, including 5,514 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 1,339,751, with 447,260 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm and 892,491 administered by the GP network and other providers , to 11:59pm on Monday 31 May 2021.
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VIC: Morrison Government plan to vaccinate the private aged care workforce seems never on their radar
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) called on the Morrison Government to reveal the scope of the multiple private contracts to vaccinate the private aged care workforce. In a media release 107 days ago Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said residential aged care residents and workers would be vaccinated in their facility. ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said, 'The Morrison Government must come clean about their private aged care vaccination contracts - did they ask them to vaccinate staff?' 'We're calling on Senator Colbeck to resign,' Ms Fitzpatrick said, 'We need a minister who gets things done with a sense of urgency, care and respect for the residents and the dedicated staff.'
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WA: COVID-19 update 2 June 2021
The Western Australia Department of Health has reported no new cases of COVID-19 in WA. The positive case, a maritime crew member from the Allegra vessel, has been reclassified as an historical case and deleted from WA's list of confirmed cases. The State's total has been reduced to 1018. Western Australia now has one active case of COVID-19 - 1008 people have recovered from the virus in WA. 870 people were swabbed at WA Health COVID clinics. For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard.
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1 June

How social media could be affecting COVID hesitancy
A social media campaign could help to advertise the positives of COVID-19 vaccination and counter the negative posts and comments which are putting Australia's vaccination program at risk, a UNSW researcher said. ARC Discovery Early Career Research Fellow in UNSW Science's School of Psychology, Dr Kate Faasse said social media is exaggerating COVID vaccine side effects and is playing a key role in people avoiding vaccination. 'Studies show that people are more likely to share their negative experiences on social media than their positive ones - so what you see online isn't the whole story, or necessarily the most likely one,' she said. Dr Faasse's research has shown that people generally tend to pay closer attention to negative information than positive information.
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Victorian Aged Care Services put on high COVID-19 alert
All residential aged care services are reminded to be on high alert following COVID-19 cases linked to aged care services in the State, according to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The Commission is actively partnering with the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC), which brings together Australian and Victorian Government agencies, to manage the response to COVID-19 in Victorian residential aged care services. The Commission is currently attending twice-daily outbreak management case meetings convened by VACRC to monitor the evolving situation in Victoria, to ensure that all aged care services are doing everything expected of them to reduce the risk of an outbreak, and to support those residential aged care services with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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Aus vax rate goes backwards internationally
Australia's COVID19 vaccination rollout fell down the international rankings in May after slipping further behind national targets at home, according to new analysis from C-suite strategy firm Provocate. Australia fell five places in the past month from 5th to 10th of 14 nations benchmarked by the Australian Department of Health, overtaken by Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the European Union at the same point in their own vaccination rollouts. Lower ranked countries, such as New Zealand, South Korea, Canada and Japan, also grew at about double the pace of Australia in their third month of rollout (see Table 1. below). The findings, from the May edition of Provocate's independent VaxEnomic Forecaster for business, coincide with Australia's average daily vaccination rate increasing just 10,000 per day to 58,000 last month.
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NT: Chief Health Officer arrangements
The Northern Territory Department of Health said that Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie has been travelling in Victoria, when the Northern Territory Government declared Greater Melbourne a hotspot on Thursday 27 May 2021. Dr Hugh Heggie has returned to Darwin and is now undertaking mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility. Dr Charles Pain will continue to act as the Chief Health Officer during this time.
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NT: COVID-19 Update: Quarantine and Testing Directions for NSW
The Northern Territory Chief Health Officer has declared quarantine and testing directions for people who have been to a COVID-19 case location in New South Wales, effective immediately. New South Wales health authorities have advised that a confirmed case of COVID-19 from Melbourne was in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on 23 and 24 May 2021. The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation across Australia, and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.
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VIC: Vaccination blitz to keep vulnerable settings safe
The Victorian Government is taking immediate action to keep people who live in residential disability settings, private aged care residents and staff safe with a vaccination blitz to ensure workers in these vulnerable settings are protected against coronavirus. From Wednesday 2 June to Sunday 6 June, workers in private aged care facilities and the residential disability sector, which are managed by the Commonwealth, will be given priority access at walk-in vaccination hubs around Victoria between 9am and 4pm when they present evidence of their employment, said Victorian Minister Foley.
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WA: COVID-19 update 1 June 2021 - Hotel quarantine acquired case confirmed
The WA Health Department has reported a case of hotel-quarantine acquired COVID-19, following confirmation of genome sequencing data. The Department can confirm the virus was transmitted in hotel quarantine at the Pan Pacific Perth Hotel, as two guests, in rooms next to each other, had the same sequence of virus. The person to whom the virus was transmitted was previously reported as Case 1018. The cause of transmission is not yet known and is subject to further investigations. The Pan Pacific Perth Hotel has previously advised WA Health that its rooms are negative pressure.
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30 May

