Ballina Information Blog

Page MP Janelle Saffin wants to hear from Ballina women who have been affected by the end of the mobile BreastScreen service to their town. Ms Saffin says health services should be making it easier, not harder, for women to have regular breast screening. “In Australia 12,000 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer, [...]

Member for Ballina Don Page and Member for Lismore Thomas George have engaged in a campaign to increase people’s awareness of the current whooping cough epidemic and the importance of being immunised. Mr Page and Mr George are encouraging all parents to vaccinate their children (after two months of age) and adults to get a [...]

The Whiddon Group’s Home Independence Program is now open for business in Ballina Shire, and is helping older people to live safely and independently in their own homes. The program run by the not-for-profit group provides a broad range of services for clients, such as personal care assistance, housekeeping, home maintenance, home modifications, nursing care, [...]

Do you like walking, want to keep or become fit while learning more about your local community and environment? Then why not become a National Heart Foundation Walk Organiser and lead a group to good health in the Ballina Shire area?  The ‘National Heart Foundation Walking Program’ is a free walking program that aims to [...]

The New South Wales Government needs to immediately guarantee adequate and appropriate funding to the North Coast Area Health Service, the Member for Ballina, Don Page said today. “For a few years now we have known the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) has not received its share of money, and now that has been [...]

The North Coast Area Health Service last week issued a health alert, warning people, especially parents, to be on the look-out for the symptoms of whooping cough following a worrying increase in cases across the NSW North Coast. Director of the North Coast Public Health, Paul Corben, said whooping cough can be unpleasant for people [...]

Member for Ballina Don Page today urged the local community to have their say by voicing their concerns about the NSW health system to the Special Commission of Inquiry. “I encourage anyone who has concerns about the treatment that they or their loved ones have received to make a submission to the Special Commission of [...]

With the summer holiday season upon us, The Cancer Council NSW is aiming to dispel the myths around skin cancer. While most Australians are aware of the Slip, Slop, Slap message, there are still some common misconceptions regarding skin cancer out there. “The Cancer Council NSW Helpline receives around 4000 calls each year related to [...]

By increasing the number of women having a Pap smear every two years, the Northern Rivers General Practice Network hopes to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the region. “In up to 90% of cases, two-yearly Pap smears can prevent the most common form of cervical cancer,” said Dr Dan Ewald, spokesman for the [...]

A new mental health service for general practice patients has just opened in Lismore. The Northern Rivers General Practice Network has established the service for eligible patients who have been referred by their GP. It is staffed by qualified mental health professionals. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to the expansion of mental [...]