Dr Bill McGuiness, AWMA President, and Ann Marie Dunk, AWMA (ACT) President and Committee Member of AWMA, are pictured at Parliament House, Canberra on 19 November 2012. The AWMA representatives spent a busy day meeting with members of the Australian Senate’s Standing Committee on Community Affairs, which focuses on the portfolio areas of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Health and Ageing, and Human Services. Approval was given by the AWMA Committee to target the Members during Senate Sittings in November 2012. The visit focused on raising awareness of the costs associated with managing venous leg ulcers, emphasising the need for subsidy arrangements for products used to treat these wounds. The MPs were also made aware of the current work being undertaken by consultancy firm KPMG on behalf of AWMA and the web based petition to the Senate. Senators from across the political spectrum agreed that AWMA’s case for appropriate government subsidisation was a strong one that offered substantial benefits for both patients and the budgetary bottom-line. As one Senator put it, “In my view it’s a no-brainer, and I’ll be supporting you in any way I can.” Feedback of this kind was typical, regardless of party affiliation. It’s no secret that the next Federal Budget will be a tight one, but the support AWMA is receiving is mounting fast, and we will continue this campaign on behalf of our 3000 members and 300,000 patients until a successful outcome is achieved. [ + ]

From 1st January 2013 hospitals and day procedure services across Australia will be required to participate in accreditation against the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, writes Amy Winter. [ + ]

The rate of substance abuse amongst anaesthetists is thought to be similar to the rest of the population but their knowledge of drugs and ease of access makes their situation more dangerous. Meaghan Shaw explores this and other welfare issues facing anaesthetists. [ + ]

Preventing Falls and Harm from Falls [ + ]

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Sometimes it was necessary to limit the freedom of movement of infected people to control the spread of infection, writes Professor Colin Thompson [ + ]

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the NT has reported that 97 people have contracted the soil-borne disease since last wet season (2012), and nine of them have died. [ + ]

A well thought out and executed identification and access system can have a huge impact on site security and patient safety. [ + ]

Australia’s Premier Health, Aged Care & Disability Expo” for Managers, Health & other Professionals, staff … Caulfield Racecourse, April 18 & 19, 0930-1600, Free admission [ + ]

MIMS Online offers more than just medicines information. You can also check for drug interactions and identify loose tablets with a click of a button. [ + ]

We use our hands to do things all the time. Our hands are great carriers of germs. Infection control experts have identified the hands as being the number one method whereby germs are transferred from one person to another. They regularly reinforce the good hand hygiene message in the prevention of disease outbreaks to healthcare workers and to the general public. [ + ]

Managing violence and security risks in health and residential care services [ + ]

‘Working together to implement and deliver a connected and integrated health system’ [ + ]

CRC for Biomedical Imaging Development (CRCBID) explains why PET scanning sets the standard of care in the modern healthcare sector. [ + ]

More people are accepting that people with mental illness have the right to be treated to the same standard of care as people without mental illness, which includes help with a smoking addiction. Mark Ragg reports. [ + ]