UTHS Newsletter 10

Issue 10 June-November

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Dr. Judy McDonald

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Dr.Jodie Whillas

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Dr.Helen Sage Dr.

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Dentist

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Physician

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Podiatrist Deitician

Carlier

Recently UTHS conducted a Patient Survey and we are grateful clients took the time to let us know how our mob feels about their health service. We want to share with you some of the feedback and let you know how we plan to improve our service.

All the written feed back is below and has been taken word for word from the feedback report: 1. People are excellent, they listen to me and found everything from my community what I need. Thank you 2. Receptionists need to tell their name and the place - We have introduced a common welcoming for reception staff to use when answering the phones including their name and where you have called, pus how we can help.

3. Can offer tea and Coffee if the waiting time is long - Tea, coffee and water is available when you ask for it. We don't have it out for safety reasons just in case hot water splashes on someone or liquid ends up on he floor a s trip hazard.

Just ask us for a cuppa and we will be more than happy to make one for you.

4. Before Trish there was no home visits, no service for kids, now its better.

5. No Privacy, they talk in the community - UTHS has a strict Privacy policy and we follow the Australian Privacy Principles. If you believe your privacy has be breached please contact the CEO for a confidential discussion or write to us.

6. When waiting too long long, diabetics need food or something - Please let reception know if you are diabetic and we will make you something to eat. Or alternatively, let us know in the morning f you are fasting for blood test or waiting for some treatment and we will organise some breakfast for you after your treatment or blood test.

7. Very happy, All good, Very happy with everything.

8. More communication and talk to staff about rules and regulations - We conduct regular staff meetings, however we will try to let clients know a much about our service in our newsletter, website or waiting room health promotion.

3. 0.9% found the opportunity to make a complaint poor - In each of our waiting rooms there is a compliments and complaints box which you can place a written note giving us feedback on how your experience at UTHS was for you.

4. 1.2% found the comfort in the waiting room poor - Hopefully with some of the improvements planned in the waiting area your next visit can be more comfortable. If there is anything that reception or staff can assist you with, please let them know.

9. Kids Play Area in waiting room - We are planning a children's play area but we need to make sure we have the right toys, books or games so we can keep the area clean from any germs or mites.

10. Magazines, newspaper for clients - This is a great suggestion and we will be making sure these are in the waiting room next time you are here.

11. Need more Specialist Doctors, Regular GP - We have been on the look out and advertising for many years. A few years ago there was only one GP for one week every month with limited specialists. We are making Coober Pedy as attractive as possible for visiting medical staff and now we have GP's and Specialists very regularly. It is also important that patients turn up for all appointments or let us know as soon as possible if you can not attend.

12. Waiting too long for Doctor and making waiting times to see a doctor short - We try to make sure all appointments run on time, but there are some times when the doctor or specialist may need more time as they have found something wrong with someone before your appointment. We will try to let your when you arrive if there is a waiting time.

We also looked at the questions you answered and we found the following results: 1. 2.1% found After Hours Satisfaction was poor - When we are closed, all patients are asked to present to the Coober Pedy Hospital or call Triple zero "000" in an emergency.

2. 1.8% found our home or other visits was poor - We do offer home visits for those who can not physically get to the clinics. If you require a home visit please let us know.

The Bringing them Home Program (BTH) pro- vide services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are affected by past government policies and practices regarding the removal of children from their families.

Both Stolen Generation and intergenerational Indigenous People have been affected with many complex issues; mental health issues, alcohol and other drug addictions, loss of cultural identity, grief and loss issues.

Bringing them home program address clients’ issues through the following services: link people with mental health clinicians, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Counsellors, Health Workers and Link-up counsellors. In addition, the Bringing Them Home program offer counselling services, case management and coordinate family re-unions and assist people with appropriate referrals.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need support with coordinating family reunions or counselling support.

Do I need a referral?

A referral is not required. However some people may be referred from another profession or agency.

Where am I located?

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing/ Bringing Them Home Program Coordinator operates from the Drug and Alcohol Centre.

How do I make appointment?

Appointments and enquiries can be made by walk in or telephoning Drug and Alcohol Centre.

Drug and Alcohol Centre contact number 08 8672 3466

Suhara Perera SEWB/BTH Program Coordinator

I am your liver and I love you. I do so many good things for you. Without me, you will not live. The following are some of the good things I do for you:  

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I produce the main protein (albumin) in your blood I store vitamins, sugar and iron for your body and release them for you when you need them for energy I clear waste products (including poisons) from your body Without me, you could bleed to death when you get injuries; because I am the one who makes clotting factors to enable you stop excessive bleeding after cuts or injuries I produce immune factors and remove bacteria from your blood stream to fight infections I produce bile for your body to help you with the digestion of your food and for you to get the important nutrients your body needs I also try to work with your kidney to get rid of the alcohol you drink and so the more you drink the more we have to work. The more we work, the more we get injuries and have scar tissues

Anytime you drink alcohol you hurt me. The alcohol you drink inflames part of me and (this is called hepatitis) when the inflammation heals, that part turns into scar tissue.

Did you know that scar tissues do not have elasticity? You can check this from your skin if you have a scar tissue. Scar tissues on the liver is not different from that of the skin.

I would like to tell you how bad you hurt me when you keep drinking alcohol. The more scar tissues I have the stiffer I get because I lose my elasticity and so I am not able to function properly.

Remember that if I am not able to function properly you also lose all those good things that I am supposed to do for you.

This causes me to have worsening hepatitis and if I do not get treatment on time, you can have (cirrhosis) too much fluid in your tummy and feet because you cannot have the protein and all the nutrients that you need. In the end, you will have cancer.

The best thing you can do to keep me safe is to stop alcohol and replace it with water.

Please do this for me because I am your liver and I love you.

Why do you want to hurt me?

Clinic manager

Kwa

My name is Alcohol. I am a very dangerous drug if you do not handle me well. When you drink me in excess I give you all kinds of problems. When you see me coming please do not look at me, just run away because if you try to have a conversation with me you will regret meeting me. I will make you my best friend and you will be thinking of me all the time. I will make you drink me every day and put you into a lot of trouble. I will do the following to you:       

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Change your behavior Make you sick Damage your liver Damage your lungs Inflame your pancreas and give you pain Lose sensation in your hands and feet Weaken your muscles Attack your brain and make you lose your memory Make you hallucinate and get confused Give you cancer of the mouth, throat and lips Give you high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke Attack your intestines by giving you diarrhea

Now you see why I said I am dangerous? Please if you have a problem with alcohol come to the Drug and Alcohol Services and talk to the Counsellor.

Peter Boafo Counsellor

Avantha Fernando

Sophie Bailes

Matthew Crombie

Johnny Naylon

NOVEMBER 2015 Sun

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1

2 Dentist

3 Dentist

4 Dentist

5 Dentist

6 Dentist

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Endocrinologist

Endocrinologist

Audiologist

9 GP

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12 GP

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Registrar GP

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16 Psychiatrist

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23 GP, Res Physician , Ophthalmol-

24GP, Res Physi25GP, Res Physician , Ophthalmolo- cian , Ophthalmol-

26 GP

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ogist , optometrist

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ogist , optometrist

Registrar GP

30 GP & Dentist

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Call Us on 08 8672 5255 or visit Us www.uths.com.au

Po Box 166 ,Coober Pedy SA 5723 Ph:0886725255 Fax: 86725664

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