With almost half of all people diagnosed with HIV in the late stage of infection, NSW Health is marking HIV Awareness Week by urging those at risk to be regularly tested.

During HIV Awareness Week (23-30 November) and in the lead up to World AIDS Day on 1 December, NSW Health is reminding people to test for HIV with various high quality HIV testing options now available.

In 2018-19, NSW Health is investing $21.9 million in services to strengthen HIV testing, treatment and prevention.

Mid North Coast Local Health District Manager of HIV and Related Programs Jenny Heslop said NSW is on track to achieving its goal of virtually eliminating HIV transmission by 2020, with a 23 per cent drop in the number of new diagnoses in NSW.

“We want to see this downward trend continue and urge anyone at risk of HIV to ensure they are regularly tested,” Ms Heslop said.

“Once a person is diagnosed, they can start treatment early, improve their health and prevent the virus from being passed on to others.”

From January to September 2018, 191 NSW residents presented with a newly diagnosed HIV infection compared with 249 during the same periods in 2013-2017, according to the NSW HIV Data Report.

“This reduction is due to more people seeking early testing and treatment, as well as the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP),” Ms Heslop said.

PrEP, the use of medications to prevent HIV in those at risk, is also used traditionally to treat the infection. It is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

“The highly successful NSW Health EPIC-NSW trial made PrEP available to 9,414 people at risk of HIV from 1 March 2016 to 30 April 2018.”

The data also shows that in the first half of 2018 there were 42 per cent fewer Australian-born men having sex with men diagnosed with early stage HIV infection, compared to the same period over the past five years.

“HIV in overseas-born men who have sex with men as well as heterosexual men, is often diagnosed late, which can lead to avoidable HIV-related illness,” Ms Heslop said.

For information on HIV testing, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/hiv-test

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The aim of World COPD Day, which falls on 21 November 2018, is to increase Community awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This year, the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) and Lung Foundation Australia are focusing on reducing the stigma associated with lung disease.

COPD is a long-term disease of the lungs which causes shortness of breath. It is an umbrella term for conditions including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic Asthma. COPD affects one in seven (or 14.5 per cent) Australians aged 40 years or over, and is the second leading cause of avoidable hospital admissions. Indigenous Australians are two and a half times more likely to have COPD than non-Indigenous Australians.

MNCLHD Respiratory Clinical Nurse Consultant Sarah Buckley said while there is currently no cure for COPD, evidence shows that there are things you can do to breathe easier.

“Early diagnosis and disease management programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce the burden of COPD, improve quality of life, slow disease progression, reduce mortality and keep people well and out of hospital,” Ms Buckley said.

“Symptoms of lung disease tend to creep up slowly and people often automatically adjust their daily activities to accommodate or reduce their symptoms rather than getting help.”  

MNCLHD is holding several events and activities throughout the week of World COPD Day (19-23 November) to help showcase the many faces of COPD and raise awareness about the symptoms, risks and treatment, including information stands at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Settlement City (8am to 4pm on 21 November) where eligible members of the community can complete a screening assessment for COPD and access smoking cessation advice and support.

The Camden Haven Respiratory Exercise Group is also holding a World COPD Day walk on 21 November, starting at 9.30am from the Marine Rescue Centre in Laurieton.

The Lung Foundation Australia recommends the following four steps for people with COPD to reduce their symptoms and slow down the damage being done to their lungs:

1. Stop smoking – this is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. The sooner you stop, the longer you are likely to live
2. Seek help from health professionals – talk with your Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist or Physiotherapist to understand how COPD is affecting you and what to do about it. Develop a COPD Action Plan with your doctor to manage flare-ups quickly
3. Boost your health – join an exercise and education program like pulmonary rehabilitation or other community based exercise programs such as Lungs in Action
4. Protect against flare-ups – have an annual flu immunisation and pneumococcal immunisation as required and act quickly when your symptoms worsen.

To find out more about COPD speak to your local doctor or visit www.lungfoundation.com.au or www.lungsinaction.com.au .

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The BreastScreen NSW mobile unit has been providing free screening mammograms in South West Rocks for the past two weeks, with appointments still available for the final week of the van’s visit to the town.

The mobile screening van is at South West Rocks Country Club until Thursday 6 December 2018, with appointments available between 3 and 6 December.

