Mrs Pavey attended the United Hospital Auxiliaries (UHA) 78th Annual Conference today at the Ballina RSL Club to congratulate the volunteers for their considerable contribution.

“The continued dedication of UHA volunteers enhances the experience of patients, their families and communities in NSW Health Services,” Mrs Pavey said.

As a result of the work done by Auxiliary members, more than $9.2 million has been raised for NSW Health Services. Over the last financial year, more than 6000 UHA volunteers worked a combined total of more than 800,000 hours.

“This is a significant achievement and I would like to thank the UHA volunteers for the important work they do in both fundraising and providing support and comfort to patients,” she said.

Activities undertaken by UHA volunteers include:

Providing patient care and support services such as the Grandparents Program, flower arranging, clothes washing, letter writing and shopping.

Fundraising activities such as cake and jam stalls, kiosks, gift shops, fashion parades, car rallies and boot sales. 

Day care support including patient transport, aerobics and art/craft groups.

The funds raised allow for the purchase a range of equipment and amenities for the benefit of patients, their carers, communities and staff.

The UHA was established in 1933 as the ‘peak’ body coordinating hospital auxiliaries across NSW.

An innovative Southern Cross University research project is investigating the link, in partnership with an aged care provider and a comedian.

Associate Professor John Stevens from the University’s School of Health and Human Services, Baptist Community Services NSW & ACT (BCS) and local comedian Mandy Nolan have received a $47,528 Federal Government Community Dementia grant to roll out the ‘Stand up for dementia: performance and humour as recreation and therapy’ project over the next six months as part of an ongoing dementia community service at the BCS Care Centre at Alstonville.

Associate Professor Stevens said the research would build on the results of a pilot program run in August last year that his wife, Mandy Nolan, facilitated.

“After a few sessions we were seeing these participants with dementia becoming a cohesive social group, laughing and enjoying each other’s company,” said Professor Stevens.

“But what was striking, individuals were starting to remember lines and routines from week to week. This is not expected from people with dementia.

“One woman, in particular, with severe short-term memory problems, hadn’t spoken in two years. But relatives were gobsmacked when they came to the final performance concert to see her up on the stage performing and laughing.”

BCS community services manager Tarnya Daniels said her organisation was excited about the research partnership.

“Baptist Community Services NSW & ACT is committed to improving the lives of older Australians,” said Ms Daniels.

“We received overwhelming positive responses from clients, carers and family members. Our clients were having a wonderful time filling the room with laughter and enjoying the role plays and feeling a sense of belonging within the group. We saw a therapeutic benefit not only for the clients but for carers as well.”

The project will seek to understand why performance-based humour activities have a therapeutic effect.

“One theory is perhaps the laughter is reducing inflammation within the brain that allows pathways to open up to memory again,” said Professor Stevens.

“Or perhaps it’s because we’re tapping into older memories of characters from when they were younger. Whatever is happening, the outcomes are extraordinary.”

Mandy Nolan teaches comedy to people of all ages, but she too was surprised by how well people with dementia responded.

“People with dementia live in the moment so they’re very good at improvisation. I adapted the comedy routines to be theatre sports based, using role plays and tapping into people’s history and life stories. Instantly everyone’s laughing and engaged,” Ms Nolan said.

“I think when you have dementia you spend a lot of time improvising in life because that’s how you survive. It’s actually their strongest skill.

“They’re sometimes better than a group without dementia because the loss of inhibition is appropriate for the kind of exercises I do. The more uninhibited you are, the better you’ll be.”

The funding allows for two eight-week workshops in stand-up comedy, improvisation and performance for people with mild to moderate dementia. The participants are existing community care clients of BCS and other service providers.

At the same time, Ms Nolan is developing and delivering a train-the-trainers program for future facilitators of the ‘Stand up for dementia’ program.

“The aim is for anyone with experience in working with people with dementia and a theatrical or performance background to take this respite care activity more widely into the community,” she said.

PICTURE: Standing up for dementia are Associate Professor John Stevens, comedian Mandy Nolan and Baptist Community Services’ Tarnya Daniels.

