Wound care levels up with telehealth option

A wound care clinician who can work with isolated health care teams to treat wounds and serious skin conditions from hundreds of kilometres away has given some Torres Strait patients a new lease on life, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman says.

Clinical nurse consultant Neenu Antony started work on Thursday Island in February after relocating with her young family.

Based at Thursday Island Hospital, Ms Antony used Telehealth to treat many of her patients with her service extended to the Torres Strait outer islands and the Northern Peninsula Area.

Doctors, nurses, health workers and allied health staff call Ms Antony when someone with a complex wound presented in their clinics.

She has been able give live expert advice, along with support for staff to apply the correct treatment or dressing.

“I want to thank Ms Antony for the vital support she is offering this community,” Minister Fentiman said.

“Having staff with this expert knowledge is such an asset and further improves health equity for those in our remote communities.

“Given the complex skin conditions often seen in the Torres Strait and the comorbidities many patients in the region have, Ms Anthony’s knowledge and skills are already proving invaluable.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said Ms Antony’s efforts had improved the quality of life of Torres Strait patients.

“We are seeing telehealth uptake continue to grow within the Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula Area as patients realise the benefits of being able to be treated without having to leave their community,” she said.

“The Torres & Cape Hospital and Health Service now has three wound care nurses working across the region, based at Cooktown and Weipa, as well as Ms Anthony on Thursday Island.”

Ms Anthony said Telehealth reduced waiting time and avoided unnecessary travel.

“Staff provide referrals and forward pictures of wounds or skin infections, which I can use to triage the cases and contact patients directly,” she said.

“I am then able to collaborate with doctors, dieticians, physiotherapists, and any other specialists required to organise the patient’s care plan.

“I arrange follow up appointments based on the need of the wound and once it heals, I discharge them and place them on six-month reviews.

“Using Telehealth reduces the waiting time to see a wound care specialist, avoiding unnecessary travel to access health service and time away from family.

“It is also a great opportunity to identify and address challenges in wound care in remote locations and for patient and staff education.”

“The most common symptoms of malaria are high fever, headache, backache, nausea, vomiting, and muscle and joint pains.

“If anyone exhibits any of these symptoms, they should present immediately to their local primary healthcare centre.”

She said the best protection against mosquito-borne diseases of any kind was to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place.

“Mosquito spraying is currently being undertaken on Boigu Island,” she said.

Personal protective measures include:

• Wear light-coloured clothing, and long-sleeved shirts and long pants wherever possible to cover exposed skin.

• Use personal insect repellent containing DEET (di-ethyl toluamide) or Picaridin. DEET and Picaridin are safe for use by pregnant women. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Repellents usually only protect against mosquito bites for up to four hours.

• Use long-lasting ‘surface’ or ‘cockroach’ insecticide spray in places where mosquitoes can hide.

• Use other mosquito protection devices such as electric zappers and mosquito coils.

• Install insect screens that are in good working order in your home and office. If not, sleep under a mosquito net day and night.

• Tip it, store it, throw it — tip out water from containers weekly, or dry store containers under cover and discard rubbish properly. Mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water. Remember, under the Public Health Act 2005, you can be fined by your local council if your home or yard promotes the breeding of mosquitoes.

If you follow these simple instructions, you can substantially minimise the risk of being bitten and infected with a mosquito-borne virus.

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“But all residents of Boigu, the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York can do their part and take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their properties and to protect themselves from mosquito bites.”

For more information about malaria see http:// conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/ condition/14/165/447/Malaria

2nd Thursday of month. PROOF EMAILED E _______/22 -- DEADLINE ____________/22

Christina Koullas <christina@ckpr.com.au> OR ‘Chris Foord’ <gmanager@bament.com.au> + Amy Gardner <amy@ckpr.com.au>

Bamaga Enterprises Ltd

July Update

BEL delivers on education support in the community

Bamaga local Rowena Abednego is set for success for her midwife course.

Bamaga Enterprises Limited (BEL) is dedicated to improving the social and economic outcomes of the Northern Peninsula Area by suppor�ng locals who are achieving their educa�on goals.

BEL recently sponsored Bamaga local Rowena Abednego, a passionate young woman aspiring to become a midwife. Recognising her poten�al, BEL is sponsoring Ms Abednego in the first year of her six-year, part �me Bachelor of Midwifery Degree at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane.

BEL has provided $2,500 in funding to cover her university amenity fees, travel expenses, laptop, essen�al clinical equipment pack, and textbooks.

Ms Abednego says the sponsorship has not only helped with her finances, but it has also mo�vated her to excel academically.

“Thanks to this invaluable contribu�on, I am now able to focus wholeheartedly on my studies without the burden of financial stress,” she says.

Through its Socio Support Policy, BEL has invested over $3.5 million back into the community. Various sponsorships are available for those seeking assistance with costs in the areas of sports/recrea�on ac�vi�es, aged support, medical assistance, educa�on or training, arts and culture, religion, community infrastructure, and other general requests. Visit our website for more details, including how to apply for funding.