Breast screening continues to be an important health check for women. Nine out of 10 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

The service is free for all women over the age of 40, however women aged 50 to 74 years are actively encouraged to attend for screening.

Appointments take only 20 minutes. No referral is necessary. To book your free screening mammogram call 13 20 50 now!

For dates of other mobile screening locations on the North Coast please refer to the BreastScreen website www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au

Screening remains available all year round at our fixed sites located at Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.

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A Rotary-inspired campaign to support local cancer patients has delivered an Australian first for the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI) at Coffs Harbour.

The campus is the first cancer centre in Australia to use technology to interface and integrate its vital signs monitors with an oncology-specific electronic medical record system.

The project reduces the need for nurses to write down patient data, eliminates the risk of mistakes occurring during the transcribing process and enables ‘real time’ clinical decisions to be made based on accurate and immediate patient observations.

The MNCCI invested in the wireless technology which records patient observations, such as blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration, to a central data base. The project, however, was dependent on the cancer unit upgrading its vital signs monitors to models that could use wireless technology to record and transmit clinical observations.

When the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak heard of the initiative and the potential benefits for patients, the club accepted the challenge to bring on board other Rotary clubs to fund the $88,000 monitor component of the project.

Nineteen months after the first monitor was donated, the project is up and running with six new monitors thanks to support from Coffs Coast Rotarians and the Prostate Cancer Support Group. The Rotarians are hoping to have the final four monitors funded by the end of next year.

The MNCCI’s Nursing and Service Development Manager, Jill Harrington, said the project was challenging because there was no precedent in Australia of the monitors being integrated with Australia’s oncology-specific electronic medical record system.

“It’s been a challenge, but we are thrilled with the results.

“Quite simply, we could not have even considered taking this approach to patient care had it not been for the Rotarians and Prostate Cancer Support Group,” Ms Harrington said.

“We had the team and the skills to make it happen, but we needed help from the community to fund it.

“Now that it is up and running, other sites are looking to us to see how we did it and how it benefits our patients.

“And this is just the start. There is future scope to include height and weight records, medications, patient tracking and linking the system to biomedical equipment.

“We have brought together technical expects from Asia and the United States to work with our own highly skilled team in bringing a concept to fruition, and none of it would have been possible without Rotary’s commitment to the project.”

Representatives of the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak, Coffs City, Coffs Harbour South and the Prostate Support Group were invited to tour the MNCCI to see the technology in action.

Coffs Daybreak President Marilyn Brian said the tour was “super informative”.

“I am so thrilled that Rotary has played a part in bringing this together,” Ms Brien said.

“It’s a fabulous, ground-breaking cause.”

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Bellinger River District Hospital has three new lightweight wheelchairs thanks to Freemasons from Lodge The Raleigh at Fernmount and the Freemasons’ NSW/ACT charity, Masonicare.

The donation, valued at more than $2000, is part of a state-wide Masonicare initiative to donate wheelchairs to public hospitals in rural and regional NSW. The cost of the chairs is shared, dollar-for-dollar, with participating Masonic Lodges.

Lodge The Raleigh spokesman John Bertram said the Freemasons were delighted to help Bellinger River District Hospital.

“It’s been our great pleasure to support a rural community through its public hospital,” Mr Bertram said.

Also present for the handover was Freemasons NSW Deputy Grand Master and Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser.

The wheelchairs are a welcome addition to the hospital, said Occupational Therapist Jennifer Doust.

“This donation is such a practical gift to our hospital,” Ms Doust said.

“They are light and easy to manoeuvre. They really are an essential piece of equipment for our patients who have limited mobility due to falls, injuries or illness.

“We can’t thank the Freemasons enough for their support. It really does make a difference to our patients and to their carers.”

The wheelchairs are easily identifiable with the hospital’s name, Masonicare and Freemasons NSW/ACT emblazoned across the back. The branding will also help the hospital retain its wheelchair stocks.

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The winners of the Your Health Link National Photographic Competition have been announced, selected from more than 800 entries received from all states across Australia and the ACT.

The competition, run by the Mid North Coast Local Health District, offers more than $45,000 in prizes in a range of categories including open, mobile, primary and high schools.

The winners were announced at the Opening Night of the Competition Exhibition at Sails Resort in Port Macquarie on Friday 23 November.

