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As always it has been another busy period for Health Consumers Queensland, as we continue to extend our reach into the health system and our relationships with health consumers throughout the state.
I have been involved in a number of ongoing conversations, consultations and reforms on a range of consumer issues which are being explored including the use of medicinal cannabis, paid hospital parking and the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme. I look forward to bringing you more specific updates on these issues and more as they progress.
I am pleased to report that our ongoing advocacy around the use of transvaginal mesh continues to keep pace. We recently facilitated a workshop with Queensland Health staff and women who have been impacted to share their experiences and identify the services needed by women who are living with complications.
We recently had the opportunity to support further work into closing the gap in Indigenous maternal and child health outcomes when Health Consumers Queensland partnered with the Queensland Clinical Senate, the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and the Queensland Department of Health to deliver the Growing deadly families forums in Brisbane last month. These were very well attended forums with several high-level state and federal government and health services representatives, as well as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to share their experiences. We look forward to continuing our support for consumers to be involved in tangible outcomes from this process. For more information see below.
It’s been a busy period for Health Consumers Queensland staff as they continue to deliver a growing number of training and networking sessions. Our last bi-monthly Networking Session was held on 18 August and I was pleased to be able to present on the revised National Safety and Quality Health Care Standards, and in particular focus on Version 2 of the Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers. The revised versions were recently approved by all the state health ministers at their Council of the Australian Governments meeting. Information for consumers and health service staff on the revised versions are being prepared by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to be released by the end of the year. These new standards, which will come into effect by January 2019, will once again help to cement the partnership between health services and consumers.
Training opportunities for consumers and health professionals have also been ongoing as we strive to share the fundamentals of effective consumer partnerships so both parties have a true and common understanding of health literacy, the value of positive partnerships and the role, as well as the limits, of consumer representation. We are providing this training to hospitals and health services throughout Queensland. You can read about some of our recent training below.
We also have a continuous number of consumer opportunities advertised on our website and through our eAlerts. One of our fundamental roles is to support health consumers and carers to have a voice in the planning, implementation and evaluation of health policy, programs and services to achieve better health outcomes. You can read more about some of the latest opportunities by visiting our website for a more comprehensive list.
Melissa Fox
Chief Executive Officer
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Health Consumers Queensland News
- what have we been up to?
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Do you need support to participate in a Health Consumers Queensland activity?
Health Consumers Queensland values the voice of consumers in how health services are designed and delivered. The priority focus is on consumer engagement that influences and leads improvements and delivers better health outcomes for all Queenslanders.
We are also committed to ensuring that all our activities are as accessible as possible to encourage participation and involvement from any consumer wishing to be part of our networks, training and skills development programs, and consumer representative opportunities.
On request we can provide a broad range of supports, including captioning, hearing loops, interpreting and translating services. Our venues are selected to ensure physical accessibility for all, including accessible toilets, friendly public transport access, ramps and elevators where possible.
If you would like to attend one of our events or activities and require additional support please let us know via the online registration form, by email at consumer@hcq.org.au or by calling 07 3012 9090.
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Growing Deadly Families Forum
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Health Consumers Queensland partnered with the Queensland Clinical Senate, the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and the Queensland Department of Health to deliver the Growing Deadly Families forum in August which attracted more than 150 delegates including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and elders, health workers, clinicians and health system leaders.
The aim of the forum was for communities, clinicians and health systems leaders to work together to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through a healthier start to life.
The forum resulted in a number of key recommendations and outcomes being created, including the need for an integrated health system that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and changing the workforce to reflect the community and its needs.
The forum facilitated many important conversations between consumers and health system staff to talk about what has been working, what hasn’t, and how to move forward to improve the future of health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families.
Health Consumers Queensland was pleased to be part of this forum and to support the inclusion and involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to ensure they were heard and their experiences were valued.
Read the Queensland Clinical Senate’s latest communique about the forum here.
Read the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, The Hon Cameron Dick’s media statement about the Growing deadly families forum here. |
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Networking sessions for
consumer representatives:
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Our last bi-monthly Consumer Networking Session was held on Friday 18 August at Brisbane Square Library. These regular sessions are a chance for health consumers and carers working together with health services and organisations to share learnings and support each other.
Another networking session is scheduled for Wednesday 11 October 2017 in Brisbane in the Brisbane Square Library’s Community Meeting Room. Register online via Eventbrite or email us at consumer@hcq.org.au
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Following our August 18 networking session we provided a free training session for consumers and carers on the fundamentals of partnering with consumers.
This gave an overview of the fundamentals of consumer partnerships so health consumers and staff have a shared understanding of the principles of effective partnerships. It provided an understanding of key terms such as consumer, consumer-centred care, consumer engagement, and described the role (and limits) of consumer representation and the value of effective partnerships.
Darling Downs HHS
Staff and consumer training was held across the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service in mid-August. Fifteen people attended each training at Toowoomba and Kingaroy, and twelve people attended the training at Goondiwindi. Staff and consumers travelled from all over the hospital and health service to attend these three training sessions; some of the places people travelled from included Texas, Inglewood, Millmerran, Wandoan, Oakey and Warwick.
