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Radiation Oncologists Begin Running South Burnett Clinics In Kingaroy 14th July 2011: South Burnett cancer patients will soon be saved many long trips to Toowoomba or the Sunshine Coast now that specialist radiation oncologists have begun running clinics in Kingaroy. Associate Professor Dr Jared Martin and Dr Eric Khoo (pictured) from Toowoomba's Radiation Oncology Queensland are planning to visit Kingaroy on a monthly basis. ‘We're busy introducing ourselves to the local GPs in the South Burnett at the moment," Dr Khoo says, "and we hope our new clinics will meet an unfilled need for local cancer patients." Many South Burnett patients have been treated at ROQ ever since the cancer centre opened in 2007. But while feedback has been very positive, by offering outreach clinics in Kingaroy many patients will be saved the long trip to Toowoomba, Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast to meet radiation oncologists to discuss their management. "If patients do decide to receive radiotherapy it will still be necessary to travel to Toowoomba for this," Dr Martin said. "Other cancer specialists such as medical oncologists who deliver chemotherapy for cancer currently don't perform clinics in the South Burnett. But we're hopeful that having the opportunity to discuss what radiotherapy may have to offer with patients close to home will make the whole cancer journey just a little easier." ROQ's Toowoomba facility offers state-of-the-art radiotherapy treatments and free car parking at the moment. But the expected opening of free accommodation run by the Cancer Council of Queensland within the next 3 months will make treatment in Toowoomba easier than ever for South Burnett patients in the near future. For more information, see www.roq.net.au or discuss with your doctor whether an appointment with Dr Martin or Dr Khoo might be appropriate. Appointments can be made by phoning (07) 4614-5855.

Queensland Health Shake-Up Moves South Burnett Health Services To Toowoomba 17th June 2011: The State Government announced today that it's decided to put an axe through the bloated Queensland Health bureaucracy. And the South Burnett may benefit from it. Health Minister Geoff Wilson (pictured - photo courtesy ABC News) said today that the Bligh Government will be introducing laws to break up Queensland Health, reform health service management and create Local Health and Hospitals Networks from next year. As part of the process, the Darling Downs West Moreton Health Service District which currently administers the South Burnett will be split up and the provision of health services and facilities in the Darling Downs and South Burnett will be locally managed from 1 July 2011. A new health service district and offices will be set up in Toowoomba in the next few weeks, the Minister said. "This is the biggest shake-up of health services for a generation. Queensland Health is being broken up and decisions about health services in future will be made by locals, for locals in the local area," Mr Wilson said. You can read the Minister's press release by clicking here and get a map of the proposed new health district boundaries by clicking here.

Truss Says Means Tests On Private Health Insurance Will Overtax Region's Hospitals 9th June 2011: A plan to means test private health insurance rebates will hurt more than 53,000 South Burnett and Wide Bay residents and put even more stress on the public heath system according to Mermber for Wide Bay Warren Truss. “Almost 40,000 adults living in Wide Bay hold private health insurance and 53,275 people - including children - are covered under those policies,” Mr Truss said. “Each one of those policy holders will be hurt under the Labor-Greens plan to means test private health insurance rebates if it's allowed to proceed. Means testing the rebate means that premiums will rise directly by up to 40% for some." Mr Truss said maintaining the private health insurance rebate is important to relieve pressure on the public hospital system. “The rebate helps to reduce public hospital admissions. Any person who drops their private health insurance cover then relies on the public health system, adding to the long waiting lists which already exist. Deloitte’s estimate that the Government will save $1.9 billion by its changes to the rebates but the cost to the public health system will rise by $3.8 billion." It's estimated that 5.6 million Australians with health cover earned less than $50,000 a year and around one million of those had incomes of less than $24,000. “Many people in the South Burnett and Wide Bay regions would fit into that income bracket, including pensioners and self funded retirees who go without other things so they can keep their health insurance,” Mr Truss said. Read more about the Federal Government's plan on the Sydney Morning Herald

New Health Advocacy Toolkit Helps To Empower Queensland Health Consumers 2nd June 2011: A new Health Advocacy framework, toolkit and brochure was released by Queensland Health yesterday to help consumers using the State's health care services. The Health Advocacy Framework provides structures and support to assist individuals, their families, their carers (and also organisations) to advocate for better health outcomes. It also supports the delivery of more effective, responsive health care and improved health policies - two things that have long been needed in rural parts of the State. The Advocacy Toolkit, meanwhile, is a great little booklet designed to guide a person and help empower them to receive the best health care possible. It's in an easy-to-read language and a small size that you could easily slip into a bag or satchel. And the "Getting the healthcare you need" brochure contains general tips and checklists for doctors visits - before, during and after - as well as general tips on meeting health needs and your rights as a consumer. They're available online at Queensland Health (look on the right hand side of the page under "What's New"). An audio version of these publications will also be available by next week for downloading.

South Burnett And Cherbourg Kids Get Access To New ENT Telehealth Service 27th April 2011: More South Burnett children will have access to specialist ear health services closer to home with the expansion of a mobile screening project. Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson said the program gave aboriginal children in Cherbourg and the South Burnett access to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist without having to travel. "This is an innovative new way to deliver these specialist services to children closer to home," Mr Wilson said. "Under this expansion - part of the Deadly Ears program - mobile screening is being provided in more local schools and day care centres "Before this, children had to go to a hospital or primary health care centre for ear health screening. And many simply did not attend. But by ensuring children can more easily access this important service we're hoping to improve treatment rates and ultimately prevent hearing loss. "We expect to see over 1,000 children screened in the region in the next 12 months, with the proportion of young people who have been screened growing to around 82%." More than 30 students from Years 8 to 12 at Murgon High School were amongst the first screened today. Mr Wilson said the Bligh Government had provided more than $205,000 in new funding to expand the mobile screening program. One staff member is already in place and a second was being recruited and is expected to start work next month. This will take the number of schools being serviced from 15 to 20. Mr Wilson said under the program images of the children's ears are sent to a specialist via a secure wireless internet link to allow their ear health to be assessed rapidly and treatment prioritised. The ear health program is specifically targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, to help address issues around endemic ear disease in the community.