Coffs Harbour photographer Katherine McInroy took out the coveted Open Category for her image ‘You Raise Me Up’, Samantha Grilli from the Wauchope area won the Mobile Category for her photograph ‘Innocence’, East Lismore’s Clare Young received the High School winner’s trophy for ‘101 Not Out’ and Andrew Archibald from Coffs Harbour won the Primary School award for his photograph ‘Love and Caring’.

The Competition also included a People’s Choice Award via the Your Health Link Facebook page, with Port Macquarie photographer Magalie Lameloise’s winning image ‘Another Hairdo Through Chemo’ recording the most votes, while Luke Fuda from the Macarthur Region won the Cover Photo Award for his image ‘Forever Dreamtime’.

For the first time this year there was also an Eating the Rainbow category where the Healthy Kids Association chose a photo from the Primary School and High School categories that best captures the idea of eating and celebrating the rainbow of foods for a healthy life. Luca George from Sydney won the Primary School trophy and Coffs Harbour’s Ryan Gilchrist picked up the High School award.

The competition’s focus is to increase health literacy and decrease childhood obesity through the exciting medium of photography, where community members are given the topic Healthy Life Healthy You to actively participate in creating visual images that represent the subject matter.

Competition organiser and Your Health Link Program Manager Carolyn Guichard said the standard of the photos submitted was very high and the theme of Healthy Life, Healthy You was interpreted in some really unique and creative ways in the entries.

“When selecting the winning photos, our judges were looking for unique images that represent a healthy and active lifestyle,” Ms Guichard said.

The full gallery of the works of the Competition’s winners, finalists and semi-finalists across all categories can be viewed at: www.yourhealthlinkphotocomp.com.au

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It’s been 12 months in the making, but Wauchope Patchwork Quilters’ latest donation to Wauchope District Memorial Hospital is likely to mean much more to palliative care patients and their families.

A dozen quilts were presented to the Palliative Care Unit today, handcrafted by the quilters and the majority made from fabric donated by the Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Land Council spokeswoman Marilyn O’Brien said the material, which featured designs by Aboriginal people, was donated to the Patchwork Quilters in the hope the finished covers would make personal, treasured gifts to palliative care patients.

Mrs O’Brien said she was delighted with the finished creations and hoped patients and their families would also be impressed.

Quilters spokeswoman Erica Taig said the group regularly made and donated charity quilts, but the latest collaboration with the Local Aboriginal Land Council had resulted in a very special gift.

“These quilts are beautifully handmade, as usual, but this is the first time we have used material designed in Australia by Aboriginal people,” Ms Taig said.

“It really has been a very labour-intensive project but one we were determined to complete.

“Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer. We wanted to do something to make the Palliative Care Unit a little more comfortable… perhaps not as clinical, for patients.

“The quilts give a very personal, homely touch to the rooms and we leave it to the family to decide what they want to do with the quilts… whether they stay at the unit or go home with family members.”

Palliative Care Unit Nurse Manager Mary Trotter said the quilts were a stunning addition to the patients’ rooms and thanked the group’s 60 members, as well as the Land Council, for the donation.

“The quilts really do transform the rooms,” Ms Trotter said.

“This really has been a labour of love… 12 months in the making, and will mean a lot to our patients and their loved ones.”

The quilters meet on Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings at the Rotary Youth Hall in Oxley Lane.

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Do you have any old photographs of Macksville District Hospital? Did you work at the Hospital in the early days after it opened in 1958? Do you have memories of the Hospital you would like to share? If so, the Mid North Coast Local Health District would love to hear from you as it prepares to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the Hospital.

Macksville District Hospital was officially opened on 6 December 1958, and this Thursday, the Hospital’s birthday will be celebrated by staff and community members with a “Walk Down Memory Lane”. Staff, past and present, and members of the community are invited to visit the Hospital chapel anytime between 10am and 2pm to see the display of old photographs and memorabilia.

The Hospital’s Director of Nursing Janelle Goodall is excited about the impending celebration and the opportunity to look back at the remarkable history of Macksville District Hospital.

“There is a real buzz around the Hospital as we mark this important birthday and moment in time for our site,” Ms Goodall said.

“Staff and community members have been sharing stories and telling us what the hospital means to them.”

“It is such a precious place to us all.”