WA: COVID-19 Update
The WA Department of Health has reported no new cases of COVID-19 in WA. The State's total remains at 1017. WA Health is monitoring two active cases of COVID-19 - 1006 people have recovered from the virus in WA. 705 people were swabbed at WA Health COVID clinics with a further 893 at private clinics. For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard.* To date, 96 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia - 53 of the B.1.1.7 strain, 15 of the B.1.351 strain, 27 of the B.1.617 strain (Indian variant) and one of the P1 variant (Brazilian variant).** There have been 1,169,715 COVID-19 tests performed in WA. Of those, 150,683 were from regional WA.
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28 May

NSW pharmacies advised to prepare for COVID-vax green light
Community pharmacies across NSW which have been approved as COVID-19 vaccination immunisers are being advised to ensure they have everything ready to get started as soon as the State Government gives approval. National Cabinet approved the use of eligible pharmacists as immunisers but left it to the States and Territories to decide when pharmacies in their jurisdictions can begin administering the COVID-19 vaccinations. NSW Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, David Heffernan, said pharmacies should be ready to start administering the vaccinations.
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Breakthrough saliva test detects COVID-19 in five-minutes
International research led by Monash University and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity has achieved a proof of concept for a new, fast, portable saliva screening test that uses an infrared light technology to confirm infection with SARS-CoV-2. The research is published in Angewandte Chemie. Professor Bayden Wood from the Monash University School of Chemistry, Dr Phil Heraud formerly from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and collaborators, Professors Dale Godfrey and Damian Purcell from the Doherty Institute, report on a new diagnostic approach which involves the use of a portable infrared instrument to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in saliva.
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Aged Care

1 May

Blame-shifting on aged care vaccines 'despicable'
Federal Government attempts to shift the blame for the failed aged care vaccination program on to aged care workers are nothing short of despicable, United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith said. 'It is disgraceful that aged care workers are being dragged into an argument about whether vaccinations should be made mandatory,' Ms Smith said. 'The truth of the matter is aged care workers have been left out of the vaccination program altogether - they simply have not had the option of getting the vaccine at all. Health Minister Greg Hunt and Prime Minister Scott Morrison are making a political play to escape responsibility for their failed aged care vaccination program.'
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Victorian Aged Care Services put on high COVID-19 alert
All residential aged care services are reminded to be on high alert following COVID-19 cases linked to aged care services in the State, according to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The Commission is actively partnering with the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC), which brings together Australian and Victorian Government agencies, to manage the response to COVID-19 in Victorian residential aged care services. The Commission is currently attending twice-daily outbreak management case meetings convened by VACRC to monitor the evolving situation in Victoria, to ensure that all aged care services are doing everything expected of them to reduce the risk of an outbreak, and to support those residential aged care services with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
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30 May

Report endorses value of new face-to-face aged care navigation services
Face-to-face support to access and navigate aged care will be the centrepiece of new services to help senior Australians. The Government has committed in the Budget to provide face-to-face aged care support in 325 Services Australia centres, aged care specialists in 70 additional service centres and $93.7 million to introduce a network of up to 500 local 'Community Care Finders' - staff in local organisations specifically charged with helping vulnerable senior Australians who need specialist support, said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck.
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28 May

Most Australians support tax levy to improve aged care
The vast majority of Australians aren't confident in the country's aged care system, with more than one-in-10 saying they have no confidence at all, new analysis from the Australian National University (ANU) shows. The findings also show more than eight-in-10 Australians back a tax-based levy to improve aged care. The study of more than 3,200 Australians' attitudes to aged care found less than one-in-three Australians had confidence in the aged care system, compared to 45.4 per cent for the Federal Government in Canberra and 77 per cent for hospitals and the health system.
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Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

None this edition.

