GPLink Update from the GPs at Royal North Shore
Issue 4 September 2023
In this fourth edition we focus on an invitation for GPs to attend Grand Rounds and the new state-wide referral criteria for gastroenterology and ophthalmology. We also introduce some of the services available at Royal North Shore, particularly our new Long COVID service.
GPs invited to attend Grand Rounds at Royal North Shore Hospital
As part of our commitment to working collaboratively with you, Royal North Shore Hospital clinicians and executive invite local GPs to attend the weekly Grand Rounds sessions. Attendance can be face-to-face or virtually, with details listed below. If you would like to receive information about upcoming Grand Rounds sessions, or for more information, please contact the email to the right. Your colleagues at RNSH look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
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.
State-wide referral criteria The NSW Ministry of Health and Agency for Clinical Innovation have published new state-wide referral criteria for gastroenterology and ophthalmology outpatient clinics. These will be used to triage at Royal North Shore (and the Ryde direct access colonoscopy clinic). These criteria were designed with GPs and non-GP specialist input. They outline what conditions are seen in the outpatient clinics and what the minimum information required for a referral is.
These criteria are available on the NSW health website health.nsw.gov.au/outpatients/referrals. Criteria for other specialities will be added over time. We suggest that you review the criteria for Northern Sydney on HealthPathways. These will be added over the next few weeks.
Long COVID
The Northern Sydney Long COVID Service (NSLCS) provides coordinated care for patients who are experiencing complex COVID symptoms at least three months after COVID infection and require specialist medical and allied health support. Individuals residing in the NSLHD catchment area with suspected or confirmed long COVID can be referred to the service by GPs or other specialists. Doctors are encouraged to call the long COVID advice line on 0418 579 373 if guidance on managing patients with suspected long COVID is required. Referrals can be made via e-referrals or the other usual referral methods. Further information regarding inclusion criteria is available on HealthPathways and the e-referrals template. To access HealthPathways please visit: Long COVID-19 Requests-Community HealthPathways Sydney North Username: healthpathways Password: gateway HITH - Hospital in the Home HITH offers a multidisciplinary model of care that substitute’s daily hospital treatment. HITH may provide care where the patient lives, works, or in a HITH clinic and has access to Northern Sydney Local Health District resources. General Practitioners can refer patients to HITH by calling an intake clinician on 1300 732 732 from 08:00 –22:00. Intake is open daily (including weekends and public holidays). Patients suitable for HITH require daily visits by HITH clinicians and are safe to receive treatment in a community setting. HITH Service information and clinical conditions can be found in Health Pathways under acute service.
To be eligible for referral to the Northern Sydney Long COVID Service (NSLCS), patients must: • Reside within the Northern Sydney Local Health District catchment • Be at least twelve weeks from the date of SARS- CoV-2 diagnosis • Have suspected long COVID as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines • Experience moderate/severe symptoms and risk factors impacting their quality of life and functional status. • Experience significant symptoms requiring coordinated care management. • Have had initial blood tests and a chest x-ray. We are committed to collaborating with you to achieve the best outcomes for individuals experiencing long COVID. Email: nslhd-longcovidservice@health.nsw.gov.au Fax: 9463 1029 Post Address: Virtual Care Service, Level 5 Douglas Building. RNSH, St Leonards 2065 Clinical conditions include: • Cellulitis • Urinary Tract Infections/Pyelonephritis • Community Acquired Pneumonia • Warfarin/Clexane bridging • Mild dehydration (in residential care facility) To access HealthPathways please visit: Hospital in the Home (HITH) (formerly APAC)- Community HealthPathways Sydney North Username: healthpathways Password: gateway
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HITH is comprised of experienced registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, pharmacists, community care aides, administration staff and the medical team. HITH provides patient-centred care that is associated with better outcomes and increased patient and carer satisfaction.
Other conditions that may require parenteral medication administration e.g., acute-on-chronic heart failure, may also be accepted with agreement with the patient’s specialist. The service is supported by Northern Sydney Local Health District and is provided without charge to the patient. For further information please contact reception on 9462 9460 during business hours or review HITH Service Information on community health pathways website.
Get Healthy in Pregnancy Get Healthy in Pregnancy is a free NSW Government service for all pregnant women in NSW. Professional phone and online-based health coaches offer support and tools to help women stay healthy from pregnancy, to birth and beyond. The Get Healthy in Pregnancy service can help your patients: • set and achieve goals • eat well and keep active • avoid alcohol • stay within a healthy weight range
Over 630 Northern Sydney women enrolled in the program in the 2021-2022 period, with 83 per cent of those completing the program not exceeding the IOM (Institute of Medicine) weight gain guidelines. Help your patients achieve a healthy weight gain during their pregnancy by encouraging them to sign up to the Get Healthy in Pregnancy program. Alternatively, use the referral forms to refer them to the service, with the option to receive updates on their progress. For more information and resources, visit Get Healthy in Pregnancy gethealthynsw.com.au/ program/get-healthy-in-pregnancy.
• keep motivated and on track • return to a healthy weight after birth
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Audiology and Vestibular function Assessment Service Royal North Shore offers an audiology and vestibular function assessment service. Although restricted during the pandemic we are now operating as usual. Our services include • Diagnostic Hearing tests (Pure tone Audiogram, Speech, and Impedance measures– Tympanogram, Acoustic Reflex, and other diagnostic measures) • Vestibular Function assessment (Video Head Impulse test, Video Nystagmography for Oculomotor and Caloric studies) for adults and Children aged 3 or above. referred to Hearing Australia, Randwick and Westmead hildren’s hospitals and Macquarie University Audiology Clinic. We also do not perform hearing aid assessments.
Phone: 02 9463 1400 (Ambulatory Care Centre) Fax: 02 9463 1065 and Email: nslhd-accreferrals@health.nsw.gov.au Referral criteria on HealthPathways: https://sydneynorth.communityhealthpathways. org/250934.htm Username: healthpathways Password: gateway
Please note that we do not have facilities to test children under 3 years and such children may be
Update from the division of cancer services
NSLHD website NSLHD has a new cancer website with useful information for patients and carers about type of cancer, resources, and information–including translated information about diet. It was built with consumer input. Link: Northern Sydney Cancer Centre-Northern Sydney Local Health District (nsw.gov.au) Clinical Trials GPs are the first point of care for 85 per cent of cancer diagnoses. Patients are interested in being involved in clinical trials but are sometimes unaware of their existence and we seek your help to let them know their options. Please be aware of a new Cancer Institute NSW (CINSW) information sheet developed with GPs: My patient has cancer... is a clinical trial an option? The aim of the sheet is to make it easier for you to obtain information about clinical trials as a treatment option for discussion with you and other specialists. GPs are a key part of the care team during trial treatment, follow up and survivorship. General clinical trial information relevant to primary care is located at: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/working-with-primary-care/clinical-trials-and-primary-care.
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The Cancer Institute NSW (CINSW) The CINSW has a wealth of information specific to primary care about cancer screening, treatment, survivorship, and clinical trials. https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/working-with-primary-care If you are interested in how the institute works with primary care the NSW Primary Health Care Cancer Framework, developed by the CINSW, outlines how the institute engages with primary care to improve cancer care. The resource compliments the CINSW’s resources for CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) communities focused on increasing cancer clinical trial involvement, including in-language resources. 1:https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/about-cancer/document-library/i-have-cancer-is-a-clinical-trial-an-option-for-me 2: Patient Multicultural Information website: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/general-cancer-information/ cancer-support/support-for-communities/multicultural-communities
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 Royal North Shore. 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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