Staff are collecting as many items as they can to compile a commemorative book marking many decades of the Macksville District Hospital in its present location. This will be the last major milestone birthday the site will celebrate prior to moving in to the new Hospital to be built three kilometres away.

Early works are already underway to prepare the new site for the construction of the $73 million Hospital.

If you have any memorabilia you would like to share, these items can be photographed or scanned and used as part of the display and commemorative book. Items can be dropped in to the Hospital or you can call 6568 0666.

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Don’t miss the opportunity to book a free screening mammogram as the BreastScreen NSW mobile unit returns to the Mid North Coast next month.

The mobile screening van will be at Kempsey District Hospital from 4 February to 7 March and from 25 March to 13 May.

The mobile unit will also return to Nambucca Heads and Bellingen next month, with free screening available between 6 March and 21 March at Bellwood Park, Nambucca Heads, and between 21 March and 27 March at the Bellingen Showground.

Breast screening continues to be an important health check for women.

Nine out of 10 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

The service is free for all women over the age of 40, however, women aged 50 to 74 years are actively encouraged to attend for screening.

Appointments take only 20 minutes. No referral is necessary.  To book a screen­ing mammogram call 13 20 50 now!

Screening remains available all year round at BreastScreen’s fixed sites located at Coffs Harbour Health Campus and Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

Kempsey: 4 February – 7 March & 25 March – 13 May (Kempsey District Hospital)

Nambucca Heads: 6 March – 21 March  (Bellwood Park)

 Bellingen: 21 March – 27 March (Bellingen Showground)

For further details relating to mobile screening locations please refer to the BreastScreen website www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au

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 The Nambucca River District Agricultural Association, better known as the Macksville Show Society, has presented the proceeds of its highly successful Garden Gala and Markets Day to Macksville District Hospital.

The $5000 gift will be used to purchase medical equipment at the hospital, as it has done in the past, while another $1500 will go to BowraMacksville Hospital Auxiliary.

Gala organiser May Harris said the donations were only possible due to the ongoing support of the community. More than 5000 people passed through the gates at last October’s event, which featured plant, produce and homeware stalls, arts, crafts and clothing stalls, food and refreshments, children’s entertainment and creative workshops.

“We are so very fortunate to have the support of the community for this event – from the volunteers who help on the day to the Nambucca Valley Garden Club members who host the hugely popular flower show, and the stallholders and visitors, many of whom travel from Coffs, Port Macquarie and Kempsey,” Ms Harris said.

“It’s a great day that brings the valley together for the benefit of the community.”

Macksville District Hospital’s Deputy Director of Nursing Lisa Slater said she was delighted, and humbled, by the generosity of the show society.

“Every year, these wonderful people take on what can only be described as a daunting task in support of their local community,” Ms Slater said.

“They donate every dollar raised from the raffle and donation buckets back to the community, which is amazing when you consider how much time and effort is invested in organising and staging an event such as this.

“For our patients, this kind of support makes a big difference. It also speaks volumes about the generosity and kindness of the people of the Nambucca Valley, and we remain very grateful for that support.”

Ms Slater said she also thanked the many staff from Macksville Hospital who generously volunteered their time on the day to man the gates and donation collection buckets.

This year, the annual Garden Gala and Markets will move to 30 November and will be aptly promoted as a Christmas market, promising visitors the opportunity to buy unique gifts for loved ones and friends.

The Garden Gala has raised more than $40,000 for Macksville Hospital in recent years.

– ENDS –

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The Coffs Harbour motorcycle club, Native Sons, has hosted a successful fundraiser for the Paediatric Unit at Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

The club’s annual Lowanna Run brings bike enthusiasts and families together for a weekend of fun featuring a traditional Maori hangi and live music, camping and children’s entertainment. The get-together also delivered a $4000 donation for the Paediatric Unit, which will go towards specialised paediatric equipment.

Club President Ray Johnson said he was thrilled to be able to present the donation on behalf of everyone who supported the event.

“There are so many people to thank, but in particular Road Captain Matt Peni who gave an enormous amount of time organising everything, and our sponsors who played a massive part in ensuring this year’s Lowanna Run was our best yet.

“We smashed last year’s donation of $2200 to the children’s unit, and we couldn’t be happier.”

Paediatric Nursing Unit Manager Kate Connell also thanked everyone who attended, sponsors and club members.

“Every nurse, doctor and health professional in paediatrics is grateful for the support of our community, and humbled by it,” Ms Connell said.