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Allied Health

31 May

Natural health services company in court
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action in the Federal Circuit Court against a natural health services company. Facing court is Vital Biology Pty Ltd, which operates at multiple locations across Australia, including at North Parramatta in western Sydney. The regulator commenced an investigation after receiving a request for assistance from a worker who had been employed part-time as a cleaner at the North Parramatta outlet. A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to Vital Biology in January 2021 after forming a belief the employee had not been paid any wages for work she performed between 17 February and 4 March 2020.
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Children's Health

3 June

QLD: Government $1.6 million boost for Townsville paediatric care
Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D'Ath has officially opened an expanded and refurbished paediatric treatment area in Townsville University Hospital's emergency department. Minister D'Ath said the Government contributed $1.6 million towards the project, which has expanded the number of beds from seven to 12 and created a separate waiting area for children and their families. 'Visiting a hospital can be daunting for children when they're surrounded by big people and big equipment,' she said.
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31 May

Time to lift uptake of flu vaccination of children
Influenza vaccine uptake in children has grown in response to increased awareness and progressive expansion of funding, according to the authors of a Perspective published by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA). 'Before the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza was responsible for a higher disease burden and overall health impact than any other vaccine-preventable disease in Australia,' wrote the authors, led by Dr Samantha Carlson, a Postdoctoral Research Officer with the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth. 'Historically, Australian influenza notification rates have been highest in children, particularly in those aged less than 2 years.'
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Clinical Governance

None this edition.

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Construction and Health Infrastructure

3 June

WA: Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment taking shape
The first stage of the $73.3 million Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment has been completed, with patients and visitors set to benefit from new car parking facilities. More than 400 additional car parking bays and six motorcycle bays have been delivered, significantly improving access to the hospital, as well as traffic flow into and around the campus. A new ambulance entry on Shenton Street and reconfiguration of the main entrance are also part of the completed forward works package, designed to improve access and wayfinding around the campus, said WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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Dental

None this edition.

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Disabilities

3 June

HRC warns govt on technology accessibility
The Australian Government must reform discrimination laws, amend its procurement rules and commit to standards to make technology more accessible to people with a disability, the Australian Human Rights Commission has warned. Its Human Technology Report, tabled to Parliament after a three-year investigation of emerging technology, found poorly designed technology was excluding people with a disability, and procurement policies and compliance with standards were lacking in Australia. Advocates have welcomed the findings, saying governments have lost momentum on digital accessibility in recent years and are struggling to lead by example compared with other countries, said InnovationAus.
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Premise of new NDIS funding model a lie
A report titled Plan Flexibility and Budget Planning, intended to dispel concerns, confirms many of the community's worst fears about the government's proposed changes to the NDIS. Australian Greens Disability Rights and Services spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said that, contrary to the stated aims of the proposed changes, disabled people would have significantly less choice and control under the new funding model. 'This report is just pages and pages and pages of disrespectful, paternalistic and deceitful spin,' Steele-John said.
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2 June

Enhanced support for Victorians with disability
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Linda Reynolds said that the Government is committed to ensuring the safety of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants during the current COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria. In addition to the state-based vaccination hubs prioritising workers announced by the Victorian Government, a dedicated Commonwealth vaccination hub for people with disability opened in Thomastown. Each day more than 120 people with disability, their support workers and their primary carers are being vaccinated. 'I acknowledge and thank the disability sector in Victoria and nationally for their continued active planning and response to potential outbreaks of COVID-19 and for taking reasonable precautions to minimise infection risks,' Minister Reynolds said.
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NDIS Minister announces COVID-19 support
After consulting with National Disability Services (NDS), Minister Reynolds announced enhanced supports for Victorian providers and participants, and that $150 per participant would be available to providers nationally to cover costs associated with assisting SIL participants to access off-site vaccination locations. In addition to state-based vaccination centres, a dedicated Commonwealth disability vaccination hub has also been opened in Thomastown Victoria. NDS will advise members about how the listed supports can be claimed when those details are released by the Agency.
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Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

28 May

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation of People with Disability
28 MAY: Transcript of Proceedings - Public Hearing 13, Day 5
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E-Health

None this edition.

