CONSUMER BITES

The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc

Volume 1 / Issue 23

Lead Article THANK YOU CHIEF MINISTER

Committee Vacancies I have had many conversations with members since the news of the resignation of Chief Minister, MLA. Overwhelmingly people Recent Endorsements have spoken about their appreciation for what she achieved as Health Minister and expressed disappointment that she is stepping down from her HIP Update role as ACT Chief Minister. The key message has been clear:

Health Policy Update Thank you Katy for what you have done and we wish you well for the next challenges. Items of Interest Katy Gallagher has been one of the constants in my time as Executive Local Events Director at HCCA. She became Health Minister in April 2006, taking over from Simon Corbell MLA.

Upcoming HCCA HCCA has appreciated Katy’s support for the work we do to improve the Events quality and safety of health care and we have greatly valued our working relationship. Personally, I have appreciated her collaborative style and obvious commitment to consumer participation in health care at all levels. Her knowledge of our complicated health system is commendable, very few people are across that level of detail. A reminder that the office is closed for Shutdown from 24 So, on behalf of HCCA, thank you Chief Minister. You have made a difference to our community. December - 2 January (inclusive). We reopen on Congratulations to MLA, the incoming Chief Minister. We look Monday 5 January 2015 forward to the announcement of the next Minister for Health and building a good working relationship with them. This is the final newsletter of the 2014. HCCA PRIORITIES FOR 2015

The next issue will be Last week we help a workshop with the HCCA Executive Committee and published in late January. staff to identify the priorities for the coming year. These are quality and We hope you all have a safety of health care, primary health care, aged care, health service planning and innovation, self-management of chronic conditions and safe and happy summer. health workforce. Sue Andrews providing an overview of our year to the HCCA Executive We have planned for the activities in 2015 and the list is quite significant. Committee and staff. A calendar of events will be sent out soon to all our members and also uploaded to our website.

Consumer Representatives Program

 Consumer Reps Forums – 4 half day workshops  Consumer Reps Program Steering Committee - monthly meetings  Consumer Leads – 9 meetings times  Consumer Reps Training – two sessions for new representatives and two sessions for existing reps

Health Infrastructure Program  Health Infrastructure Reps Network - monthly meetings  Community consultation  Research and reports on consumer issues Policy  Aged Care Consumer Reference Group - every two months  E-health Consumer Reference Group - every two months  Health Policy Steering Committee- every two months  Health Issue Groups – every two months Communications  Newsletter – 22 issues  Website – due for update in 2016  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HCCA.ACT  Twitter - @healthcanberra Health Literacy Program  Health Literacy Sessions and workshops with consumer groups and multicultural communities  Community stalls  Advance Care Planning Project two year project Projects we are involved with:  Review of the Competency Standards for Registered Nurses – Joint project with University of Sydney and Southern Cross University July 14 – June 15  Integrated Care in General Practice with Australian National University November 14 - June 15  Emergency Department Joint Study with ACT Health and ACT Medicare Local.  ACT Consumer and Carer Participation Policy and Toolkit

Also - HCCA has been awarded the contract by the ACT Government for Advance Care Planning Project. This is a two year project and includes:

 Community awareness sessions and  Support consumers to complete advance care plans  Develop a volunteering program to deliver community information sessions

We are really pleased that Christine Bowman will join us to lead this project. Chris will start in late January. Yelin Hung will also contribute and we are hopeful that Hayley Hoolihan, who worked with HCCA on the Heath Literacy Project will be able to participate also.

So from the staff team at HCCA, thanks for all your contributions, it has been a fabulous year and I look forward to seeing you all in 2015. I had thought that 2015 would be the calm before the storm as we have two elections in 2016 but now I’m not so sure! Darlene Cox Executive Director @darlenecox

COMMITTEE VACANCIES RECENT For more information on these vacancies, please see here. ENDORSEMENTS Please find the committee nomination form here. Nominations close Tuesday 16 December 2014.

