Drive through testing clinic hours are 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday this week (18th – 22nd October).
Please wear your masks in the car when speaking to staff in the screening stations. Especially important when people are coming to get tested and have been exposed or are symptomatic.
Remember to isolate until you get a negative result.
Click here for more information
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“Swan Hill District Health worked with local community members to produce these videos and share important information about COVID-19, they are not an official translation and Swan Hill District Health does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. Please see www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19 for translated resources from the Department of Health”.
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MDAS – Swan Hill Pfizer Vaccinations
Filmed in collaboration with Swan Hill District Health.
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We are proud to support @GenVforkids, a new and essential research project led from @MurdochChildrensResearchInstitute.
GenV will launch at Swan Hill District Health in June. Over two years, every family having a baby at birthing hospitals across the state, including at Swan Hill District Health, will be offered the chance to participate, no matter their background or location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVwH5knxA1U
GenV is one of the world’s largest birth and parent cohort studies and aims to reduce the burden of problems including allergies, obesity and mental illness.
Learn more at www.genv.org.au.
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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.
Swan Hill District Health provides a number of services in the area of cancer care; our care is designed to provide a supportive and welcoming environment for patient and families with a greater focus on overall care including physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. We have a team of visiting Medical Oncologists from the Bendigo Cancer Centre that come to Swan Hill once a month to provide face to face services for their clients without the concern of having to travel. Whilst your care may not be under the Bendigo Cancer Centre we also have a number of other services to assist cancer patients and there families in the Swan Hill region.
Chemotherapy
Staffed by specialist chemotherapy nurses, under the guidance of Bendigo Cancer Centre oncologist’s. Available from Tuesday—Friday.
Telehealth Oncology
Along side the monthly oncology visit we also provide monthly telehealth session between client/family oncologist and chemotherapy nurses.
McGrath Breast Care Nursing Services
Service managed by a specialist breast care nurse. Provides supportive care for clients and families following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Available Monday to Thursday with alternate Tuesdays.
Cancer Care Coordinator
Provides supportive care for people diagnosed with cancer and their families. There as a support, advocate and contact for patients and families, when diagnosed with cancer. Available Tuesday – Thursday.
Lymphoedema Services
Run by a lymphodema trained physiotherapist where patients are provided with education and management advice for those people with or at risk of lymphedema.
Oncology Exercise Group
Offered to patients undergoing cancer treatment or within 12 months of completing. Appropriate exercise has shown to help manage some common side effects of fatigue, loss of muscle mass, speed up recovery and to improve your quality of life. Available Monday and Wednesday.
Wig Service
Swan Hill District Health is the lead agency for the coordination of the vital local Wig Service. A local hairdresser will work with you to help choose, order and fit your wig.
Allied Health
We have a number of allied health services that can also assist you throughout your treatment including physiotherapy, exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, dietitians, speech pathologists, social work and counselling.
Advance Care Planning
Enable you to share with your family, doctor and those close to you, your preferences, beliefs and values in regards to your future healthcare. Available Fridays
Palliative Care
Is specialised care and support provided in the community for someone living with a life threatening or life limiting illness. It is designed to improve quality of life for clients, their families and caregivers.
We offer services for prevention via community education and clinical services for National screening programs such as the Cervical Screening Test.
Cancer patients can receive support and treatment from our medical and multi-disciplinary team to ensure optimal care within the Swan Hill region.
For enquiries on any of these services, please contact:
Cancer Care Coordinator
Tuesday – Thursday
60 McCrae Street, Swan Hill
Phone: (03) 5033 9201
Or go to our Cancer Services page
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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.
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
• Community & Cultural Engagement 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.
Our Community and Cultural Engagement Sub-Committee meets three-monthly on the 1st Monday and its role is to establish relationships in the community critical for the successful planning, delivery and acceptance of culturally appropriate care to ensure that everyone is welcomed at our Health Service. Community Governance is valued as
a strategy to improve consumer health outcomes and satisfaction with services; as well as a mechanism to ensure
organisational accountability, reputation and support.
• 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 by COB Friday, 9th July 2021. For more information you can also call 5033 9464.
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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SMART Recovery meetings to launch locally
Whether it’s dependence on alcohol, drugs or gambling, SMART Recovery Australia is set to launch free group meetings locally for individuals wanting to take control of addictive behaviours.
Meeting Time: 4th February, 5.30 pm
Meeting Location: Counselling Services, 13 Pritchard St
Contact: 03 5033 9880 to register your interest
What is SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training) is a global group-based program using evidence-based tools to help people help each other manage addictive behaviours.
SMART Recovery provides people with all addictive behaviours with an evidence-based mutual aid program that offers people the tools to create a life beyond addiction at free weekly support group meetings, both either face-to-face and online.
The program was established in the US in 1994, has been operating in Australia for well over a decade. There are now over 350 meetings across Australia and New Zealand, including over 75 online meetings and imminent plans to grow these further.
About the meetings
SMART Recovery Australia
SMART Recovery Australia is a non-profit organisation whose vision is to make the SMART Recovery programme accessible to everyone across Australia.
First successfully piloted at St Vincent’s Hospital in 2004, there are currently over 300 SMART Recovery groups held weekly in Australia and New Zealand, facilitated by a combination of professionals and peers (people recovering from addictive behaviours).
SMART Recovery Australia is committed to the program adapting as scientific knowledge evolves, and has a robust research advisory committee to provide ongoing research input to the program.
Power of choice
SMART Recovery Australia embraces a harm minimisation philosophy, which views control over one’s addictive behaviour as an achievement. Abstinence is not the only way to recover from addiction.
“If someone who drinks for seven days a week is able to change to drinking five or six days, that’s success,” says Josette Freeman, SMART Recovery Australia’s National Program Coordinator.
“Some people will say, ‘I really shouldn’t be here – I only have two glasses of wine a day’, but if those two glasses are causing problems in your life, you’re in the same situation as someone who uses a gram of heroin a day,” says Freeman.
For more information:
Ryan McGlaughlin
Executive Director
SMART Recovery Australia
Phone: +61 2 9373 5111
Email: rmcglaughlin@srau.org.au
Website http://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au/
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