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Education and Training

None this edition.

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Funding

2 June

Continuing support for Australia's polio survivors
More than $400,000 has been invested by the Federal Government to continue support for polio survivors who have life-long impacts from the disease. Tens of thousands of Australians survived the infection, and now endure the debilitating neurological condition, Late Effects of Polio (LEoP)/Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton said Australia had been declared free from new polio infections since 2000. Minister Coulton said the program helps polio survivors to identify and better understand their condition, and the available strategies to manage that condition.
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SA: Ambulance Service said chalking is damaging ambulances and graffiti slogans 'frightening' elderly patients
Several lifesaving ambulances will be forced off the road and into panel beaters to repair thousands of dollars of significant damage - including dented bonnets - caused by staff climbing on top of the vehicles to deface them as part of union's 'chalking' industrial action. In some cases, long-lasting paint - not chalk - has been used to scrawl the graffiti messages on the taxpayer-funded ambulances, causing further costly and significant damage to the vehicles. South Australia Treasurer Rob Lucas said the revelations raised by SAAS were deeply concerning and underscored the importance of its Chief Executive's direction to staff for all chalking to cease immediately.
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Health Professionals

2 June

$60 million to continue life-saving COVID-19 support for aged care
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that the Government is investing $60 million to extend support for COVID-19 response measures for Australia's impacted aged care facilities until 30 June 2022. The extension means a second tranche of COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program grants will be available to support providers with costs incurred from 28 May 2021 to 31 March 2022. Surge workforce arrangements will also remain in place to meet future demand in the event of further outbreaks. The Government is ensuring providers affected by an outbreak can access surge workforce staff and receive financial support for eligible expenses.
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Morrison Government plan to vaccinate the private aged care workforce seems never on their radar
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) called on the Morrison Government to reveal the scope of the multiple private contracts to vaccinate the private aged care workforce. In a media release 107 days ago Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said residential aged care residents and workers would be vaccinated in their facility. ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said, 'The Morrison Government must come clean about their private aged care vaccination contracts - did they ask them to vaccinate staff?' 'We're calling on Senator Colbeck to resign,' Ms Fitzpatrick said, 'We need a minister who gets things done with a sense of urgency, care and respect for the residents and the dedicated staff.'
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1 June

Kennedy GPs meet with Minister over regional Doctor shortage
With GP clinics continuing to close around the Kennedy electorate due to a Doctor shortage, Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has convened a meeting with Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, Secretary of the Health Department, Dr Brendan Murphy, and three prominent doctors from the electorate - Dr Lisa Fraser (Gordonvale), Dr Grant Manypeney (Mareeba) and Dr Rod Catton (Innisfail). The doctors have spent extensive hours working on a plan to address the doctor shortage crisis with immediate and long-term solutions presented to the Minister. The reasons for the doctor shortage include underfunded incentives to attract young doctors to the regions, and a shortfall of international doctors due to COVID-19 border closures.
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NT: Aboriginal Health Workers Awards now open
Nominations are now open for the 2021 Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner Excellence Awards. These awards acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by highly-valued Aboriginal Health Worker and Aboriginal Health Practitioner workforces over the last year. They play a vital role in the delivery of health services across the NT to Aboriginal clients in urban, regional and remote areas, and are often the first point of contact for people seeking health services. All Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners employed across the Territory are eligible for nomination, said NT Minister for Health Natasha Fyles.
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Hospitals

