By participating in our polls you get entered into a weekly draw for a bottle of fine Australian wine! We will be putting out a new poll later this week.

Poll 1 – Coalition Health Policy
Take part now in our first poll on the Coalition's public hospital policy if you haven't already responded.

Poll 2 – ALP Health Policy
Take part now in our second poll which asks what you think about the policy for public hospitals and the National Health Reform Commission put forward by the Australian Labor Party.

With the Federal Election scheduled for 24 November, the AHHA is excited about presenting its one-day Think Tank Exchange the week after on Thursday 29 November.

This special AHHA policy forum will bring together members of our regular Think Tank group with two of our Policy Think Tanks on the Australian Health Care Agreements (AHCAs) and Dental Health. We would like to invite others to join us on the day. The forum will present a great opportunity for all participants to discuss these critical policies in the post-election environment.

Participants will hear from three key speakers:

• Dr David Panter on the AHCAs
• Dr Martin Dooland on dental and oral health
• Professor Chris Baggoley on safety and quality in healthcare

Participants will break into three topic sub-groups to discuss policy directions under the new government. The day will conclude with a summary session and, later, a cocktail reception and our 60th birthday celebrations!

AHHA Think Tank Exchange (includes morning/afternoon tea and lunch)
Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Thursday 29 November
$120 for AHHA and Think Tank Members
$150 for non-members

Cocktail Party and 60th Birthday Dinner
Time: 5.30pm to late, Thursday 29 November
$50 for AHHA and Think Tank Members
$75 for non-members

Please visit our website to download a registration form and post or fax back to us by 12 November. You will need to book accommodation separately on the Rydges website.

Expressions Of Interest For AHHA National Council
Would you like to join the National Council of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and participate directly in influencing the development and implementation of Australia’s health policy at a national level?

We are approaching the time of year when the AHHA calls for expressions of interest from members interested in joining the Council for a 12 month term. While Councillors are elected for 12 months, there is no limit on the number of terms a Councillor may serve. Expressions will be sought through upcoming branch meetings, so please keep your eyes peeled here to find out when a meeting is happening in your state/territory.

As the national industry body representing the public healthcare sector, our National Council is made up of 24 members elected from each state/territory plus two members representing Associate and Personal members and the Immediate Past President. National Council members elect the Association’s office-holders who form the National Board.

The Council is responsible for the Association’s highly influential policy agenda. It meets regularly by telephone conference and also face-to-face (there will be 3 face-to-face meetings in 2008). Councillors are also provided with regular industry news and information and have the opportunity to represent AHHA on various industry bodies.

If you work in an area, regional or district health service, hospital, community or primary health centre, or aged and extended care facility that is a member of the AHHA, you will be able to nominate. If you have any questions please ring the AHHA Executive Director, Prue Power, or email us.

When an initial Federal Department of Health and Ageing investigation did not find any breach of responsibilities, the son lodged a formal complaint with the Aged Care Commissioner, with photos of the wound as evidence. The Commissioner's investigation, headed by Grant Davies, found the initial investigation had been inadequate because it hadn't contacted the resident's family. Mr Davies also found the resident's wound had worsened significantly under Masonic Care's supervision.

Mr Davies recommended in strong terms that the initial finding of no breach be overturned and said the arguments otherwise were unconvincing. However, his findings have been ignored by the Department of Health and Ageing, which confirmed its original decision on October 22. A departmental spokeswoman said the Commissioner's recommendations had been taken into account but the original findings would stand. ``While a breach was not found in this case, all Australian Government-subsidised aged care homes are subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure they meet legislated standards and this home will continue to be monitored,'' she said.

$470,000 Grant For Indigenous Aged Care Facility In Coffs Harbour
An aged care facility which focuses on providing services to the Indigenous community will be established in Coffs Harbour following the announcement of a $470,000 grant. The funding for the Yarrawarra Aged Care facility at Moonee, north of Coffs Harbour, was announced today during a visit to the Cowper electorate by the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of The Nationals, Mark Vaile. The Nationals’ Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, said Yarrawarra Aged Care Limited will receive $470,525 for its Multipurpose Indigenous Aged Care Centre project which will be home to 15 Aboriginal elders and their carers. Mr Hartsuyker said the funds will be used to upgrade infrastructure and convert a motel into a permanent group home setting.

Noarlunga And McLaren Vale Hospitals
The Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced that a re-elected Coalition Government will fund significant improvements at the Noarlunga and McLaren Vale and Districts War Memorial Hospitals. These are: $1.8 million for the construction and fitting-out of a 10 bed high-dependency unit at the Noarlunga Hospital; and $1 million for the upgrade of facilities at the McLaren Vale and Districts War Memorial Hospital, including the upgrade of the Manning Wing of the hospital to support a Community Health Clinic. The State Government will be expected to meet the operating costs of the facility. These could be funded by the savings from the hospital budget of not having to send as many patients by ambulance from Noarlunga to Flinders Medical Centre, Mr Costello said.

