Author: Ashleigh Brissett

Point of Care Test(POCT)s are already used widely in many of our member services for chronic disease (HbA1c, ACR) and infectious disease including respiratory (COVID 19, influneza, RSV) and sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis). Other POCT for Blood Borne viruses such as Hep C and HIV are also available and these and other POCT e.g. Strep A are likely to becomeeven more accessible and available in primary care settings.  

If you are currently using POCT as part of your service delivery including billing Medicare items for these tests, it is important to ensure your accreditation is current and in line with RACGP Point of care Standards. This isespecially important if you do not participate in the the QAAMS program and are billing point-of-care testing items 73812 and 73826, You will find the RACGP Point of Care Accreditation Standards here.  

If you have any further questions regarding this, please get in touch with Publichealth@ahmrc.org.au 

Ensuring food security stands as a key objective in closing the gap & enhancing the health and welfare of our communities. AH&MRC actively engages in Food Security Strategy Workgroups at both state and national levels and the commencement of Nicki Turner who was an author of Evidence Check for improving food security in Aboriginal communities in NSW has strengthened our capacity to contribute. But it is your voices that we are eager to hear to make sure we are providing genuine community representation. 

As our member services are part of the community, we want to connect with you to understand any challenges being faced accessing food in your community  and put forward your ideas to address these challenges.  We are interested in learning about existing programs and strategies in your local area, such as the “Food and Water for Life” initiative by the Dhariwaa Elders Group and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, a community-driven effort for sustainable food and water security. 

The knowledge you share regarding food security issues and/or successful food security programs will be used to guide our contributions to state and national level discussions to support food security for all our communities in NSW. 

Please reach out to our team via email publichealth@ahmrc.org.au to share your insights and help us to support your work strengthening the health and well-being of your community. 

There is a shortage of Lyclear (Permethrin 5% cream) around Australia. Limited stock will be available at wholesalers until the end of May 2024 and expected to resolve in July 2024.  

Reach Pharmaceuticals has received approval under Section 19A (S19A) of the Therapeutic Goods Act to import supply of permethrin (Encube) 5% cream from the USA until 31 October 2024 see this LINK. The S19A alternative is identical in active ingredient, strength and storage conditions to the Australian registered products but differs in tube size and additives.   

Below are options to order the product as follows: 

• Complete the new customer account form (for new REACH customers) and return it to use (by email to sales@reach-pharma.com) with your order quantity. A minimum order quantity of $250 is required in order to waive the $20 freight fee 
• Order through our online SHOP at https://www.reach-pharma.com/ . Order will incur a minimum of $16 shipping fee. 
• Direct your patient to our online SHOP at https://www.reach-pharma.com/  for orders, as this is an unscheduled OTC product and can be purchased by the patient. 

Cost is: PERMETHRIN – permethrin cream 5% 60g w/w cream (Encube) 

S19A price is $45 ex-GST Expiry is 31/10/2026 or whatever is available at the time of order receipt 

Alternative treatments….  

NACCHO recommends consulting references such as Therapeutic Guidelines and the National Healthy Skin Guideline 2nd edition for alternate treatments. These references suggest Ivermectin can be used first line for scabies in most patient groups, on PBS. “Oral ivermectin 200micrograms/kg for children over the age of 5 years (or over 15kg) and for non-pregnant/non-breastfeeding adults. Repeat the dose in 7 days.”  

See page 59: https://infectiousdiseases.telethonkids.org.au/resources/skin-guidelines/  

Benzyl benzoate (Benzemul) it is a second line treatment because it can potentially cause skin reactions. It is also in shortage.   

 

The cooler months are upon us and we want to ensure that messaging for Respiratory Infections including influenza, COVID and RSV remains our focus.  

All family members from 6 months and over are eligible for the annual influenza vaccine. Visit our previous article on what to expect for the 2024 influenza season for more information. 

COVID still remains a threat with increasing notifications and presentations to Emergency Departments across NSW in recent weeks. Our elders and adults with chronic medical conditions are particularly at risk of severe illness and can be protected by staying up to date with COVID vaccination. To assist with clinical decision making, you can find useful resources here.

The NSW Health 2024 Respiratory Illness Campaign Communications Toolkit seeks to promote flu vaccination to everyone in the NSW community (aged 6 months and over) by emphasising the benefits and ease of getting vaccinated, while also raising awareness and understanding of other respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 and RSV. The toolkit contains key messages, newsletter copy, media releases, factsheets, social media tiles and videos, digital and printed materials. It includes tailored assets for Aboriginal communities.

And for our babies born after 31st October 2023 there is a new RSV immunisation called Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab) to help stop severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies under 12 months. This immunisation can be given at the hospital before newborns go home or at your ACCHO and should be recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR); ordering is through normal vaccination ordering systems. More information is available via this LINK.

We have a variety of resources to assist community messaging on respiratory infections on our website here. If you would like hard copies, please contact Publichealth@ahmrc.org.au and we will arrange for delivery to your service. 

For our members who submitted an EOI for the 2024 Winter Immunisation Grant, you should have received an email entailing the steps to receive your grant money. If you have completed these steps, you will shortly be receiving these funds. 

We know these grants will support the amazing effort your services make in protecting your communities. If you have any feedback or photos of your influenza vaccination programs please feel free to share with us at Publichealth@ahmrc.org.au so we can feature in our future Public Health Newsletters.