3 June

Hospital activity low during early months of COVID-19 pandemic
Years of strong growth in hospital admissions stalled when COVID-19 emerged in Australia, according to a new release from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The latest MyHospitals update shows there were 11.1 million hospitalisations in Australia in 2019-20, down from 11.5 million in 2018-19. The release includes information for local hospitals and Local Hospital Networks (LHN). Hospitalisations increased by an average 3.3% each year between 2014-15 and 2018-19 before falling by 2.8% between 2018-19 and 2019-20.
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AMA Calls on national cabinet to urgently reform public hospital funding
With ambulance ramping occurring in public hospitals because of a lack of doctors, nurses and beds, the AMA is calling on National Cabinet to urgently address public hospital funding to pull hospitals 'back from the brink'. Record-breaking ambulance ramping in Perth, a delay in elective surgeries in WA due to overwhelming demand, disturbing incidences of hospitals unable to cope across the country, questions raised in the Senate estimates, and stories coming from NSW Parliament's inquiry into hospital services in rural and regional areas, has forced the issue on to the national agenda.
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COVID-19 and health inequity: latest Australian research
'The latest issue of the Australian Health Review, the academic journal of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), examines the various responses and impacts on health organisations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,' says Editor-in-Chief, Professor Son. Hall. 'A perspectives piece from Nigel Lyons, Cathryn Cox and Vanessa Clements from NSW Health provides practical insights into the value of clinical leadership and engagement in a time of crisis. It describes the role of COVID-19 Communities of Practice, what they have achieved and their importance in supporting the ongoing pandemic response in New South Wales.'
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WA: Panel to inquire into Perth Children's Hospital ED announced
The WA Government has announced the make-up of the independent panel which will inquire into the Emergency Department at Perth Children's Hospital. The inquiry, to be conducted by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), follows the death of seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath in the hospital's ED on April 3, 2021. Under its terms of reference, the panel will focus on specific factors that contributed to Aishwarya's death but will also investigate the functions and operations of the ED and the hospital's approach to clinical governance, risk and adverse incidents, said WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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WA: Excuses on emergency department shortfall all spin
WA Shadow Minister for Health Libby Mettam said the WA Health Minister was all spin. 'In 2018-2019, the number of presentations at emergency departments averaged about 80,000 every month* with a peak in June 2019 of 86,074 attendances,' Ms Mettam said. 'Yesterday, the Health Minister said there had been unprecedented demand and this was one of the reasons for the increased Code Yellows and why some elective surgeries have to be suspended.'
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1 June

QLD: Queensland Government delivers major redevelopment of Roma Hospital
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has officially opened a new and improved hospital in south west Queensland delivered as part of the Queensland Government's record $21.8 billion investment in public health. Tens of thousands of west Queenslanders will now have access to world-class health facilities under the one roof thanks to the Queensland Government's investment in the new Roma Hospital. The Premier toured the new $116.6 million hospital which now caters to increased outpatient capacity and houses 22 beds, two birthing suites, two operating theatres and is capable of accommodating families and people travelling long distances for day surgery. Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath said in total, the Roma Hospital project created 97 jobs.
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31 May

QLD: Major hospital expansion to deliver new public hospital in Springfield
The Queensland Government will partner with Mater Health Services to deliver a new 174 bed public hospital in Springfield to cater for the rapidly growing population in the Greater Ipswich region. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new Mater Public Hospital Springfield, an expansion on the current private hospital, would also include an Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit, Maternity service and more procedural areas. Queensland Member for Jordan Charis Mullen welcomed the partnership saying it would provide vital public health services for her growing community and help with the region's economic recovery. Queensland Minister D'Ath there would be further capacity for expansion at the new public hospital.
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Insurance

28 May

New regulator needed to prevent rapacious behaviour of health insurers
The proposal to authorise a buying group puts choice and accessibility for patients at risk. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is disappointed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) draft determination to authorise Honeysuckle Health and NIB to form and operate a buying group. The proposed authorisation would allow the buying group to collectively negotiate and manage contracts with healthcare providers on behalf of health and medical insurance providers and other payers of healthcare services. While the ACCC has partially responded to concerns raised by the AMA about the level of market power the buying group would have.
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Medicare

None this edition.

