Hunter's Best

New campaign to combat worrying Chlamydia increase

Source: Hunter New England Health

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and it’s on the increase. In the Hunter New England Health region the number of reported cases has more than doubled over the past five years.

In 2007 there were 1,751 reported cases of Chlamydia, while in 2006 there were 1857 cases. This is compared to 402 cases in 1999.

$1 million puts dizziness research on solid ground

Source: University of Newcastle

Dr Alan Brichta from the University of Newcastle has received a massive $1 million boost to continue his groundbreaking research into dizziness - a disorder affecting nearly half of Australia's population over the age of 60.

A Senior/Principal Research Fellowship from The Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation will support Dr Brichta's work into how balance signals are generated in the inner ear organs and the way this information is transmitted to the brain.

Newcastle University - State-of-the-art health teaching facility unveiled

Source: University of Newcastle

State-of-the-art simulated hospital wards that will give students a leading edge in their medical training will be unveiled at the University of Newcastle Central Coast campus today.

The purpose-built health skills laboratory features two five-bed hospital wards including preparation areas and a tutorial room. The laboratory will be used by nursing and health sciences students as part of their clinical training.

HMRI - News Article: Australia and China collaborate to identify new stroke treatments

Source: HMRI

The latest technology from China and clinical and imaging expertise in the Hunter have been brought together in a bid to minimise the devastating impact of stroke.

A team from Harbin Medical University (HMU) in Northern China is this week meeting with the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Stroke Research Group to advance research into cooling the brain after a stroke, through a world first acute stroke research partnership between Australia and China.

NSW Health - New respite available for carers of people with mental health issues

Source: Hunter New England Health

A new mental health respite program for the Hunter is taking the pressure off those looking after a person with a mental illness.

Under the Federal Government’s Mental Health Respite Program, respite funding is now available specifically for carers of people with mental health issues.

In October 2007, additional funding was provided to the Hunter Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre, a part of Hunter New England Health.

Mental Health Respite Coordinator Don Thorn said the increased funding is about people who care for a person with a mental illness the opportunity to live an independent life, while caring for a friend or loved one.

The Ultimate Xmas Gift - Giving Blood

Source: Australian Red Cross

There is no need to spend hours on end shopping for the perfect gift this year– head to your nearest Donor Centre or mobile unit and give blood. After all, it’s the ultimate gift – life!

With every blood donation helping to save three lives, you can give a special gift to those in need of blood or blood products over the holiday period.

According to Michelle Buxton (Nurse Unit Manager of The Newcastle Donor Centre), the need for blood doesn’t take a holiday:

“With fewer collection days due to the holiday breaks we need to ensure there is enough blood for those in need over Christmas.” Ms Buxton said.

Study warns of hospital poisoning danger

Source: University of Newcastle

New international research has highlighted the potential danger of using of alcohol-based hand rub in hospitals, prompting calls to increase the security of hand rub dispensers.

The research, published in this week's British Medical Journal, was conducted by experts from London's Guys and St Thomas Hospital and the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Professor of Medicine and Toxicology at the University of Newcastle, Professor Alison Jones, said it was the first time experts had looked at the potential dangers of using alcohol-based rubs.

Pulling the players together to reduce falls injuries

Source: Hunter New England Area Health Service

While opening the health service’s inaugural Falls Injury Prevention Forum today, Hunter New England Health Acting Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons highlighted some startling figures.

Every day about 165 older people present to one of Hunter New England Health’s emergency departments following a fall and as many as 14 of these people die each year as a result of their fall.

"Based on projections, if we do not act on preventing the number of falls now, we will need 800 additional hospitals beds and 1200 residential aged care beds in the next 40 years in NSW. This is just to cater for the expected increase in falls events resulting from the demographic trends of an ageing population," Dr Lyons said.

Sun bed tanning not safe, researchers warn

Source: Hunter Medical Research Institute

Sun beds are not a safe way to get a tan, Hunter researchers are reminding the community during National Skin Cancer Action Week (November 18-24).

“The relationship between exposure to ultraviolet radiation and skin cancers has been well documented, but our research indicates that there may be many people who use solariums without being fully aware of associated risks,” said Dr Christine Paul from the Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology (CHeRP*), a collaboration between the Cancer Council NSW and the University of Newcastle.

Researchers from CHeRP, in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI**) Public Health Research Program, conducted a study to establish the proportion of solariums in NSW which complied with Australian and International standards on solarium use.

Hunter research aims to improve diabetes care

Source: Hunter Medical Research Institute

Research being conducted through the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) aims to improve the health of children with Type 1 diabetes.

The Hunter has the highest incidence in Australia of Type 1 Diabetes, with about 30 children diagnosed per 100,000 children. The average in Australia is around 20 children per 100,000. Type 1 diabetes in children is on the increase throughout the world. The cause of diabetes is not known but it is thought to be linked to genetic and environmental factors.

Carmel Smart, a Senior Paediatric Endocrine Dietician at Kaleidoscope’s John Hunter Children’s Hospital, is investigating the best ways of educating children with Type 1 diabetes and their families to eat the right foods and administer appropriate insulin doses.