GP Link

NSLHD’s Safety and Quality Newsletter provides information on new and upcoming activities, programs and initiatives within the district that aim to improve the safety of our patients and the quality of our care.

GPLink Update from the GPs at Royal North Shore

Issue 5 November 2023

In this edition, we focus on upcoming educational opportunities tailored to GPs, provide an update on the endocrine surgery referral acceptance criteria (one of the criteria updated recently with GPLO input) and provide information about a healthy lifestyle program in our district.

GPLO Update

This is the fifth issue of GPLink and marks a year of publication. Thank you for your readership and support. We are grateful to those who have provided feedback. Your input helps us make our clinics better for everyone–patients and GPs alike. Thanks to those who have recently attended Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) grand rounds. It has been fantastic to have primary care involvement in these sessions. If you have not yet attended, you are most welcome to join us face-to-face or via video.

Please see the contact details below. If you would like to receive information about upcoming Grand Rounds sessions, or for more information, please contact the email below.

Time: every Tuesday from 1-2pm Location: Level 5, Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital campus Virtual attendance (MS Teams):

Please contact NSLHD-GPLO@health.nsw.gov.au, including your name and practice name and we will send you the MS Teams link.

Menopause Education Project ECHO® is an interactive case-based learning network for healthcare professionals. Several NSW Local Health Districts (LHD) have combined resources to create MenoECHOTM, a menopause-specific education platform. The online education sessions will include a short didactic presentation followed by a discussion of a case study. Anticipated Topics

Date The next MenoECHO session will be hosted by Northern Sydney Local Health District at 6 pm on 27 November 2023 .

1. Menopause Hormonal Treatments (MHT) 2. Evidence-based non-hormonal treatments 3. Treatment options for menopause vs perimenopause 4. Treatment of mood disorders associated with menopause 5. Menopause in difficult clinical cases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, breast cancer) Audience This free online event is aimed primarily at GPs, endocrinologists, gynaecologists, nurses and allied health professionals. CPD will be available for the sessions. The Project Team is working towards RACGP and ACRRM accreditation.

All participants must be registered via: MenoECHO registration or email ausmenoecho@gmail.com Meno ECHO Contact Kate Luckie MenoECHO coordinator Email: k.luckie@unsw.edu.au

Feedback

We aim to improve communication between the hospital and primary care; improve patient experience of outpatients and ensure patients arrive back at their GP with adequate information to plan their ongoing care. We welcome your feedback on this information about the clinics at RNSH. Please let us know if the format or content can be adjusted to better communicate the services available at the hospital. Email: NSLHD-GPLO@health.nsw.gov.au

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GPLink | November 2023

Refer patients to a Healthy Lifestyle

For more than 35 years, Northern Sydney Local Health District’s Healthy Lifestyle program has been helping local older adults get fit, feel great and have fun. Healthy Lifestyle offers a range of exercise courses, including gentle exercise, strength and balance exercise, aqua exercise, Tai Chi and Yoga. Courses are low-cost, accessible and held in local community venues (including local hospitals) in Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Ryde, Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore areas. “More than 1000 enrolments are received for the programs each term with most participants aged 70 and over,” explained Healthy Lifestyle Manager, Leonie Grejsen.

“Many participants have been attending our courses for years as they not only enjoy and benefit from the exercise but also the social connection and friendships they make.”

If your practice or service is looking to help older adult patients/clients achieve improved fitness and function, then refer them to a Healthy Lifestyle course. For more information visit nshp.com.au/HealthyLifestyle or email nslhd-healthylifestyle@health.nsw.gov.au

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GPLink | November 2023

Endocrine Surgery Service (RNSH & Ryde Hospitals)

RNSH & Ryde Hospital departments of endocrine surgery treat patients with thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disease. They are active in surgical research, quality improvement and endocrine cancer research.

• Parotid disease

They see the following conditions: • Thyroid cancer • Thyroid nodule evaluation –Ultrasound-detected lesions –Atypical nodules – Goitre • Abnormal thyroid function –Graves’ disease –Toxic nodule

–Pleomorphic adenoma –Parotid lump for evaluation • Retroperitoneal sarcoma

All referrals are triaged centrally at RNSH but there are operative lists at both hospitals. The RNSH endocrinology department manages the medical aspects of some of these presenting problems.

–Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with persistent local or systemic symptoms after medical optimisation • Parathyroid disease –Parathyroid adenoma –Normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism (raised PTH with normal calcium) –Secondary hyperparathyroidism • Adrenal disease –Adrenal incidentaloma evaluation –Functional adrenal adenoma (Cushing’s syndrome, Conn’s syndrome) – Phaeochromocytoma –Atypical adenoma –Adrenal cancer • Clinical abnormalities in the neck

Endocrine Surgery Contact Details Phone: (02) 9463 1477 Fax: (02) 9463 1045 Email: NSLHD-RNS-EndoSurg@health.nsw.gov.au

• Neck lump evaluation • Thyroglossal duct cyst

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