SHDH COVID DRIVE THROUGH TESTING CLINIC & VACCINATION CLINIC TO CEASE OPERATION FROM TODAY – 30TH JUNE
The SHDH Drive Through COVID Testing Clinic and Vaccination Clinic will cease operation today, Thursday 30th June. Once our testing service has ceased we encourage the community to continue using Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT’s) for testing purposes. If a PCR is required for Pre-Surgery, the community can continue to have their PCR through Clinical Labs on McCrae Street for free. If a PCR is required for Travel purposes, community can head online to clinicallabs.com.au to book and pay for a test.
The community are reminded to report their positive RAT test through: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report
The SHDH COVID Vaccination Clinic will close their doors at 3.30pm this afternoon. Once this operation has ceased, community are encouraged to seek their COVID vaccinations through local pharmacies and GP Clinics.
A huge thank you to all staff who have been involved in the successful running of both the Testing Clinic and Vaccination Clinic over the past couple of years!
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SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM NEW AND/OR EMERGING ABORIGINAL ARTISTS
For Artwork for the Swan Hill District Health—Aboriginal Health Unit.
We are seeking to purchase the original artwork and have exclusive rights to use the work on Swan Hill District Health publications, social media and other collateral as required.
How to Apply
Please send applications and/or enquiries to E: contracts@shdh.org.au by 5pm Wednesday 20 July 2022.
In your application please include the following:
Link to Aboriginal Health Unit
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6.05.22
The Emergency Department project has now moved into the Detailed Design phase of the project, which has seen the establishment of key user groups specific to Emergency, Community Health, Occupational Therapy and HARP, Pathology (Austin), Front of House, Security and Café. Key staff representation through all sessions to date has been solid and well represented.
The Detailed Design Phase has an allocation of four (4) workshops for each user group identified. Each workshop is followed up with an Executive group session providing a summary of each workshop and key areas for discussion and decision. Our final Detailed Design Workshop was held last week, following this final week of workshops the consultant team anticipates agreement and sign off of this phase of the project from Swan Hill District Health.
We will then commence with some early works so as to decommission the existing building (old Nurses home) in preparation for the construction phase. Our Early works package includes temporary fit out for Pathology, Café and Community Health staff and their relocation to off site locations for the duration of the project. The project team is currently working on the Construction phasing so as to ensure that while our build is in progress services on site are minimally interrupted.
The new $48.7 Million SHDH Emergency Department development project has officially commenced.
SHDH has held its first meeting for the new Emergency Department development with the Victorian Health Building Authority, the Department of Health and the appointed project consultancy team to officially commence this exciting $48.7 Million project.
The new Emergency Department development will include:
The project consultants appointed to support this development are:
The draft Project Program is summarised as follows:
Our Consultancy Team and the SHDH Project Team will be gaining both staff and community input into the project by way of specific User and Working groups through the design and development phase.
The flow chart below provides an overview of how this project will be managed.
We are currently seeking interest from community members to be involved in our Governance Board Sub-Committees.
By participating in a committee you can help us continually improve the way we deliver care and be involved in decisions that can have a positive impact across our region.
We are currently seeking consumer representatives for our:
• Corporate Governance Sub-Committee
• Clinical Governance Sub-Committee
The Corporate Governance Sub-Committee meets bi-monthly on the 3rd Wednesday and its role is to monitor and
oversee the Health Service’s financial performance and financial reporting processes including the annual financial
statements, financial snapshot, risk management practices and internal auditing.
The Clinical Governance Sub-Committee meets bi-monthly on the 3rd Wednesday (alternative months to the Corporate Governance) and its role is to monitor and oversee the quality of care and services and reduce clinical risk by means of specific recommendations to the Board and to review, monitor and oversee the Clinical Governance Framework and various quality and related activities.
• Out-of-pocket expenses for items such as travel and child care will be reimbursed.
• Meetings can be attended virtually through a secure video conferencing platform.
• Meeting duration is no longer than 1.5 hours.
• A comprehensive orientation and introduction into the public health care system and ongoing support will be
provided.
If you are interested in helping us achieve connected care and best experience please express your interest in joining one of these committees, along with any relevant qualifications, to the Chief Executive Officer, Peter Abraham, by email to ceo.office@shdh.org.au. For more information you can also call 5033 9317.
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Local Story
What’s it like, having your children swabbed?
“There was an exposure site at the school my two attend, and the three of us had sore throats and both children had sniffles, so we were quick to come and be tested” so said mother of two, KB, as she lined up to be swabbed on Tuesday.