Torres and Cape HHS
Consumers and staff from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service met in Cairns recently and Health Consumers Queensland provided training for them. We had people attend the day from Weipa. Cooktown, Bamaga and a number of the Torres Strait islands. It was humbling to hear some of their stories about the challenges of receiving health care in their local communities.
Sunshine Coast HHS (as pictured above)
A combined training for both staff and consumer and carer representatives was held at Nambour Hospital on Friday 25 August. Twenty people attended the training facilitated by Health Consumers Queensland.
Partnering with Consumers Training for Department of Health staff
We continue our Partnering with Consumers training sessions for Department of Health staff with the most recent training held on 24 July for 24 participants.
Our next training for staff will be held on Monday 16 October from 9am to 12.30pm. The training is specifically for staff who are, or will be, partnering with consumers and carers within their work areas, or have a particular interest in learning more about consumer engagement.
*Please note that this training is available to Queensland Health staff only.
For further information please contact Health Consumers Queensland on consumer@hcq.org.au
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/consumer-engagement-training-for-department-of-health-staff-september-tickets-36299607102?aff=erelexpmlt
Upcoming Training Sessions
Training on Partnering with Consumers will be provided to Gold Coast HHS staff on 25 September and 23 October 2017. Staff interested in attending should email Gerald.May@health.qld.gov.au
Training is also being provided to staff at the Central West HHS in October.
Health services interested in receiving Partnering with Consumers training can contact Anne Curtis, Project Manager at anne.curtis@hcq.org.au
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Webinar survey: tell us what you want
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Reaching people in regional and remote areas of Queensland is a challenge. Webinars are a practical way for Health Consumers Queensland to reach people outside the south east corner. We’d like to hear whether webinars would be useful to you and your community, and what you would like to learn from them. You can do this via our online survey. If you are located outside of Brisbane, we would like to hear your views so that we can tailor our webinar program to suit your needs and interests. The survey is only a short one, and will help us to develop content that genuinely meets the needs of regional and remote communities.
Keep an eye out on future eNews editions and eAlerts for information about upcoming webinars.
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Health Consumers Queensland Network member shares experiences of travelling with her husband who has dementia
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ABC Radio National recently featured an audio article featuring Health Consumer Queensland Network member Glenys Petrie titled Navigating the joys and stresses of travel while living with dementia.
One of the joys of getting older and retiring, or pulling back on our working lives, is that for many of us it frees us up to travel.
But for people living with dementia, just the act of leaving home, getting in a taxi and arriving at an airport can cause all sorts of confusion and stress.
Maria O'Reilly is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Central Queensland University, and she has been working on a project with Brisbane Airport to make things a little easier for both those with dementia and their families and carers.
John Quinn and his wife Glenys Petrie share how they manage John's dementia when they pack up for a trip.
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Have your say: consultation open on
Venous Thromboembolism Prevention
Clinical Care Standard
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In collaboration with consumers, clinicians, researchers and health organisations, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a draft Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prevention Clinical Care Standard.
Clinical care standards can play an important role in guiding the delivery of appropriate care and reducing unwarranted variation, as they identify and define the care people should expect to be offered, regardless of where they are treated in Australia. They target areas of variation where improvement can be made.
Consultation on the draft VTE Prevention Clinical Care Standard and associated resources is open now until Saturday 30 September 2017.
You can provide submissions via online survey or by email.
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Ask the Experts Webcast –
Prostate Cancer: What you need to know
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Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) invites you to attend our Ask the Experts Webcast. Join in for an engaging panel discussion with leading health professionals and be informed on what you need to know about prostate cancer.
The webcast will take place on Wednesday 20 September 2017 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (AEST). Join in from your computer, smart phone or tablet. Registration is essential. Click here to register.
Hosted by SBS presenter Ricardo Goncalves, this interactive forum will cover key topics such as risk factors and diagnosis; navigating different options after a diagnosis; treatment and management of side effects; support available to men and their families; and questions from the audience.
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Need an excuse for a night out? Watch a film and meet the father of palliative care in India
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Palliative Care Queensland, together with its partners, is bringing the story of Dr Raj – a small man with a big dream: a pain-free India - to Brisbane during World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2017.
Hippocratic is a feature-length film exploring the life story of this acclaimed Indian physician, Dr MR Rajagopal. From cowardly child to fearless visionary, this compelling tale sees its hero come full-circle to rediscover the first principals of medicine. This exquisite first-person account tells the story of an extraordinary global health leader in Dr MR Rajagopal, or Dr Raj, who is described by the New York Times as ‘the father of palliative care in India’. There will be Q&A session with Dr MR Rajagopal and Dr Carol Douglas following the film.
When: Monday, 16 October 2017, 6:30 PM
Tickets: $20
Where: Palace Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane
Book now: https://tickets.demand.film/event/2090
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The Queensland Government’s My health for life program is offering eligible participants a structured six-month lifestyle modification program to support positive lifestyle changes in order to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lifestyle related cancers.
