Hope Alexander MPH

Posts Tagged ‘consumer’

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA (WA BRANCH)

State Conference 18 – 19 Nov 2010

Global Issues, Local Solutions: Thinking outside the box

Tradewinds Hotel Fremantle WA

Hope’s abstract has been accepted for a poster presentation at the above conference.

The title of her presentation is “Customised exercise enhances quality of life in chronic conditions”.

Summary of paper: This paper offers reflective comment on a practical and holistic approach to enhancing the life of a person with a chronic condition. It demonstrates how a customised exercise program can not only rehabilitate the physical body, but can also invigorate and stimulate the intellectual and psycho-emotional aspects. An enhanced quality of life can be achieved, so that the person can live as well as possible, for as long as possible, in the community.

Cancer in the News

Tobacco: Flouters of smoke ban ‘will be pursued’

The Health Department says people who ignore WA’s new smoking bans on patrolled beaches and in cars with children will be pursued, despite previous claims the laws could be hard to enforce.

Director-general of Health, Kim Snowball, said while some people might initially be given warnings rather than $1000 fines, there would be no period of grace for the laws, which start on September 22.

The department will launch an advertising campaign today to warn people they risk prosecution if the smoke in banned areas. These include between flags at beaches, in cars carrying children under the age of 17, within 10 metres of playground equipment and in some outdoor eating areas. The display of tobacco products in shops will also be banned.

West Australian 8/9/2010 p.10.

Sophie West | Website and Publications Coordinator

Cancer Council Australia

Hope was invited to contribute to DVD content and attend a focus group, the outcome of which will be used to to develop a DVD for WA consumers with a long term condition.

The researchers are particularly interested in learning about the experiences/difficulties we or someone we care for have encountered in managing a long term condition and ways we have overcome them.

This study has been approved by the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee. The Principal Investigator is Professor Duncan Boldy of the Centre for Research into Disability and Society, School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University. The Project Officer is Doctor Setareh Ghahari.

This week Hope has been pursuing her “free” hearing aids. After the hearing test and consultation on 14 June, Hope was given to understand that her aids would be free under the Federal Government scheme. Then the rules change after the 1 July, according to the audiologist, and Hope is asked to pay $800 for the aids, plus a $1000 “care plan” to cover loss, damage and maintenance over three years. This necessitated three phone calls to the Office of Hearing Services. The jury is still out.

Today Hope submitted her abstract for the Australian National Conference on Evidence-Based Clinical Leadership. The title of her paper is “Chasing the rainbow – the difficulties experienced in accessing age and condition-specific programs”. These programs include oral health, hearing services and Enhanced Care Plans. The conference is to be held in Adelaide, one of Hope’s favourite places, in November.

Hope is attending the Anaesthetists Expert Working Party meeting.

Date
Thursday 15th April 2010

Agenda

10.00  Welcome and overview of meeting objectives – Linda MacPherson

10.10  Summary of results Kirsten Armstrong

10.30  Facilitated discussion:

• Feedback on report

• Identification of recommendations – Lorraine Acheson

12.15  Next steps and close – Linda Macpherson