A natural disaster declaration covering a number of Local Government Areas (LGA) within Greater Western Area Health Service has been made due to the recent flooding.  The LGAs include: Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Walgett, Warrumbungle and Warren.

Click here to download information on:

• Cleaning rainwater tanks inundated with floodwater
• Fact sheet procedure for restoring flood water inundated domestic swimming pools
• Food safety and vegetable gardens following floods
• Flood clean up guidelines
• Mosquitoes are a health hazard fact sheet 
• Mental health support available

Greater Western AHS Chief Executive urges community to take up free swine flu vaccine

The Chief Executive of Greater Western Area Health Service has received the free Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination.

"It is important to protect yourself and your family against the H1N1 pandemic," said Mr Danny O’Connor, Chief Executive of Greater Western AHS.

"Many people think that with winter now over we need to be less vigilant. This is not the case. The holiday season is fast approaching and many people are travelling overseas or hosting visitors," said Mr O’Connor.

The Northern Hemisphere is in its winter flu season and reports indicate that H1N1 pandemic activity is high in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

"It is important that the community, particularly those in the at risk groups, take up the free shot," Mr O’Connor stated.

Those in the at risk group include: people with underlying chronic medical conditions, for example heart and lung disease, cancers, HIV, asthma, diabetes; people who are morbidly obese; Indigenous people and pregnant women.

While in the initial stages of the rollout, the focus was on ensuring that people in at risk groups were offered the vaccine first. vaccination is not restricted to this group and is available to anyone who wishes to be vaccinated.

The aim of the program is to provide free vaccine against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza for all members of the community who wish to be vaccinated. Vaccinations started 30 September 2009.

The vaccine is made by CSL Limited, which has been producing seasonal influenza vaccines in the same way over the last 40 years.

The World Health Organisation, in collaboration with national and state bodies, is monitoring the safety of the pandemic vaccine. Worldwide, millions of doses have been distributed and administered. Safety data suggests that the vaccine has no more side effects occurring than that seen with seasonal influenza vaccine.

Parents are also being encouraged to protect their children against swine flu, with the vaccine now available for all children aged 6 months and over. It is also important to get vaccinated if you have an infant less than 6 months of age in your care.

The Australian Government's Chief Medical Officer has indicated that while two doses of vaccine for children less than 10 years is recommended, one dose may still provide a good level of protection against pandemic influenza.

General Practitioners and Aboriginal Medical Services have been administering vaccinations to the community. Over 73,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed in Greater Western AHS. Call ahead to ensure they are vaccinating on the day you would like to visit.

For more information on H1N1 Influenza, visit the NSW Health Pandemic Vaccination link at http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/

Free Child Weight Management Program for local families

As you are aware, obesity is becoming an increasingly important issue in our local community with almost 25% of Australian children currently overweight or obese. If current trends continue, by 2050 it is likely that the incidence of child obesity will be closer to 50%!

The NSW Parenting Program:
What is it and who is it for?
The NSW Parenting Program implementing MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) is part of a national initiative offering free healthy lifestyle courses for children 7- 13yrs old who may not fit within the ideal weight range and their families. 

Click here for more information

Information sheet - Restoration of Heritage Building at Bathurst Hospital

The purpose of this information sheet is to keep you informed of what work has happened – and what will be proposed – at the Heritage Building at Bathurst Hospital.


Click Here to Download The Information Sheet            Click Here to Download The Powerpoint Presentation

Rural and remote nursing - challenging, capable, collaborative and crucial!

• Are you often the first line of clinical management/care for individuals, families and the community at your health care facility?
• Does your role as a RN take you across many rural or remote specialties?
• Do you work with no on-site medical and allied health support?
  
• By necessity is your rural or remote clinical expertise required to be at an extended level?
• Are you looking to progress your career path to a Nurse Practitioner?

If you ticked any of the above and want to greatly improve access to primary health care using evidence based protocols in a collaborative environment then the OBN Certificate may be the course for you!

Build your capacity to meet the diversity of rural health care through the OBN course

 Click Here for more information

Greater Western Area Health Service Lachlan Valley Health Service, Service Plan

The Service Plan, prepared by the Greater Western AHS in conjunction with Colleen Wilson Health Strategies Pty Ltd and Sirius Economics has been endorsed by NSW Health. The development of the Plan has included consultation with medical, nursing and allied health professionals, health service management and staff and community representatives.

Click here for more details.

Greater Western Area Health Service Dubbo Futures Plan

The Dubbo Health Services Future Directions Strategy has been prepared for Greater Western Area Health Service with advice from clinicians, management and community representatives to inform the development of health services in Dubbo LGA over the next ten to fifteen years.

The Strategy provides a high level overview of the health service needs of Dubbo and the surrounding communities to the year 2021 and the major strategic and service development issues that need to be addressed over the next five to ten years to enable the Health Services to respond to those needs effectively.

<< Click Here To Download The Report >>