Statin Static
The “statins” TV saga prompted many press releases from within the medical fraternity, mostly pointing to the risks of ceasing medication and highlighting bias in the TV report. However, our bias meters were working overtime on some of the press releases. The FRACGP release, in contrast, mentioned the need for cholesterol to be considered alongside other risk factors, and acknowledged consumer concerns raised in the Catalyst program around things like inappropriate usage of statins, the need to promote non-drug interventions, concerns about drug company influence on clinical trials and doctors, the need for open disclosure standards, and changing ‘disease definitions’ that results in more drug use.
South-East baby boom
When we interviewed GP Obstetrician Dr Gary White in March last year, there were eight colleagues delivering babies at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital (still the same today), but his contribution of 400 deliveries a year back then is down to about 300. AKMH reported a record 235 babies born last July and O&G Director Dr Liza Fowler praised everyone involved. Two new O&G specialists have arrived since 2012 in Drs Ken Nathan and Lijiliana Ilich-Jeftic, and the hospital is at capacity for obstetrics now. Gary’s married to GP Dr Christina Raja and completing the medical family is daughter, Caitlyn, who is doing her intern year and his son who is sitting his fifth year exams..
Big, bigger, biggest
Medical Forum has received conflicting comment on the projected demands for the new Children’s Hospital, due to open in 18 months. Some are getting sick of negative comment. Dr Hames’s office says with current PMH occupancy around 78%, and 50% more clinical and research area (including a bigger ED), the new hospital should keep up with demand until 2021. In line with a push into communities, the new hospital would link to six satellite metro hospitals with dedicated paediatric beds. It will have parent beds in each standard inpatient room. No doubt there will be pockets of underservicing based on supply and demand around staff and funding.
Unis join forces
Next year, Murdoch University will start teaching Notre Dame medical students the core first and second year units of biochemistry, physiology, anatomy and pathology. Students will use Murdoch facilities at the South Street campus, just a hop and a skip from SJGM and FSH, with teaching “to complement the specialities” found at those hospitals. We have heard rumours around contract renewals at FSH and elsewhere omitting academic loadings and short-term contract staff – which included one OT assistant known to us – getting the chop as part of the 500 staff cull at Charlies, all to reduce costs.
Nip, tuck, holiday
Health insurer NIB has been in the spotlight over its cosmetic tourism packages to tap into a growing market for offshore cosmetic procedures. We understand NIB aims to sell packages comprising flights, accommodation and surgery at an average price of $8000, with post-op care provided by Australian surgeons. NIB, which is publicly listed and has $1billion in premium revenue, opened a WA office in Garden City not long ago.
Consumers hit the Web
A new consumer-focused DoH website for WA has been launched (www.healthywa.wa.gov.au).When we looked, it had a lot of unique WA info and a lot of health information duplicated on other government websites. The service and content search functions are welcomed, although the latter is tied into HealthDirect nationally and lobs services from NSW if you can’t find what you want locally. The PainHealth website (http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au) is proving popular for those with chronic pain, with about 4000 hits per day (1 million overall) and visiting browsers from 82 countries. The pages on low back pain, self checks, fibromyalgia, and pain management modules have been most popular, which says a lot.