Topic: Women's health

GPs are invited to attend an education forum in mid-June focusing on women’s health.

Focus On: Women’s Health, will be held from 8.30am to 2.30pm on Saturday, 17 June, at Rydges Norwest.

The forum will investigate common women’s health conditions in gynaecology and obstetrics. Topics have been designed to provide practical diagnosis, management and treatment options which GPs can incorporate into their everyday practice.

Some of the learning outcomes include:

• Cervical screening – understanding the basic test and some of the challenging situations when cases are outside standard recommendations.
• Review the aetiology and recognise the risks of pelvic prolapse, be aware of common complications of some interventional treatments like vaginal mesh.
• Investigate common women’s health issues requiring intervention, long-term management and new treatment options i.e. heavy menstrual bleeding, infections in pregnancy.

A panel of five experienced and respected gynaecologists and obstetricians will facilitate the forum, including Associate Professor Indika Alakahoon, a gynaecologist, maternal foetal medicine specialist and obstetrician.

GPs attending the forum will have two hours RP (reviewing performance) and 3.5 hours of EA (educational activities) accredited by RACGP.

Please RSVP by Thursday, 8 June. For more information contact Deb Brodie via email at deb.brodie@healthscope.com.au or call 0418 809 424.

The Women’s Health Centre Southern Highlands at Mittagong has been selected as the site of one of 20 Federal Government-funded Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics to be established across Australia.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney announced the clinic sites, with at least one clinic in every state and territory and at a mix of regional and metropolitan locations, this morning (Wednesday, 22 March).

The selected sites will be funded to provide expert, multidisciplinary services and care for women with endometriosis and pelvic pain after demonstrating existing expertise in women’s health.

• Endometriosis affects at least one in nine Australian women and can have an extensive, devastating impact on the daily lives of sufferers. With those suffering waiting on average of seven years before diagnosis.

• Pelvic pain can be similarly complex and debilitating, with the impact being felt beyond individuals as it is estimated to cost the Australian economy $6 billion a year.

The clinics will each receive more than $700,000 over four years to support hiring specialised staff, including nurse practitioners and allied health professionals, investment in equipment or fit-outs such as pelvic physiotherapy areas, as well as resources, training and development.

Working in existing general practices, the clinics will strengthen what is often the first point of contact in the health system to reduce diagnostic delays and promote early access to multi-disciplinary intervention, care and treatment. 

As well as directly helping patients, the clinics will raise awareness of endometriosis and pelvic pain, build professional knowledge and skills in this area, and improve access to information and care pathways.

Minister Kearney said the clinics were about providing women with an accessible front door to the care they need.

“Gathering expertise under one roof, fostering that knowledge to improve diagnosis and services, having referral pathways in place – these are all crucial elements to getting the support that women need right,” she said.

“Too many women suffer for years with what we know can be debilitating conditions. They deserve to have their concerns be taken seriously with better access to specialised care.”

Liverpool Genea’s Outreach Clinic has 100 NSW Health-subsidised in-vitro fertilisation treatment (IVF) cycles available to South Western Sydney patients in the first six months of this year.

GPs are being encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to refer patients struggling to conceive.

Liverpool Genea has a long-standing, consistent reputation for success in IVF treatment (download graph). 

The Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Fertility Outreach Clinic operating through Liverpool Genea was initiated to support and assist some public patients to continue their IVF treatment during COVID-19 restrictions.

One hundred subsidised cycles remain from this initiative.

South Western Sydney has a high demand for fertility support, however women often need to travel to Westmead or RPA hospitals for public patient access to treatment.   

There are currently four fertility specialists carrying out treatment through Liverpool Genea who have public hospital appointments.

Referrals can be made to the hospital or to the private rooms of each specialist.

Please enquire directly via the contact details below.