Hope Alexander MPH

Posts Tagged ‘department of health’

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 will be attending the following Clinical Senate meeting on 26 March 2010 in Perth, Western Australia.

Event: 26 March 2010 - Pre-Hospital Assessment - Avoiding the Revolving Door

I am continually attending “Patient Safety and Quality” meetings yet the matter of hand hygiene is not raised, or even on the agenda till I bring it up.

1. “Can we wipe out … “  is about research in the UK and comes from the virtualmedicalcentre.com web site
2. MRSA consumers’ document is a WA Health Department document which can be accessed here http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/cproot/1760/2/MRSA%20Consumers.pdf
3. “Doctors should be “horrified” by their hand hygiene-studies … is an article on research in NSW from HealthAlerts website and can be accessed via this link http://www.healthalerts.com.au/news/news.php?action=fullnews&id=541
4. Ignaz Semmelweis… discovered the importance of hand-washing hygiene by medical care-givers in 1847 …

Only after Dr. Semmelweiss’ death, was the germ theory of disease developed, and he is now recognized as a pioneer of antiseptic policy and prevention of nosocomial disease.

Western Australians will be able to make important decisions regarding their future medical treatment and lifestyle choices, under new legislation which takes effect today.

Ministerial Media Statement from Kim Hames, Deputy Premier; Health; Indigenous Affairs can be viewed here:

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemId=133128

Government of Western Australia Department of Health Advance Health Directives information and forms can be viewed here:

http://www.health.wa.gov.au/advancehealthdirective/home/

The draft document “Guidelines for Human Biobanks, Genetic Research Databases & Associated Data” (July 2009) is being prepared for release for public comment.

The Office of Population Health Genomics (Public Health Division) WA Health has been coordinating the development of guidelines which provide principles and best practices for the establishment, management and operation of research biobanks and DNA databases in WA. The guidelines have been developed for WA Health but are intended for use by both government and non-government research organisations in WA.

Hope received formal acknowledgement that she “has been involved in the stakeholder consultation process, contributing to the two community consultation events which informed the development of the guidelines … also gave a presentation on the consumer perspective. An acknowledgement has been included on pages x and xii that mention her by name.”

http://www.genomics.health.wa.gov.au/home/

On 7 July 2009 Hope attended the public consultation in Perth for the Acts Amendment (Consent to Medical Treatment) Act 2008, the event was hosted by the WA Department of Health and the Office of the Public Advocate.

Hope attended in her position as a Consumer Representative/Board Member of the Genetic Support Council WA (GSCWA). This public consultation was an information session about the Advance Health Directive and Enduring Power of Guardianship.

The Office of Population Health Genomics, Department of Health has cordially invited Hope to attend a seminar titled “Challenges for Society in the Genetic Information Age”. This event will be held on the Monday 11th May at Grace Vaughn House, 227 Stubbs Tce, Shenton Park.

This seminar will focus on genomics, ethics, biobanks, biobanking community forums similar to the one Hope presented at and participated in 2008, held in Canada.

Event: 11 May 2009 - Challenges for Society in the Genetic Information Age