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South West inland to welcome more newborns locally 18 August 2020 The WA Country Health Service is establishing two new Midwifery Group Practices (MGPs) in the Warren-Blackwood district and Collie, to support expectant South West families access care closer to home. They join the Bunbury MGP which commenced in 2012 and has supported the birth of over 750 babies locally. The new MGPs will be staffed by specialist midwives who will work together in collaboration with local health practitioners to provide maternity and newborn care. Clinical Midwifery Manager Katrina Jones said that MGPs were evidence based clinical initiatives that provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “An MGP service model means that expectant women will be cared for by a known midwife throughout the duration of their antenatal, birth and post-natal journey,” Ms Jones said. “It empowers women to be actively involved in the care provided to them. &ld...
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Mobile telecarts provide expert medical support to country hospitals 14 August 2020 The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Command Centre has sent five mobile telecarts to hospitals across country Western Australia (WA). The new telecarts delivered to Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Hedland and Kalgoorlie will enable local clinicians to work with metropolitan based specialists to manage critically unwell patients. The devices can be used at any point in the patients journey where support from an ICU specialist and critical care nurse is required. WACHS Command Centre Director Donna Rogers said that virtual face-to-face assessments by specialists via the telecarts could prove lifesaving to regional patients. “With the assistance of nurse leaders for each site the new telecarts have been tested and training is currently underway so our country based teams are prepared for a range of medical scenarios where assistance from the telehealth clinician could support them t...
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WA Country Health Service honours aged care employees 06 August 2020 This Aged Care Employee Day, the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) honours and celebrates all aged care workers and volunteers across country WA. Director Aged Care Marcelle James said that working in aged care was extremely rewarding and fulfilling. “However, it also comes with its challenges that can be both physically and emotionally demanding,” Ms James said. “Staff need to be patient and remain positive to help support older people to live as independently as possible. “It definitely takes a special kind of person to work in aged care. “Small gestures and kind words can make a world of a difference to an older person living in our community. “I sincerely thank the entire team of aged care workers and volunteers, whether on the frontline or working behind the scenes, for ensuring the older people in our regions are being well taken care of an...
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Additional funding to support redevelopment of Bunbury Hospital 05 August 2020 Country Western Australia’s busiest healthcare facility, Bunbury Hospital, is set for further redevelopment with an additional commitment of $38 million, bringing the total investment to over $60 million. The $22.8 million already earmarked will focus on service planning and development in addition to: • construction of an additional operating theatre • reconfiguration of the emergency department fast track area • establishment of an acute medical assessment unit • implementation of a mental health observation area • procurement of clinical equipment for the intensive care unit • increased parking bays for the site • improved Hospital in the Home and telehealth capabilities at community locations. The additional funding will focus on priority clinical areas. South West Regional Director Kerry Winsor said that Bunbur...
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Pilot to fast-track Pilbara renal patients to transplant waitlist 05 August 2020 A multidisciplinary renal transplant assessment team recently visited Port Hedland to launch a pilot model of care for Indigenous transplant assessment at a series of consumer-focused kidney transplant seminars. By providing a visiting service to regional locations the time it takes to assess and list patients for renal transplant is expected to reduce, increasing the opportunity for transplantation for Aboriginal patients. This is the first in a series of visits to regional centres across WA to pilot the model which is an initiative of the National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce (NIKTT), funded by the Commonwealth through the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand. WACHS Clinical Director Nephrology, Dr Ashley Irish lead the multidisciplinary team from Fiona Stanley Hospital to stage both consumer-focused seminars as well as a healthcare workers educational...
Last Updated:
24/01/2024