Arts in Health Committee Consumer Representative This committee assists the Health Infrastructure Program (HIP) in Endorsements the roll out of art and art projects in new health facilities around None. and the Canberra Hospital. The Arts in Health Committee will ensure that health facilities provide a therapeutic environment for HCCA Staff Endorsements treatment, healing and rehabilitation by creating and prompting • ACT Primary Health and Chronic vibrant and engaging artwork within ACT Health Services. Disease Strategy Committee - Eleanor Kerdo ACT Equipment Loans Advisory Committee • ACT ED Primary Care This committee assesses applications for a range of equipment, from Attendances Research Study wheelchairs and beds to second-skin garments and orthotic Steering Committee - Darlene Cox footwear. This committee also provides advice on performance criteria, current standards, performance indicators and policy development related to the operations of the ACT Equipment ANTICIPATED VACANCIES 2015 Scheme.

ACT Sleep Study Working Group Medical & Dental Appointments Advisory Committee This committee will oversee the This high-level committee oversees the senior medical and dental second stage of the research practitioner (SMDP) recruitment and appointment process and project planned by The Canberra provides recommendations on the credentialing, scope of clinical Hospital Research Centre for practice and appointments of SMDPs. Nursing and Midwifery Practice to investigate factors affecting sleep DonateLife ACT Clinical Advisory Committee quality of hospitalised patients. This committee provides advice on clinical issues, risks and

Cognitive Rehabilitation Working proposed changes related to organ and tissue donation clinical Group service delivery in the ACT and surrounding region. They also advise This group aims to ensure health the DonateLife ACT Consumer & Community Advisory Committee on professions are providing well hospital-based clinical and service delivery issues in the ACT and researched and evidence-based surrounding region. response and service to clients undergoing cognitive rehabilitation ACT Health Safety and Quality Committee in the ACT. This high-level committee provides advice on all matters regarding safety and quality across all sections of ACT Health. This committee ACT Medicare Local Better sets the strategic direction, priorities and objectives for safety and Chronic Disease Management quality across the organisation and provides oversight of clinical Working Group practice improvement, quality improvement, accreditation, clinical This ACT Medicare Local working governance matters, consumer engagement and clinical policy. group will agree on a program of targeted work on chronic disease Food Regulation Reference Group management and coordination. This committee is a forum to discuss and provide advice to ACT The aim will be sustained Health on food regulatory issues. This includes the following: improvement for people with communication between ACT Health and food businesses, chronic disease in clinical quality, discussing community and consumer issues such as better targeted quality of life and cost effectiveness information, and incentivising food businesses to achieve high food that starts to show benefits in the safety standards. next two years.

Introducing our Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee

It is my pleasure to introduce you to our new Consumer Representatives Program (CRP) Steering Committee. We are very lucky to have a committed team of consumer representatives and Executive Committee members to ensure our selection process for consumer representatives is transparent and to help us to continually improve the Consumer Representatives Program. The voting members of the committee are as follows:  Adele Stevens (Chair, Executive Committee In 2015, the CRP Steering Committee will continue Member) to endorse consumer representatives to health  Bill Heins (Executive Committee Member) service committees. They will also conduct the  Alan Thomas (Consumer Representative) evaluation of our new Consumer Representatives  Marion Reilly (Consumer Representative) Forums and will participate in the development of  Pat Branford (Consumer Representative) the ACT Health Consumer and Carer Participation  Nick Wales (HIP Project Officer) Policy and Toolkit. I am looking forward to working  Caitlin Stamford (Consumer with the new committee to ensure the CRP is Representatives Program Coordinator) supporting our consumer representatives to be effective advocates.

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE Secure Mental Health Faculty

HIP End of Year Round Up Emergency Department Expansion

The ACT Government is about to embark on a $23 million expansion of the emergency department at The Canberra Hospital (TCH). The emergency department has been struggling to cope with the number of patients for some time and has The final stage of planning is now underway for a been averaging more than 90 per cent occupancy. new secure mental health facility. The current In the last financial year it treated more than 70,000 sketch plan of the facility encompasses 25 beds on people. The revamp will also include up to nine the former Quamby Youth Detention Centre site in additional acute beds for patients with severe Symonston. conditions and more beds for patients with less serious problems. The Secure Mental Health Unit aims to provide a safe and structured environment with 24 hour The Emergency Management Unit, providing care clinical support for people with moderate to severe for short-term patients, will be expanded, as will the mental illness who cannot be safely cared for in a number of ambulance bays. It is hoped a change to less restrictive environment. layout of the department will lead to a reduction in This will include people who are, or are likely to waiting times. The project will take about 18 months become, involved with the criminal justice system. and the department will remain open throughout The Mental Health Consumers Network are construction. This project will encompass the involved in the planning of this new facility with already planned for Paediatric streaming project. consumer representatives on each level of the HCCA had considerable input into the Paediatric project. The construction of this facility is due for streaming project and will meet with the Project completion in late 2016. managers of this recently announced expanded project in December to ensure participation from a consumer perspective. Staging and Decanting at TCH Additional beds Level 5 building 1