“I am very pleased that after lobbying for so long to once again have a mobile breast screening van to enable women in Ballina and Byron Bay to be screened, it will happen,” Mr Page said.

“It is anticipated the mobile van will be in Ballina and Byron Bay next January. Women who have difficulty accessing the fixed screening units at Lismore or Tweed Heads can be screened locally in Ballina and Byron Bay at that time.

“The change of heart by NCAHS follows sustained lobbying by the community, their representatives and a meeting a few weeks ago with NCAHS where Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, myself and local women from Ballina made the case for a return of the mobile breast screening unit to Ballina, Byron Bay and Casino.

“Early detection of breast cancer saves thousands of lives. The mobile breast screening vans will be a big factor in early detection.”

The announcements were part of a two-day visit to the region, which included a tour and health reform forum at the Ballina District Hospital, a visit to Lismore Base Hospital and Campbell Hospital in Coraki; and a health reform forum at the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health.

The funding announcements include:

• Establishing a 12-bed rehabilitation and aged care service in Ballina, built into an existing ward at Ballina Hospital.
• $242,400 to purchase emergency department equipment for Ballina District Hospital including an ultrasound machine, mechanical ventilator, and cardiac monitoring.

Everyone is encouraged to protect themselves and their families by being vaccinated against pandemic influenza.

Globally there have been almost 16,000 deaths associated with pandemic influenza, with 191 deaths in Australia.

NCAHS said that last winter more than 70 people on the North Coast were hospitalised after contracting ‘swine flu’ and two of these people died.

It is especially important that people at increased risk of severe illness from influenza, and those who care for them, are vaccinated.

This includes children under 5 years of age, pregnant women (particularly in second and third trimester), people who are very overweight and people with chronic medical conditions. Aboriginal people may also be at increased risk of severe illness.

People may be vaccinated by their General Practitioner or Aboriginal Medical Service or attend one of the clinics being run by the Area Health Service. While the vaccine is free, your GP may charge a consultation fee.

No appointment is necessary for the free clinics being run by the Area Health Service as follows:

Tuesday, 27 April Ballina Hospital – Main reception 10:00am to 1:30pm, 2.30pm to 5:00pm
Wednesday, 28 April Ballina Hospital – Main reception 12:00md to 4:00pm, 5:00pm to 7.30pm
Thursday, 29 April Ballina Hospital – Main reception 7:30am to 11:00am, 12:00md to 3:00pm
Wednesday, 5 May Ballina Hospital – Main reception 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm
Thursday, 6 May Ballina Hospital – Emergency Depart 12:00md to 4:00pm, 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Friday, 7 May Ballina Hospital – Main reception 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm
Saturday, 8 May Ballina Hospital – Emergency Depart 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm
Tuesday, 11 May Ballina Hospital – Main reception 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm
Wednesday, 12 May Ballina Hospital – Main reception 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm
Thursday, 13 May Ballina Hospital – Main reception 8:00am to 12:00md, 1:00pm to 3.30pm

NCAHS says it is important to protect yourself, your family and the community by being vaccinated. For more information about immunisation against H1N1 or the vaccine please see the NSW Health website: www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu

The flu vaccine remains free for those aged 65 years.

It has been extended to cover Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 to 64 years; Australians aged six months to 64 years who are at risk of severe outcomes from seasonal influenza, such as those with chronic conditions, including cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, renal failure and impaired immunity; and pregnant women.

Pregnant women are at high risk of serious complications following an infection with influenza, particularly the pandemic H1N1 influenza strain (swine flu). In 2009, 279 pregnant women were hospitalised in Australia due to pandemic influenza. Some pregnant women had severe complications and died or miscarried.

This year’s seasonal flu vaccine includes the H1N1 strain plus two other strains. Seasonal flu vaccine is recommended to those that have already had H1N1. It will act as a booster plus provide protection against the two other flu strains. 

A second wave of H1N1 influenza is expected this winter. It is highly recommended to have either the seasonal flu vaccination or the H1N1 vaccine that is free for everyone over six months of age.