“We can’t thank the Native Sons Motorcycle Club enough for all the time and energy they have invested in this fundraiser on behalf of our young patients and their grateful families.

“It’s just wonderful to have this support, where local people support a local service solely focused getting sick and injured children back home to their families.”

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The Rotary-inspired campaign to support local cancer patients with a technological first for Australia at Coffs Harbour’s Mid North Coast Cancer Institute has received another boost thanks to Coffs Coast woman Linda Kirkwood.

Ms Kirkwood has donated the seventh vital signs monitor to the project, which was launched by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Daybreak and the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute in 2017.

The Coffs Harbour campus is the first cancer centre in Australia to use technology to interface and integrate its vital signs monitors with an oncology-specific electronic medical records system.

The wireless technology relies on the new monitors to record patient observations, such as blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration, to a central data base.

Ms Kirkwood said she wanted to help Rotary reach its goal of replacing all 10 of the campus’ vital signs machines with the new technologically advanced monitors.

She donated the $8800 monitor in memory of her late father, Bill Kirkwood, who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2017.

“When Dad passed away, I wanted his legacy to continue on by giving back to our local community,” Ms Kirkwood said.

“The connection with my father having had cancer made this project even more relevant… to be able to help others in the same situation.

“Rotarian Marilyn Brien made me aware of the project at the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute. It was timely and I thought, in some way, I could contribute.

“I could have supported deserving organisations elsewhere, but this is a local project that is benefitting local patients. I think Dad would be very happy.”

Radiation Oncology Clinical Nurse Consultant Belinda Kendall gratefully accepted Ms Kirkwood’s donation, saying it brought the cancer unit a step closer to completing a hugely significant project.

“This approach to patient care is a first for cancer centres in Australia. Everyone is looking at us, wanting to know how we did it,” Ms Kendall said.

“Well, we did it in partnership with our community. The generosity of those who have supported this project has meant we have been able to do something very special in cancer treatment right here on the Coffs Coast.

“Our latest monitor brings us closer to completing this unique project, and I think Bill Kirkwood would be pleased.”

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The Coffs Coast Banana Benders Motorhome Club has donated a ‘new set of wheels’ to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

The group of retirees, who love exploring the Mid North Coast and beyond in their motorhomes, have presented the hospital’s Stroke/Rehabilitation Unit with one of the most advanced rolling walkers on the market.

The U-Step device, costing $1000, will be a vital piece of equipment for the unit whose patients can experience mobility issues while recovering from a stroke, injury or other health issues.

Nursing Unit Manager Karen Longworth was delighted to accept the donation, which she said would make a huge difference to her patients.

“We are so very fortunate to have the support of our community as we work with our patients to get them mobile, and back home to their loved ones,” Ms Longworth said.

“The Banana Benders Motorhome Club really did their research, donating a walker that will help many of our patients get back on their feet.

“It is a specialised rolling walker that protects patients from falling and has fully adjustable speed and height to suit any level of rehabilitation.

“We are very lucky to receive such a donation, and thank the Banana Benders Motorhome Club for their generosity.”

The club’s secretary, Margaret Laarhoven, said it had been a pleasure to be in a position to help stroke and rehabilitation patients on the road to recovery.

“We are a small club; getting together once a month to explore local destinations throughout the Mid North Coast,” Mrs Laarhoven said.

“We decided we wanted to give something back to our community, and the Stroke Unit and its patients seemed like a very deserving beneficiary.

“This piece of equipment will help patients with their independence while they undergo rehabilitation following a stroke or other health issue that is impacting on their mobility, and we couldn’t be happier knowing we’re playing a role in their recovery.”

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Bellingen is in the grips of a barista bonanza.

The volunteer-operated café, Mary’s Teahouse at Bellinger River District Hospital, now has nine new recruits who, last week, were put through their paces at a training day.

The café is operated by the hospital’s Pink and Hospital Auxiliary volunteers and profits are donated back to the hospital in the form of new medical equipment or improved patient comfort items, such as recliners and comfy chairs.

The Auxiliary’s President, Deb Anderson, said she was delighted with the new recruits, who spent their training day learning how to make lattes, cappuccinos, short and long blacks, chai and hot chocolates.

The newcomers also had training in the day-to-day operations of the café, which is proving popular with patients, visitors and staff.