Building 15 (the This newly refurbished ward is now fully occupied old Psych unit with Orthopaedics patients. building) has

been

demolished now to make room for the new building which will house services that are decanted from other areas planned for redevelopment on the campus. The user group process for the planning of the various elements of this project has been The Canberra Hospital Outpatient’s completed and the 100% plans are going through refurbishment the Governance committees for endorsement in This project has had delays because of budget December. This will enable Kerry and Darlene to issues. ACT Health are in the process of prioritising raise any consumer concerns at these forums. the works so they can be managed within budget. Russell McGowan has been appointed to the HCCA had considerable involvement in this project Project Management Committee. and is keen to be involved in this next stage.

Department Patient Information, event planning for HEALTH POLICY UPDATE next year, and attending many meetings, including a meeting in Adelaide for the first two days of next Seasons Greetings! week around the review of National Registered Nurses Accreditation and Competency Standards, This is my last policy update for the year until late which are the standards that all registered nurses January as I am off to USA and Europe for a cold should be held to and that we can expect when being and snowy Christmas and a month long holiday! cared for by a registered nurse.

Interim Report from the Federal Senate It has been a wonderful year for me here at HCCA. I Select Committee on Health really do feel quite blessed to have the opportunity to work with the people I do including our staff and On the 3rd of December the Senate Select our wonderful consumer reps and members. Committee on Health released an interim report found here that slams almost all suggested This year we have completed 25 submissions (many government health policy we provided a submission of which can be seen on our website) or written to this Senate committee which can be found on our feedback documents which ranges feedback on website. patient information and brochures, to local services policies and SOPs to Federal Senate inquiries. Not The report states that the committee received over to mention many focus groups, consultations and 100 submissions that all advocate for the research collaborations we have undertaken. There abolishment of the $7 dollar GP co-payment, and is such a huge amount of knowledge and experience appose cuts to hospital and community health in our membership we can really make strong funding. It also berates the government for poor impacts to how health policy and health services are communication and consultation with stakeholders delivered in our region. around the changes from Medicare Locals to Primary Health Networks. It is well worth a read! We I want to thank all of you who I have met and worked will certainly be watching this space closely. with this year who have given up their time and energy to contribute and shape the HCCA policy Policy section year round up program. In the last two weeks of work before the New Year I will be finishing a minor submission on Emergency See you all next year! Eleanor Kerdo Policy Officer

ITEMS OF INTEREST

News from ACT Medicare Local HCCA BLOG POSTS There are significant changes in the leadership at ACT Medicare Local with Dr Rashmi Sharma standing down after ten years on the Board. We congratulate Rashmi on her leadership and Latest links on HCCA blog contribution to Canberra and welcome Dr Martin Liedvogel as incoming Chair. The following blog posts have recently been published at http://hcca-act.blogspot.com.au:  ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) Board Communique – announcement of Dr - Health Issues Group Blog Post: Martin Liedvogel as new ACTML Chair. COTA Transport forum (Nicholas Wales) Read more here. Jane Thomson from Council on the Ageing  ACTML Chair’s (Dr Sharma’s) farewell (COTA) came out to HCCA on the and ACTML Annual Report 2013/14 – Dr 13 November 2014 to present COTA’s study on how older people in the ACT Sharma will continue as a special adviser travel and what transport options are to the Board. Read more here. available.  ACTML2/52 newsletter