Chronically Ill Children To Benefit From Online Network
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, visited The Children’s Hospital at Westmead today to announce the provision of $7.2 million in funding to connect chronically ill and disabled children to a new dedicated online network. This is the first time the Starlight Children’s Foundation have received any funding from any level of Government since they were launched 19 years ago. The Coalition Government’s funding will be provided to the Starlight Children’s Foundation under its Starlight Digital Banner to build on their pilot version of their innovative national broadband application called Livewire which was launched in June 2007, Senator Coonan said.

Government Hospital Boards Will Lead To $1.2 Billion Cut To Frontline Health Services
Federal Labor has calculated that the board policy could cost up to $1.2 billion – or more than 1 million hospital bed nights. After originally saying hospital board members would be paid $10,000 each, the Government is now saying they will be paid nothing at all: “we expect that people will be willing to be part of a hospital board as a voluntary and honorary contribution to their community'' - spokeswoman for Tony Abbott, The Australian.

Royal Melbourne Hospital Chair Robert Doyle said he wouldn't act on a hospital board for free - after Mr Abbott said this was his plan, according to the Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon. Robert Doyle is not only head of Royal Melbourne Hospital - he is also a former Victorian Liberal Leader.

Coalition Commits More For Lismore Cancer Centre
A re-elected Coalition Government will commit a further $2 million to the Lismore Base Hospital cancer centre, on the proviso the NSW State Labor Government gets on with the job in 2008. The Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of The Nationals, Mark Vaile, and The Nationals' candidate for Page, Chris Gulaptis, announced the funding which comes on top of an existing commitment of $8 million which has been sitting on the table for three years. The NSW State Labor Government has been dragging the chain on this project for too long. We committed $8 million in 2004 as a half share in a $16 million project. State Labor has failed to deliver on its promise to have this project started in 2007, so we are putting a further carrot on the table to get State Labor to get on with the job because the cost of the project has now increased.

FEDERAL LABOR

Federal Labor To Introduce Medicare Teen Dental Plan And Support Dental School In Cairns
A Rudd Labor Government will invest up to $510 million over three years to assist over one million Australian teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 with dental costs – under a targeted program – to help our kids keep their teeth in good health. Under Federal Labor’s Teen Dental Plan families will be able to claim up to $150 towards the cost of an annual dental preventative check for each of their teenage children through Medicare. The cost of a comprehensive dental check-up – comprising oral examination, clean, scale, and x-ray – is around $290. In its first year of operation (from 1 July 2008) this benefit will be paid via a voucher for eligible families while we ensure that all dentists have access to Medicare provider numbers and that the necessary systems are in place.

In addition, Labor today announced it will support James Cook University’s proposal for the Cairns School of Tropical Dentistry if elected to government. Federal Labor will commit $52.5 million over 4 years towards this project. This funding will include:

• $33 million in capital funding;
• $11 million to provide 60 commencing dentistry places each year; and
• $2 million each year to provide outreach services so that dental students can undertake practical training in remote Northern Australia.

Federal Labor To Improve Access To Primary Care In Bendigo
A Rudd Labor Government will invest $5 million towards a new Primary Care Centre in Bendigo to improve access to GPs, after hours primary care and GP training. Federal Member for Bendigo, Steve Gibbons, said the involvement of Monash University’s Regional Clinical School, and the potential participation of La Trobe University, will also enhance Bendigo’s ability to recruit, train and retain doctors and other medical professionals. Shadow Spokesperson for Health Ms Roxon said today’s commitment forms part of Federal Labor’s $2.5 billion National Health and Hospitals Reform Plan to improve health and hospital services around the country.

GP Super Clinic For Cairns; Onkaparinga; Modbury
The Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, and the Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, said a Rudd Labor Government will invest $5 million in a GP Super Clinic in Cairns to provide better health services to the Cairns community. Once completed, the Cairns GP Super Clinic is expected to include: GP services including after hours services; chronic disease management services; a range of allied health services such as physiotherapy, dieticians and podiatry; and community health services provided by the Queensland Government.

Federal Labor will also invest $12.5 million in a GP Super Clinic in the city of Onkaparinga in the South of Adelaide to improve access to local health services. The Southern suburbs have been chosen as an appropriate location because they suffer from severe doctor shortages – in some areas there are now 5,521 people for every GP compared to a national average of approximately 1400 people for every GP.