Mrs Anderson said the feedback from café visitors had been extremely positive, and she hoped even more recruits would come forward to volunteer their time behind the counter.

“We really would like to open the café longer. At the moment, we are open three days a week, but a lot of our customers are asking us to open five,” Mrs Anderson said.

“To do that, we need more volunteers as many of our existing volunteers are intrepid travellers and like their holidays.”

Anyone wanting to find out more information, or join the café roster, can phone Mrs Anderson on 0409 311 349.

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The astonishing commitment of Mid North Coast hospital volunteers was celebrated at the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW’s recent North East Region Zone Day at Wauchope.

About 60 volunteers representing the UHA and Pink Ladies at hospitals and community health centres from Coffs Harbour to Wingham attended the annual get-together, which this year was hosted by the Wauchope Hospital Volunteers.

Branch reports revealed a massive $462,000 worth of equipment had been donated to Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) health facilities over the 2017-18 financial year and an amazing 101,000 volunteer hours had been logged by the UHA’s 537 volunteers.

One of the region’s smallest branches, Wauchope, recorded the most volunteer hours at a staggering 33,236, or 1778 hours for each of its 26 members.

The branch holds regular stalls at Wauchope IGA and Lake Innes Shopping Centre which enabled the volunteers to donate more than $26,700 worth of equipment to Wauchope District Memorial Hospital last financial year. Donated items included a bladder scanner and an ECG machine.

Bellingen Hospital and Pink Ladies support of Bellingen River District Hospital included $6634 in donated medical equipment, which included a spirometer and patient lifter, made possible by the branch’s 29 members who gave a total of 1425 volunteer hours.

One of the state’s largest branches, Port Macquarie, recorded a staggering 18,299 volunteer hours shared among its 150-strong membership.

The volunteers also donated $14,987.50 toward patient and visitor wellbeing at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, including medical equipment and a contribution towards the volunteers’ electric car, the Pink Mobile.

Kempsey UHA and Pink Ladies donated an incredible $32,091.35 worth of medical equipment and patient comfort items to Kempsey District Hospital last financial year. Donated items included mobility aids, blanket warmers and a fridge. The branch, which has just 20 members, also gave 174 volunteer hours to the hospital.

Coffs Harbour Pink Auxiliary’s support of Coffs Harbour Health Campus included a staggering $273,731 in donated medical equipment, which included a bladder scanner, a birthing bed, an ultrasound machine, a ventilator for Intensive Care and an electric resuscitation trolley.

And the branch’s 79 members gave the hospital a remarkable 22,872 volunteer hours, either in support of patients or staff.

BowraMacksville Hospital Auxiliary gave Macksville District Hospital $43,150 in donated medical equipment and patient comfort items. The list of donated items included part funding of an ultrasound system for the hospital’s ED. The generous support was made possible by the branch’s 58 members who gave a total of 8334 volunteer hours, much of it in the hospital’s famous Carpark Café.

Nambucca Auxiliary, which also fundraises in support of Macksville Hospital, donated a humidicrib valued at $25,140.

Dorrigo branch of the UHA supported Dorrigo Multi Purpose Service by donating a $53,640 ultrasound. The branch’s 23 members gave a total of 1925 volunteer hours, many of which were spent at street stalls selling raffle tickets, craft, produce and home cooked goodies.

MNCLHD Chief Executive Stewart Dowrick attended the Zone Day to personally thank the volunteers for their time, hard work, and compassion.

“These wonderful people turn up at our hospitals week after week, working in cafes, helping patients, assisting staff, providing a carpark pick-up and drop-off service for visitors and so much more,” Mr Dowrick said.

“They are a vital part of our Health team on the Mid North Coast and it’s an honour to know and work with them.

“We are indebted to our volunteers who are never too busy to share a kind word and a smile with our patients and our staff. They make the world of difference at all of our sites.”

Also attending the Zone Day was Oxley MP Melinda Pavey, the UHA’s State President Linda Swales of Batlow and the North East Regional Representative Dee Hunter of Nambucca.

“Volunteering is a wonderful way to become involved in the community and make a difference,” the State President said.

“We, the members, know that giving the gift of time, skills and talents is a rewarding experience for us all.

“Our first gift is of time and our second is the gift of purchases to fulfil our commitment of care and comfort for patients, clients and residents,” Mrs Swales said. 

