National Rural Health Alliance welcomes new Commissioner.

BY DANIELLE RIES

The National Rural Health Alliance welcomes the new role of a Rural Health Commissioner after the passing of a legislation to establish the role.

The new commissioner is seen by the alliance as a potential game changer for health in rural areas, including the Hunter region.

The alliance supports the initial establishment of general practices in rural communities with the commissioner working with the alliance to ensure rural communities receive proper health care, such as making sure the Rural Generalist Pathway runs smoothly.

The alliance is looking forward to working with the commissioner as they'll bring a new perspective on rural health.

National Rural Health Alliance CEO David Butt says the commissioner won't be the sole answer to all rural health issues.

"We think this is a great initiative, however, we do just want to be clear that the commissioner is not going to be able to do all things for rural and remote Australia.

"One person will be tremendously and strategically placed in advising the minister directly. All governments need to work together to develop solutions for rural and remote Australia, as we can't rely on one person to be all things to all people in rural Australia".

He also states the commissioner will have a broader review due to amendments to the legislation.

"The minister had said that he wanted the commissioner to have a broader view but this establishes that in the legislation. So to look more broadly at other issues within rural health.

"It also enables a review of the timeframe for the legislation. In the current legislation, it expires at the end of June 2020 and of course, issues in rural and remote Australia won't have been resolved by then".

Credit- National Rural Health Alliance Website

Protect Your Teeth During Dental Health Week

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

With Dental Health Week upon us, the National Rural Health Alliance is calling on people in the Hunter to take care and look after their oral health.

Dental care can be hard to find in the regions [Image: Fonterra].

Rural and remote Australia have a lower number of dentists as the capital cities do, with fewer than 40 dentists per 100 000 people.

This is compared to the more than 60 dentists per 100 00 living in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

“There are simply not enough dentists in rural and remote Australia where they are needed,” said NRHA CEO Kim Webber.

Roughly 9 percent of all potentially preventable hospitalisations in Australia are because of dental health, with children making up the highest numbers of these hospitalisations.

“For young people, having health teeth is fundamental to their long term health and wellbeing,” said Dr Webber.

“For their sake we have to find more innovative ways to ensure rural and remote Australians can benefit from good dental health.”

It comes as the Royal Flying Doctor Service looks to double its dentistry output, and called on both Labor and the Coalition to provide another $11 million after the election.

Both parties agreed to do so.

"Providing $11 million over the next two years for flying doctor dental outreach will allow the expansion of our existing dental services," RFDS Chief Executive Martin Laverty said, via ABC.

Laverty has said the additional funding would allow the RFDS to potentially increase its employee number to more than 40 000.

Calls to Stay Safe on Farms

BY GARY LYSAGHT

With more than 70 fatalities last year, the National Rural Health Alliance is calling on all Hunter farmers to stay safe on their properties.

One death occurred on a farm every five days in 2015 [Image Source: The Australian]

It comes during Farm Safety Week, which aims to shine a light on the ways in which farmers and farm visitors can be safer.

Half of all deaths take place when heavy machinery is involved, including quad bikes and tractors.

Children make up 20 percent of all fatalities, with the most common cause of death being drowning.

The Rural Health Alliance has called on farmers to identify the hazards and practice safe work practices, as well as take proper safety measures while working.

“However, to create real change, safety has to become embedded in the farm workplace psyche and awareness must extend to everybody on the property including children,” the Alliance said in a statement.

“Visitors to farms must also be factored into safety planning and be made aware of hazards.

“Sadly, 30 percent of child deaths on farms were from visiting children.”

Richard Chamen

Chairman of the NSW Farmers Industrial Relations Committee, Richard Chamen says quad bikes are a leading cause for concern because of the threat they pose to farmer safety.

“Quad bikes can be a very dangerous thing and people get out on quads that don’t really know what they’re doing, they just jump on and go,” he said.

“There’s been over 200 accidents on quad bikes that caused death over the past couple of years.”

Chamen praised the State Government’s rebate program for measures to make quad bikes safer, including a $300 rebate for those who install roll-bars on their bike.

“Also, there’s a $500 rebate given out to people for the side-by-sides,” Chamen said.

“Its good aspects, especially in farm safety work to have the Government promoting and doing things for the benefit of farmers to save lives.”