Federal Labor will invest $12.5 million towards a GP Super Clinic in Modbury to improve access to services and take pressure off the Modbury Hospital. Federal Labor's commitment will mean a better range of frontline health services – including public and privately provided services – for the people of Modbury and surrounding areas. Modbury suffers from severe doctor shortages. By providing infrastructure funding for a purpose built, state-of-the-art GP Super Clinic, Labor will help attract doctors and health professionals to the area. Modbury has been chosen for a GP Super Clinic in consultation with the South Australian Government and fits with their State-wide primary care planning. Federal Labor’s GP Super Clinics policy complements the South Australian Government’s exists GP Plus strategy – both are designed to take pressure off public hospitals and provide better frontline care to local families. Federal Labor’s investment will allow the South Australian Government to fast track its plans for GP Plus services, one of which was planned for Modbury. Federal Labor will ask the State Government to match this funding in order to provide a combined service.

Federal Labor will invest up to $7.5 million to establish a GP Super Clinic in Playford North (SA), a new residential development, with many young families, in need of health service infrastructure. Its location for a GP Super Clinic has been chosen in consultation with the South Australian Government and to complement the SA Government’s GP Plus strategy. Through investing in this GP Super Clinic, Federal Labor will work in partnership with the SA Government to take pressure off the Lyell McEwin Hospital and provide better frontline care to local families.

OTHER ELECTION NEWS

Rural And Remote Health: It’s Time For Leadership
With two weeks to go before the federal election, both major parties need to show real leadership on rural and remote health, according to the National Rural Health Alliance. There is too much focus on specific electorates rather than national plans and policies. With the election almost upon us, rural voters are entitled to expect the Coalition and Labor to reveal their overarching approach to the development and sustainability of rural and remote communities, he said. People in rural and remote electorates are thirsty for leadership and a vision for improved and more equitable access to services in the bush. Voters want their surplus invested in improved services, not more tax cuts.

Greens Health Plan The Right Medicine For Australia
Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle and Greens Candidate for Barton Michelle McKenzie launched the Greens health plan outside the accident and emergency unit of St George's Hospital in Kogarah, Southern Sydney. The Greens want to end the buck passing between state and federal governments for health by putting all health dollars in the one bucket and having health professionals rather than politicians distribute it, Senator Nettle said. The Greens propose that 200 new community health centres be built throughout the country to focus on primary health care. The Greens would also redirect the $3.5 billion of public funds spent each year subsidising private health insurance into our public health system throughout Australia.

Prevention Rethink On Health: Democrats
The Democrats launched their election platform geared to keeping people out of hospital, saying that while the two major parties focus on waiting lists and hospital takeovers, Australia is falling behind in keeping people healthy. "Australia's health care system is a series of complex but uncoordinated programs and policies that is increasingly ineffective and wasteful," said Senator Allison, Leader of the Australian Democrats.

In a bold pitch to rural voters the Democrats have slammed the state of rural health, questioned why water much needed in rural areas was being siphoned off to water gardens and flush toilets and lamented the missed opportunities a lack of broadband coverage would have on aspiring students. Rural Australians are often either handed a one size fits all policy that is geared to the issues of the capital cities or neglected altogether, said Australian Democrats Leader, Lyn Allison.

Centrelink intends to match Centrelink customer records with Department of Health and Ageing records. This data matching identifies possible incorrect and/or fraudulent payments by comparing Centrelink customer’s records with Department of Health and Ageing records. It detects customers who are either care givers or care receivers who have entered an aged care facility and not notified Centrelink that caring responsibilities have ceased. The records will be matched against Centrelink customers on a daily basis.

NSW
The New South Wales Government says new funding of more than $4.5 million will be provided to expand early pregnancy services in hospitals. Health Minister Reba Meagher says she is responding to the recommendations of the inquiry into the miscarriage of Jana Horska in the emergency room toilets of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital. Early pregnancy units and assessment services will be established in major metro and rural hospitals while 47 rural and remote hospitals will get improved access to antenatal clinics. Ms Meagher has told Parliament there will also be a 24-hour advice line and counselling available for pregnant women. "The Hughes-Walters review has given us a template for improvement," she said.

[Source: SMH 8/11/07] The Sydney West Area Health Service has overspent $18 million on surgery and Mt Druitt Hospital has had to halve its overnight bed numbers as a result, according to a memo by the hospital's head of surgery, Mac Wyllie. Auburn and Westmead hospitals, in the same health area, will also close up to half of their operating theatres for up to six weeks from Christmas, and Nepean and Blacktown hospitals will also cut back.