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The Coffs Coast Freemasons Association has donated six new lightweight wheelchairs to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

The donation, valued at more than $4000, is part of a state-wide Masonicare initiative to donate wheelchairs to public hospitals in rural and regional NSW. The cost of the chairs is shared, dollar-for-dollar, with participating Masonic Lodges.

Coffs Coast Freemasons Association Chairman Phil Robertson said the Masons were delighted to help mobilise patients at Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

“It’s a big hospital so we are thrilled we could make such a practical donation that makes it a little easier for patients with mobility issues to move around the site,” Mr Robertson said.

“The wheelchair program has been a great success, helping hospitals right around the state, including our nearby neighbours at Bellingen and Macksville.

“It’s practical support for rural communities through their local public hospital.”

Also present for the handover was Association Secretary Gary Chandler and Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ Acting Patient Support Services Manager Kalinda Gosewisch.

“This donation is such a practical gift to our hospital,” Ms Gosewisch said.

“The chairs, which really are an essential piece of equipment for patients who have had falls, injuries or illness that impact on their mobility, are lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and they look great.

“Thank you doesn’t seem sufficient, but we are truly grateful to the Freemasons for their ongoing support.

“These amazing new wheelchairs are making a big difference to our patients and their carers.”

The wheelchairs are easily identifiable with the hospital’s name, Masonicare and Freemasons NSW/ACT emblazoned across the back. The branding will also help the hospital retain its wheelchair stocks.

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One of Coffs Harbour’s hardest working health charities, the Pink Silks Trust, has presented a crucial piece of medical equipment to Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ recently refurbished Intensive Care Unit.

The Trust’s gift, a $60,000 Prismaflex unit, acts much the same way as the body’s kidney function.

The machine pumps blood from a critically ill patient through a filter and back into the patient’s circulatory system.

The donation brings the Trust’s community fundraising efforts over the past 12 years to $850,000, with Coffs Harbour Health Campus and its patients being one of the major beneficiaries.

Pink Silks Committee Chair Tanya Johnson said the donation would not have been possible without community support for the Trust’s fundraisers, including last October’s Ladies and Tradies function.

“We want to thank everyone who supported that event, from the tradies and businesses who auctioned their services to the patrons who not only made the night a wonderful social success, but also an amazingly successful fundraiser.

“The result was a combined effort from all the businesses and people of our community wanting to make a difference in the lives of others.”

ICU Nursing Unit Manager Nicole Pymont said she and her colleagues never ceased to be amazed by the generosity of the Coffs community and the hard work of the Pink Silks Committee, particularly where its donations have helped the hospital’s and the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute’s patients.

“We are indebted to the Pink Silks. They work tirelessly to help improve the health outcomes of locals,” Ms Pymont said.

“Their hard work directly benefits the Coffs Coast community, and it would be impossible to put a value on the impact of their support on hundreds of patients over the past dozen years.

“Thank you seems such an insignificant and inadequate response to the Trust’s latest donation, but we are truly grateful. The Prismaflex will make a huge difference in our recently expanded ICU department and, quite simply, you can’t put a dollar value on that kind of support.”

– ENDS –

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The classic charity ride, Tour de Rocks, has donated a $5000 vital signs monitor to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute at Port Macquarie.

 This year’s charity ride boasted a record field of 491 participants, including 384 mountain bike riders and 107 support crew. The riders, aged from seven to 75, tackled the gruelling 255km trail from Armidale to South West Rocks, climbing 1081metres above sea level.

 Two of the teams competing in this year’s event were Gordon Street Cycles and Hat Head Tri Girls, which were represented at the presentation to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute.

Acting Nurse Unit Manager Katie Gooch said the donation brought the cancer unit one step closer to replacing all of its vital signs monitors with the latest wireless models which would transform the way patient data was collected, recorded and analysed at the campus.

 “Our Smarter, Safer Vitals Monitoring program is a world-first, developed by the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute where technology is used to integrate our monitors with an oncology-specific electronic medical records system,” Ms Gooch said.

 “The cancer unit has funded the central data system, but we are hoping the community will help us replace our existing patient monitors with the new wireless models, which are an integral component of the project.