As a health professional and mother of an 8 and 10 year old, KB is well aware of the consequences, if any of the family contracts COVID.
“I just want everyone with the slightest symptom to be tested. It’s the only way we can protect our families, friends and the community”.
“The staff are doing a terrific job – we moved through the queue at a good pace, they explained everything, and did an excellent job making sure they kept their distance.
The swabs were good, they didn’t hurt, even for the kids. It was a good experience all round, and we all felt a lot safer”, KB said as she left the swabbing area and headed home to isolate while they waited for the results.
KB’s 10 year old chipped in saying “Some kids think it might hurt, but it doesn’t, the staff are very good and it’s easy, and quite quick. I didn’t mind it at all”.
“We are so lucky we live in Swan Hill, everyone cares for each other, everyone looks out for each other… that doesn’t always happen in bigger places,” KB said.
Anything else you want to say KB? “Yes…. if everyone keeps being careful, wearing masks, using sanitiser and keeping apart, we will all stay safe and help protect our community so we can keep enjoying life in this beautiful place where we live”.
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A Peter Mac clinical trial has opened in Swan Hill for the first time, showing living in regional Victoria need not be a barrier to accessing the very latest in cancer care.
The trial – staged with support from Swan Hill District Health and Bendigo Health – involves DNA testing of patients to identify those at risk of an adverse reaction to chemotherapy. This allows chemo doses to be tailored for these patients.
The trial is led by Peter Mac’s Professor Michael Michael and Clinical Pharmacist Sarah Glewis. Patients provide a cheek swab and the DNA test looks for gene variants known to influence their tolerability to common chemotherapy agents.
“Patients who may experience severe adverse reactions to chemotherapy may have altered genes which prevent the breakdown of commonly used chemotherapy agents,” Professor Michael said.
“Genetic testing can identify these at-risk patients, and telehealth is now making it possible to offer personalised cancer care like this to patients no matter where they live.”
The trial is open to patients with breast, bladder, bowel, cervical, head and neck, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancers. Ms Glewis said the trial may also help discover new gene variants that also affect chemotherapy risk.
“This testing is already being offered at Peter Mac in Melbourne and we’re delighted to partner with Swan Hill District Health – with the support of Bendigo Health – to expand this trial to patients in regional Victoria,” she said.
Swan Hill District Health Chief Executive Officer Peter Abraham said clinical trials typically meant travel and extended stays away from home for the region’s residents.“
“We are fortunate that community members of the local Swan Hill region will be able benefit from such cutting-edge medical advancements in cancer care through clinical trial opportunities such as this one,” Mr Abraham said.
The trial is also open to patients treated at Bendigo Hospital (via Bendigo Health) and Albury (Border Medical Oncology). For detail see the “Pharmacogenomics guided dosing of anticancer therapies for patients with cancer” trial on the ANZ clinical trials registry.
Interested patients should ask their oncologist about the trial, or for general queries call Ms Glewis on 03 8559 5628.
A free community session is being hosted by Ian Braeur, President of the Lion’s Club at Nyah West
Date – Wednesday 23 June 2021
Time – 1.30-3.30pm
Venue – Nyah Community Hall
Free afternoon tea will be provided by representatives from the local CWA and neighbouring Tytynder CWA
To register call Ian on 0448151514
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New Pathology Provider for Swan Hill
Austin Health is now the new pathology provider at Swan Hill District Health (SHDH). SHDH would like to acknowledge Australian Clinical Labs (ACL) who have provided a highly valued pathology service to SHDH for many years.
“We thank ACL staff for their dedication and commitment particularly during this transition phase” SHDH Chief Executive Officer Peter Abraham said.
A new pathology collection service will also be established as part of the introduction of Austin Health pathology services to Swan Hill, co-located at Swan Hill Surgical Practice (45 McCrae Street, Swan Hill).
The new collection centre will offer greater choice for the community when accessing pathology services in Swan Hill. “We hope that this service will assist in meeting demand for local pathology collection services which has been an expressed need from the community for some time” Mr Abraham highlighted.
Austin Health Pathology is a public provider of pathology services across the state and are a bulk bill only service. Austin Health will accept pathology request forms from all pathology providers.
The new collection service will operate 7am-4.30pm Monday-Friday and 8am-12pm Saturday. The new service commenced operation on Tuesday 2nd February.
For more information on Austin Health Pathology visit www.austinpathology.org.au/
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