QLD
A new, innovative $52 million health hub under construction in the north of Brisbane will be a one-stop-shop for medical services, according to Health Minister Stephen Robertson. Mr Robertson marked the start of construction at a sod turning ceremony for the North Lakes and Surrounds Health Partnership Precinct. "This new health centre will ensure we can provide the best health services for this fast growing community to the north of Brisbane," he said. "The centre will give local residents access to all their health needs at one location providing a one-stop shop for local health services. It will have purpose built clinical areas and consultation rooms, multi service rooms, education areas, therapy and rehabilitation areas, purpose built pregnancy and early childhood areas."

The Queensland Deputy Coroner has recommended newborns be counted as patients along with their mothers, to improve staffing levels in maternity wards. The finding is contained in an inquest into the death of a newborn at a Brisbane hospital. Two-day-old Arisa Huber died in the Mater Mother's Hospital in August 2005 from suffocation. The lawyer for the infant's parents, Sarah Yellop, says nursing staff found the baby girl lying in bed with the mother, who had fallen asleep while breastfeeding. "The mother woke up and found the baby blue and not breathing," Ms Yellop said. The baby was taken off life support a day later.

TAS
Tasmanian nurses and the State Government are utilising the services of an independent mediator to try to settle their pay and conditions standoff. Both parties agreed to have the President of the State Industrial Commission, Pat Leary, mediate their dispute. As a result, nurses called off their planned ban on overtime, but continued to force the closure of 20% of all hospital beds and the cancellation of non-urgent elective surgery. However, they will consider suspending their industrial action at mass meetings in coming days. Nurses agreed (5 November) to suspend new action that would have affected intensive care and neonatal units. The Health Minister Lara Giddings says she hopes these negotiations with public hospital nurses will see an end to industrial action.

Workplace Authority Statistical Report For October 2007
The Workplace Authority has today published its latest statistical report on the Fairness Test. This report provides data on workplace agreements and processing activities undertaken by the Workplace Authority for October 2007. The Workplace Authority finalised 65% more agreements in the month of October compared to September. Importantly, the Workplace Authority has found that employers are now responding to their new responsibilities to provide additional information promptly. The need for the Workplace Authority to seek further information from employers to enable the Fairness Test to be applied declined significantly in October. In addition, almost a third of agreements assessed as requiring change within 14 days have been changed by the employer, and subsequently passed the Fairness Test.

However, the ACTU said the new figures show there is a huge and growing backlog of workers that are waiting for their wages and conditions to be checked. The figures show a backlog of 142,000 workplace agreements that are yet to be fully checked to ensure workers are receiving their correct wages and entitlements. Since the fairness test was introduced in May 2007, more than three quarters of the 183,000 employee agreements lodged have yet to be fully assessed.

Aust, US Ban Heart Surgery Drug
Australian health authorities have followed the United States in suspending the use of a drug commonly used in heart surgery. The medication Trasylol is used to reduce bleeding during heart operations. Health authorities in the United States say new information suggests the drug may be associated with an increase in deaths.

Vaccine Volunteers Left At Risk
Nine Australians are believed to be among thousands of people who are unaware a once-promising vaccine for AIDS has increased their infection risk, after they participated in clinical trials around the world. The multinational trials involving more than 3,000 HIV-negative volunteers were cancelled in September after the vaccine was found not to be effective at preventing infection. The failure of the vaccine - in development for more than 10 years and considered one of the best hopes of containing the spread of HIV - was described by Australian experts as "a substantial setback" with serious repercussions for future trials. Last week, researchers revealed far worse news - those who received the V520 vaccine are more susceptible to acquiring the AIDS virus. All but one of the 19 Australian participants in the trial were briefed about the findings this week.

Research: Switch To Turn Off Hunger
Scientists at Sydney’s St Vincent's Hospital, the University of NSW and the Garvan Institute have discovered how to switch on and off a molecule which controls hunger. It could produce rapid weight loss in the morbidly obese and prevent the extreme weight loss that weakens and kills patients with end-stage cancer, potentially saving their lives. The international breakthrough promises to change the way cancer and obesity are treated around the world.

The scientists found that many common cancers, such as those in the prostate, breast, colon and pancreas, produce large amounts of a protein called MIC-1, which targets receptors in the brain to switch off appetite. The bigger the tumour, the more MIC-1 circulating in a patient's blood and the less likely they were to eat, one of the researchers from St Vincent's Centre for Immunology, Sam Breit, said yesterday. By injecting mice with a MIC-1 antibody, scientists could turn a patient's appetite back on, preventing weight loss and making them strong enough to cope with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"We found the more MIC-1 they were given, the more weight they lost," Professor Breit said. "This is a very exciting discovery because we have effectively found a new appetite pathway we didn't know existed. It opens up completely new ways of dealing with obesity and also neutralises one of the major side-effects of cancer. It's a breakthrough that could directly improve quality of life for many people."

The scientists are looking for commercial collaborators so they can begin clinical trials within three years. They expect the synthetic protein could be on the market within six years.