The Northern Rivers General Practice Network’s GP Executive Manager, Dr Dan Ewald, explained the need to take up the vaccination.

“It is important for people to understand that the H1N1 (swine flu), though not responsible for a particularly different death rate to seasonal flu, does tend to strike well young people who normally would not be greatly troubled by seasonal flu,” he said.

Dr Ewald also pointed out that seasonal flu was responsible for a great many deaths each year in Australia and was not a trivial problem.

Ms Saffin said the funding will allow the University to expand its rural placements in Ballina.

“Dental services in our region have been under-resourced for years, and I lobbied strongly for this joint proposal by the University of Sydney Dental School, NSW Health Centre for Oral Health Strategy and the North Coast Area Health Service,” she said.

“The $722,000 will go towards the total project cost of $1,172,000 for the expansion of the Ballina Hospital Dental Clinic and the opening of a student training facility and outreach clinic.

“The Sydney Dental Student Outreach Clinic will provide opportunities for dental students to live, work and train in our region and help attract more people to work in our community.

“This project is one of 22 rural education infrastructure projects being announced by the Rudd Government across Australia to boost rural training opportunities for health, dental and allied health students in rural communities.

“These projects are an important part of the Government’s strategy to build our rural health workforce of the future.

“I am delighted to be able to announce a project here in Ballina, and Professor Anthony Blinkhorn, the Head of Population Oral Health at the University of Sydney, has told me he is over the moon about the news that this proposal can go ahead.

“There’s a long waiting list for access to public dental facilities in our area, and these new facilities will provide an increase in clinical services to help treat some of those people who are in desperate need.

“Since the Howard Government axed the Commonwealth dental health program in 1997, there’s been a huge gap in our public dental health services, with some 650,000 people across Australia on public dental waiting lists.

“The Rudd Government introduced legislation for a Commonwealth Dental Health Program to provide $290 million to fund public dental visits, including about $2 million for dental visits in our region, but the bill remains blocked in the Senate by the National and Liberal Party Senators.”

PICTURE: Janelle Saffin at Ballina Dental Clinic with (from left) Denise Harrison, the clinic’s Senior Dental Therapist, Greg Davies, Clinical Director of the Oral Health program for North Coast Area Health Service, and 7-year-old Soleil Ashford in the dentist’s chair.

Page MP Janelle Saffin met Sarah and her mother, Denise, in her Parliamentary office on Thursday morning and then joined them at the Kids in the House lunch with the other youth ambassadors, their supporters and many Members of Parliament. 

Ms Saffin said in the electorate of Page there are more than 950 young people with type 1 diabetes,

“Australia has one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes in the world, and the rate of new cases in children is increasing by 3 per cent a year,” she said.

“At the lunch we discussed this alarming statistic and the clear need for more research to find the cause and a cure.

“The CEO of JDRF appealed for a national research program, costing $40 million, to which the JDRF is putting $10 million.

“A number of young people told their personal stories, and moved many of us to tears. But along with the despair there was lots of hope and optimism.

“At my table, in addition to Sarah, were two young boys, not much more than toddlers and they were so delightful, in the matter-of-fact way that they dealt with their type 1 diabetes. 

“We were asked to prick our finger tip, to get a feel for what these children do up to 10 times per day and they laughed when I let out a loud ‘ouch’ when Sarah pricked my finger! 

“Sarah has been to see me in Lismore to discuss support for type 1 diabetes and she is dedicated to lobbying and raising awareness of the illness.

“I was delighted when I heard that Sarah was chosen as one of the youth ambassadors for this event, and I would like to congratulate for being such an active advocate.

“Both the Prime MinisterKevin Ruddand the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, attended the function, showing the strong commitment the Rudd Government has for supporting people with diabetes.

“The Government has set up the type 1 diabetes Insulin Pump program, to help families managing this illness.

“Insulin pumps are expensive, ranging in cost from $4000 to $8000, and last month the Government announced an increase in the maximum subsidy from $2500 to $6400, for eligible families.