http://hcca-  Health InterACTion Newsletter act.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/health- issues-group-blog-post-cota.html New National Health Alliance Launched A new Alliance of organisations has recently - Conference Report – Symposium on been launched – the National Complex Needs Population Ageing and Australia’s Future, Alliance. The vision of this new Alliance is “for a society where people with complex needs Shine Dome, Canberra, Tuesday 11 experiencing disadvantage are supported by a November 2014 (Kay Henderson) comprehensive and coordinated service system so they have the same opportunities to http://hcca- participate fully in the community and live life as act.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/conference- other Australians”. report-symposium-on.html “The term ‘complex needs’ refers to people who have more than one problem to contend with. - Medicare Local: Future Thinking People don’t live their lives within portfolios, and Symposium : those with complex needs in particular need help “whole system working” to negotiate their way through the maze of available services,” explained Lyn Morgain, Chair Consumer Representative Conference of the National Complex Needs Alliance. Report (Bernard Borg Caruana) The Alliance has released a position paper outlining the group’s key principles and goals, http://hcca- and have made a plan for achieving better long act.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/medicare- term outcomes for people with complex needs. local-future-thinking.html Read more at the National Complex Needs Alliance website here. ACTCOSS is represented by Camilla Rowland, CEO Karralika Programs , on the executive of the Alliance.

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ITEMS OF INTEREST (CONTINUED) just words on a page and will lead to practical outcomes for the client. 2014 ACT Multicultural Awards! The Framework provides a single point of On Thursday 27 reference and a consolidated central ‘matrix’ which: November 2014 - identifies key characteristics of a culturally at the Hellenic competent health service; Club Woden, the - proposes implementation measures to Minister of embed cultural responsiveness across the Multicultural organisation; Affairs Mrs Joy - establishes background and context; Burch MLA, recognised and rewarded collectively - provides and overview of the concepts of the multicultural champions in the Canberra region organisational cultural competence and at the 2014 Australian Capital Territory Centenary health literacy and summarises the Multicultural Awards. This event acknowledged evidence for health service responsiveness those individuals, organisations, educational to the needs of Culturally and Linguistically providers and government who help make Diverse communities, patients, carers and remarkable contributions to the ACT community consumers; through their work across the spectrum of - establishes guiding principles; Multicultural activities in arts, sports, schools, - proposes key focus areas for supporting health, information provision, law, human rights, actions; and the environment and more. - enables the organisation to identify gaps or barriers and report with confidence on Sandra, Nasreen and Yelin progress. enjoyed a fantastic African theme night with different Congratulations to the ACT Health Directorate! performances, exquisite dinner and the presentation of IAPO Newsletter awards. Congratulations to all The latest newsletter from the International Alliance award winners and in particular of Patient Organizations (IAPO) is now available to ACT Health Directorate for here. winning the Public Sector Award (see below for more details), the award was Changes to Health Records received by (Privacy & Access) Act 1997 Daniel Coase – Senior The ACT Health Directorate has recently increased Manager – Multicultural Health Policy Unit. a range of fees within the fee schedule under Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997. Public Sector Award - The Determination has been signed by the Minister ACT Health and will become effective on 1 January 2015. For a Directorate complete listing of Health Directorate’s fee The work of ACT schedule in relation to this Act, please visit the ACT Health is critical to the Legislation web site and refer to Disallowable long term health and Instruments DI2014-301. social outcomes for all members of our community including those members from a multicultural background. Palliative care services in Australia 2014 The ACT Health Multicultural Framework is an excellent example of a preventative health The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare framework which goes beyond core business and (AIHW) released a report in September 2014 that thinks about how to improve service to a key part identifies a rise in palliative care related hospital of the community. This Framework is more than admissions of 52% between 2002-03 and 2011-12.