It will cover areas such as:
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Quitting smoking.
Flexible support options will include over-the-phone health coaching, group programs and online support. The program is free and can be personalised to suit each individual’s needs. Community groups and health professionals are also encouraged to find out more about the program and supporting others to get involved and ‘taking small steps to achieve great health results’.
Click here to see if you are eligible for the My health for life program or for more information.
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You are invited to MND Connect 2017 – a free and interactive forum connecting people impacted by motor neurone disease (MND) with Australian’s leading MND researchers.
The 3rd MND Connect 2017 forum will be held on Saturday 11 November at The University of Sydney, following the 13th MND Australia Research Conference on November 10. The forum will take place from 10am to 2.30pm in the Charles Perkins Centre Auditorium, with morning tea and lunch provided.
The program will cover the topics of ‘Understanding MND and finding effective treatments’ and ‘The clinic and beyond’. Click here for a copy of the program.
Presentations from the forum will be recorded and made available online.
Registration to this free event is essential, RSVP by Tuesday 31 October online here or by calling 02 8287 4980. Enquiries can be emailed to rachelr@mndaustralia.org.au
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Focused workshops to develop regional plan
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Brisbane North PHN is hosting a series of focused workshops to help develop the regional plan for mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment. Bringing together people with expertise and a stake or interest in the issue, each two and a half hour workshop will explore what is known about the issue, current challenges and actions that should be progressed through the plan.
The workshops are free to attend but places are limited. The workshops are as follows:
Click each workshop title for a link to the registration page, and more information about the location and workshop specifics.
For any enquiries, please email Program Support Officer Mary Smareglia on Mary.Smareglia@brisbanenorthphn.org.au or phone 3630 7350.
The outcomes from these workshops will be added to the outcomes from the Brisbane North PHN’s whole-of-community symposia and the development of chapters currently underway for the regional plan (young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, psychological services, people with severe mental illness, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug treatment).
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Primary Health Networks (PHN) have been tasked with helping reform the mental health system through the implementation of a stepped care approach. But what is stepped care?
Brisbane North PHN has produced a short video and consultation paper to explain its approach to stepped care to date and to seek input.
At its heart, stepped care is about understanding the needs of individual consumers and providing them with services and supports which best match their level of need. Services need to be available across the spectrum from prevention and early intervention to mild mental illness through to those with severe and complex issues.
Recent commissioning of new mental health services has occurred within a stepped care approach and the development of the regional plan for mental health is happening within this framework.
You are invited to view the video and then read the consultation paper which includes a number of questions. You can provided feedback to these questions through an online survey, discussion forum, or by submitting your written comment to myvoice@brisbanenorthphn.org.au
The deadline for feedback is 30 September 2017.
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Top tips translated for safe health care
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The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has launched an updated version of its popular guide to help consumers get the most out of their health care treatment and consultations. The guide called Top tips for safe health care, has been translated into the following 15 languages:
- Arabic
- Chinese - Simplified
- Chinese - Traditional
- Farsi
- German
- Greek
- Hindi
- Italian
- Korean
- Macedonian
- Punjabi
- Spanish
- Tagalog
- Turkish
- Vietnamese
The translations were completed by accredited translators, then tested and approved by members of each linguistic community to ensure the information is culturally appropriate and easy to understand.
The Top Tips is designed to help consumers, their families, carers and other support people get the most out of their health care.
It is available in a guide that provides practical advice on:
- Asking questions to understand more about your health and treatment options
- Finding good-quality health information
- Understanding the risks and benefits of tests, treatments and procedures
- Confirming what will happen before and after an operation or other procedure.
Helping consumers to be involved in planning and making decisions about their care helps to create partnerships between consumers and health providers.
The translated Top Tips for Safe Health Care guide and infographic are available to download and print or share from the Commission’s website: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/toptips/
For more information about the Top Tips, contact the Commission’s communication’s team here or call 02 9126 3600.
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Health Minister hears consumer case
for health reform
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Twenty consumer health leaders from around Australia met with the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt in August in Melbourne to press for greater Government focus on the value of consumer-centred primary care.
In a Roundtable coordinated by the Consumers Health Forum (CHF), Minister Hunt was presented with an issues paper setting out consumer priorities for a National Health Plan. Consumer priorities for the Plan centre on two essential starting points:
- Reforms to strengthen Australia’s primary health care system to make it more consumer-centred, prevention-orientated, and better integrated with hospital and social care and with more capacity to support transitions of care;
- Boosts to investment in health systems research, shaped by consumer and community priorities to stimulate services that reflect advances in health sciences.
The full Consumer Priorities for a National Health Plan can be downloaded here, or a one-page summary report is available here. |
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Do you know of a consumer engagement story that we could share in this e-News? We welcome your input.
If you have a great consumer story, or anything else you’d like us to include in the e-News, please contact Health Consumers Queensland at consumer@hcq.org.au or call us on (07) 3012 9090.
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