“An insulin pump significantly improves the health of users by making it easier to control their condition and live regular, healthy, active lives.

“I have told Sarah I will support measures for further research into type 1 diabetes.

PICTURE: 15-year-old Sarah Moore (centre) with her mother Denise Moore (left) and Janelle Saffin MP and Ryan Lum (front) at the Kids in the House lunch at Parliament House in Canberra.

Greens MP Ian Cohen will ask Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt about improving access for all Northern Rivers women to the new breast screen machines that are at Tweed Heads and Lismore, while Member for Ballina Don Page (pictured) has submitted a petition to State Parliament seeking the return of mobile screening vans.

Mr Cohen supports the concerns of residents who are protesting the removal of mobile screening units that serviced Ballina, Byron Bay, Lennox Head and Casino.

Women in the area now have to go to fixed breast screening units at Lismore or Tweed Heads for a mammogram.
 
“I will be putting Questions on Notice to the Health Minister because I am concerned about a reduction of access to breast screening services,” Mr Cohen said.

“I raised this issue in Parliament during Breast Cancer Awareness Week last year. I also wrote to the Minister about the issue. She assured me then that the mobile units have been replaced by state-of-the-art breast screening machines at Lismore and Tweed Heads.
 
“I will be asking the Health Minister further questions to determine whether these new machines could be put into mobile units. Women would then have the advantage of the new technology and the increased access that the mobile unit provides.
 
“Not all women in the Northern Rivers area have a car; there is poor public transport in the area and many women will find it very difficult to get to their nearest screening centre.
 
“It is important to increase the number of women who are coming to be screened for breast cancer. I am especially concerned about women from Indigenous communities in less accessible areas such as Cabbage Tree Island, for whom travel to Lismore is quite an expedition.
 
“Local women report that when there was a van in Ballina, a mammogram was a quick examination that took around 15 minutes. Just to travel to Lismore from Ballina will take 40 minutes each way.
 
“The message of all breast cancer awareness campaigns is that early detection is of paramount importance in determining a woman’s survival and recovery from the disease.

“I will be asking the Minister if the return of the mobile BreastScreen units can provide better health outcomes for women by making screening easier to access.”

Ballina MP Don Page has submitted a petition to the NSW Parliament containing over 1300 signatures of local people opposed to the removal of mobile breast screening on the Far North Coast.

The terms of the petition brought to the NSW Labor Government’s attention:

That the mobile Breast Screen Units have been removed from many areas of the North Coast Area Health Service;

This removal is disadvantaging women in these areas and reducing their chances of an early diagnosis of breast cancer due to the difficulty experienced in trying to get to a fixed screening unit;

An early diagnosis greatly increases a woman’s chance of survival; and

Already less than 50% of eligible women are being screened.
 
Mr Page said it was important to keep the campaign for reinstatement of the mobile breast screening vans active because it would save lives.
“I’ve raised the issue many times in Parliament and I will continue to put this important issue before the State Labor Government,” he said.

The issue was first raised by Mr Page in March last year and the campaign to have the mobile service returned has been growing ever since.

“My office is consistently contacted by concerned residents who can no longer access the mobile breast screen service. Many of them have difficulty accessing the fixed services in Lismore or Tweed Heads due to lack of transport, work and family commitments,” Mr Page said.

One in eight Australian women will develop breast cancer, with over 12,000 women diagnosed every year.

There is a rally today in Ballina and Byron Bay to protest against the loss of the mobile breast screen vans since June 2008.

“Parliament is sitting, so unfortunately I can’t be there to support the rally today. I will be continuing to raise this issue in Parliament as I have this week,” Mr Page said.

Be there at 4pm for the opening ceremony. Join the cancer survivors in their lap of honour and celebrate those who have survived. Then at 8pm join in the hope ceremony where we remember those who have lost their fight against cancer. Continue around the oval until 10am on Sunday join in the walk and fight back against cancer.

One Day, One Night, One Community, One Fight

Ballina Relay for Life