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Men's Health

None this edition.

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Mental Health

3 June

New mobile app to help build better mental health for Australian mining workers and their families
Australia's world-leading minerals industry is taking action to support the mental health and resilience of its 250,000-strong workforce with the launch of the free MineWell mobile app developed by miners, for miners to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. The number one value and commitment of the Australian minerals industry is the safety and health of its workforce, where everyone goes to work and returns home safely, said the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).
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VIC: Lockdown weighing heavy on Victorians' mental health
Job losses, business closures and social isolation resulting from Labor's fourth - and now extended - lockdown will worsen the problems in Victoria's broken mental health system, said Leader of the Victorian Opposition Michael O'Brien. Beyond Blue and Headspace both reported a spike in calls as a result of the statewide lockdown declared on May 27. Victorians have been doing the right thing and listening to public health advice, but Labor's secrecy and refusal to provide a plan out of lockdown will add to the weight on Victorians' minds.
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VIC: Lockdown weighing heavy on Victorians' mental health
Job losses, business closures and social isolation resulting from Labor's fourth - and now extended - lockdown will worsen the problems in Victoria's broken mental health system. Beyond Blue and Headspace both reported a spike in calls as a result of the statewide lockdown declared on May 27. Victorians have been doing the right thing and listening to public health advice, but Labor's secrecy and refusal to provide a plan out of lockdown will add to the weight on Victorians' minds, said Victorian Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy.
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28 May

NSW: Australia-first framework to improve mental health at work
NSW will become the first state in Australia to introduce an industry-wide Code of Practice to formally clarify the legal responsibilities businesses have to address hazards in the workplace that have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm. NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson and NSW Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor released the Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work which encompasses risks to psychological health covering all NSW workplaces. 'This Code comes after our research found only one in five NSW businesses reported having a basic awareness on how to control work-related psychological health risks,' Mr Anderson said.
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Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System

None this edition.

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Pharmaceuticals and Regulation

3 June

Queensland man fined $7,992 for alleged unlawful importation of nootropic 'smart drugs'
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), part of the Department of Health, has issued three infringement notices totalling $7,992 to a Queensland man, for the alleged unlawful importation of a medicine containing Armodafinil. The man allegedly imported tablets that were branded 'Waklert' that were not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (//www.tga.gov.au/legislation-legislative-instruments) (the Act), therapeutic goods must be entered in the ARTG before they can be lawfully imported into Australia (unless a specific exemption, approval or authority applies).
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V P & Associates Pty Ltd fined $26,640 for alleged unlawful advertising of Liquim in relation to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
The TGA, part of the Department of Health, has issued two infringement notices totalling $26,640 to Perth-based company V P & Associates Pty Ltd (V P & Associates), for alleged unlawful advertising of a medical device marketed for the prevention of 'SARS-CoV-2 Human Coronavirus'. V P & Associates allegedly advertised, on the company's website, a plant-based nasal and oral solution called Liquim that claimed it has 99.9% effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Human Coronavirus.
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Dentist fined $5,328 for alleged unlawful importation of injectables
The TGA, part of the Department of Health, has issued two infringement notices totalling $5,328 to a dentist from Western Australia, for the alleged unlawful importation of medical devices. The dentist allegedly imported syringes containing hyaluronic acid that were not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Pre-filled syringes containing hyaluronic acid are medical devices used to change how parts of the skin look, and are often used to reduce lines and wrinkles on the face.
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Ospolot (sulthiame) tablets 200 mg
Consumers and health professionals are advised that Phebra Pty Ltd, in consultation with the TGA, has initiated a product defect alert for bottles of Ospolot (sulthiame) 200 mg tablets. The affected batch numbers are:
- 18003717 (expiry 05/21)
- 28811 (expiry 11/22)
Ospolot (sulthiame) 200 mg tablets are used as an anticonvulsant for behavioural disorders associated with epilepsy; hyperkinetic behaviour; temporal lobe epilepsy; myoclonic seizures; grand mal attacks and Jacksonian seizures.
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