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There were a total of 57,614 palliative care related specialists in palliative care, one is a general hospitalisations to public and private hospitals practitioner and the final commentary is from during the 2011-12 financial year, representing Professor Rhonda Nay who as we all know is one 0.6% of all hospitalisations. of Australia’s leading academics in aged care and This report provides a detailed picture of the formidable advocate for better care of older people. national response to the palliative care needs of Read the Communique online. Australians. National Drug Strategy Household Survey An online article incudes comments from AIHW detailed report: 2013 spokesperson Tim Beard who said ‘When a patient is in need of palliative care, it’s important that these This AIHW 2013 National Drug Strategy Household care needs are met as quickly as possible’ Survey report was released this week and shows ‘As in previous years, patients aged 75 years and that: over accounted for almost half (49.1%) of palliative - fewer Australians are smoking daily and are care hospitalisations for the 2011-12 financial smoking less cigarettes; year. ‘And over half (58%) of the total number of - fewer people are exceeding the lifetime risk and palliative care patients (about 17,200 patients) who single occasion risk guidelines for alcohol use; died during this period had a diagnosis of cancer.’ - overall illicit drug use has remained stable but For our members interested in Aged Care this some drugs have declined and some have report is illuminating. It has a section on palliative increased; care in residential aged care. - alcohol continues to be the drug of most concern to the community but an increasing number of Research indicates that, over the last 20 years, the people are concerned about meth/amphetamines proportion of people dying who are aged care residents is increasing (Giles et al. 2003). Further, Reconfiguring clinical services: the Productivity Commission report Caring for What is the evidence? Older Australians stated that palliative care is core The reconfiguration of clinical services continues to business for any aged care system (PC 2011). generate public and political interest. But what is driving the reconfiguration, and is it evidence- Residential aged care services face unique based? difficulties in administering palliative care, with residents often having dementia and/or A new report from The Kings Fund in the UK aims communication difficulties and comorbidities to assist the planning of major clinical service (NHMRC 2006). Patients in hospices are more reconfigurations to ensure that change is as likely than residents in aged care services to have evidence-based as possible. The report assesses a cancer diagnosis; conversely, residents in aged five key drivers of reconfiguration – quality, care services are more likely than hospice patients workforce, cost, access and technology – across to have a diagnosis of a chronic degenerative 13 service areas. Read more here. disease(s) (Gribich et al. 2005). The report is available on the AIHW website. Latest CHF Newsletters Aged Care Communiqué The Residential Aged Care Communiqué is The December issues of available online. The final issue for the year Consumers Shaping Health includes a supplement to cover the complex topics, and healthUPdate of goals-of-care and end-of-life in Residential Aged Consumers Health Forum, are Care Services. With the supplement we present now available here. Features four cases, four commentaries and a detailed list of in this month’s Consumers resources. Shaping Health include: The cases highlight different aspects of care at the end-of-life and some of the challenges around discussing these matters. The commentaries cover - CHF celebrates another year of success at a range of experiences. Three of the commentaries the AGM and Lecture in Honour are written by medical practitioners, two are

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- CHF welcomes new Board members UPCOMING HCCA EVENTS - Former CHF Chair awarded Honorary Life HCCA Consumer Reps Member New Year Celebration

We will celebrate our achievements in 2014 and discuss - Co-payment a budget barnacle our opportunities for 2015. Consumer Representatives - It's not a hand out, it's a hand up who attended conferences in 2014 will have the opportunity to present. Lunch will be provided and - Statement on the Review of Medicines transport assistance is available. Please advise of any and Medical Devices Regulation dietary requirements. - Health cuts will be even harsher for Date: Friday, 13 February 2015 (Tentative) mental health patients Venue: HCCA offices, 114 Maitland Street, Hackett CT - Improving Integrated Healthcare 2602 RSVP: to [email protected] or on - The evolution we need now 02 6230 7800.

Contact Us Services for People with Chronic Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc Conditions 100 Maitland St HACKETT ACT 2602 ACT Health has a range of services that 02 6230 7800 promote health, provide education and [email protected] improve self-management of people www.hcca.org.au with chronic diseases in the ACT and www.hcca-act.blogspot.com surrounding regions, including Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Obesity, Parkinsons Disease and other movement disorders. More information is available on the ACT Health website The Home Telemonitoring Service provides monitoring of vital signs in the patient's home over a telephone line. Please note that Consumer Bites provides a small snippet of health related articles our members might find This service is provided for patients with interesting to consider, ponder and analyse. The HCCA Diabetes, Chronic Heart Failure or does not purport to endorse any opinions or the veracity Chronic Lung Disease. This service has of claims contained within the articles. been incorporated into the CSIRO Home Monitoring of Chronic Disease Consumer Bites is the fortnightly newsletter from Health Trial Care Consumers’ Association ACT

Editor: Kathryn Briant

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