 “The program eliminates the need for nurses to manually write down patient vital signs and then transcribe all the observations into a records system. The technology is accurate and fast… it enables real time clinical decisions to be based on accurate and immediate patient observations, and it means nurses have more time to spend with their patients.

 “We are so grateful for this donation from Tour de Rocks, made possible by the participation of teams such as Gordon Street Cycles and Hat Head Tri Girls.

 “We are approaching the half-way mark in this community appeal to replace all 12 monitors and are very humbled by the immediate and generous support of our community.”

 Gordon Street Cycles team member Ed Godschalk said he was proud of the fundraising effort, but directed his tribute to others.

“It’s the sponsors who are the champions through their support with generous donations,” Mr Godschalk said.

“All we have to do is ride the bike, which is something we love to do. But, if one more person says it’s all downhill from Armidale… it’s a tough ride.”

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The North Coast Public Health Unit is again warning people in the Port Macquarie area to protect against health impacts of prolonged exposure to smoke from the Lindfield Park Road bushfire which has been ongoing for five weeks.

Director Paul Corben said that since air-quality monitoring began in the area in late July, levels have ranged from fair to hazardous which could have potentially serious health consequences, especially for people in higher risk groups.

“We strongly advise people who are more sensitive to smoke, including those with respiratory or heart conditions, pregnant women and very small children, to take active steps to protect their health,” Mr Corben said.

“People with chronic health conditions or who are experiencing symptoms should limit their exposure to the smoke, where possible, and consider going to air-conditioned buildings such shopping centres and libraries, or temporarily spending time away from the affected area.

“Residents should also minimise smoke inside their homes from other sources such as candles, incense burners and wood fired heaters. Ensure all windows and doors are closed tightly, especially at night when smoke pollution levels are usually highest.”

Mr Corben said the very small smoke particles can penetrate far into the lungs and enter the blood system. Smoky air containing fine particles has been shown to exacerbate asthma and other chronic lung conditions, be associated with lower birth weight and early delivery, contribute to heart attacks and cause premature death. 

“While it’s still the case that most people are unlikely to experience problems with the smoke, it is very important that those with chronic health conditions keep their medication handy at all times. Anyone experiencing symptoms of repeated coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, palpitations or nausea should seek medical attention,” he said.

Mr Corben said if it looks smoky outside, stay indoors until the air clears and if you are outside, avoid strenuous exercise or heavy work.

NSW RFS District Manager Superintendent Kam Baker said that extinguishing the fire has proven to be very challenging for firefighters.

“Due to the ongoing drought, the wetlands in the area are parched and this is allowing the fire to effectively burn underground,” Superintendent Baker said.

“Strong winds over recent days have then fanned the fire which has resulted in increased activity inside identified containment lines and smoke is likely to continue to rise from across the fire ground over the coming days.”

Questions about the status or management of bushfires should be directed to NSW RFS. In case of emergency, always remember to dial Triple Zero (000). For the latest fire information, visit the NSW Rural Fire Service website at: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

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There are 1.2 million Australians currently living with a communication disability and Speech Pathology Week (25-31 August) provides an opportunity to increase awareness of those people within our community.

Speech Pathology Week aims to promote the work of speech pathologists and provide insight into the impacts a speech or communications delay or disorder can have on a person’s life. Speech pathologists work to ensure everyone is communicating with confidence.

A paediatric speech pathologist can assess, diagnosis and provide intervention for individuals with speech, language, fluency (stuttering) voice and swallowing difficulties, including intervention for children with poor literacy skills and social interaction skills.

The Port Macquarie Community Health speech pathologists have partnered with the local libraries in Port Macquarie, Laurieton and Wauchope to participate in their weekly story time sessions.

Story time at the library involves staff reading a children’s book followed by an arts and crafts session. The speech pathology team will be on hand to read the children’s stories and provide information to parents about their services, as well as provide some general language strategies that will assist in developing early language skills in children and to promote book reading.

Speech pathologists will attend story time at each library between 10.30am and 11.30am on the following dates:

Monday 26 August – Wauchope Library

Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 August – Port Macquarie Library

Thursday 29 August – Laurieton Library

For more information about the speech pathology service available at Port Macquarie Community Health, contact 6588 2882.

Photo Caption: Speech Pathologists Kate Jones and Jacqui Highland getting ready for story time.

Media contact: MNCLHD Media Manager Lynn Lelean on 0408 693 688.

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