City docs offer hearing help for remote Indigenous kids
Published Monday, 23 October, 2006 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
A team of Brisbane and Cairns-based doctors and nurses will fly to Bamaga today where they will begin a week-long Ear Health Program for children in the remote Indigenous community.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Queensland Health’s Operation MASH (Mobile Air Surgical Hospital) would diagnose and treat children for significant ear problems.
“More than 50 children are expected to be treated for ear conditions that would otherwise be undiagnosed and untreated,” Mr Robertson said.
“Operation MASH is an outstanding example of how Queensland Health clinicians are working together to improve the health of the Bamaga community.
“It involves a team of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons and medical staff from the Logan and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, anaesthetics specialists from Cairns Hospital and surgical nurses from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.”
Mr Robertson said the team would set up a temporary operating theatre in the Bamaga Hospital emergency department.
“Bamaga is not equipped to perform surgery so operation MASH will establish a temporary operating theatre and recovery suite that matches facilities found in regional hospitals in Queensland.
“Led by ENT consultant Dr Bernard Whitfield, the team will perform procedures including adenoidectomy (removal of infected adenoids), myringotomy (repair of a perforated ear drum) and insert grommets.”
Mr Robertson said the project started in September when a team from the Royal Children’s Hospital trained Bamaga health care workers, nurses and education staff to perform basic ear health screening.
“This training is empowering local health care workers to perform hearing tests and refer children to services such as Australian Hearing or ENT specialists,” he said.
"Over two days local staff screened 45 children with outstanding support from families in the local community.
“The follow-up surgical clinic this week is vital to the restoration of hearing health to the children of this remote community where glue ear is prevalent in more than 75 per cent of screened children.”
Mr Robertson said the outreach program would be carried out in four other remote communities over the next twelve months.
23 October, 2006
MEDIA: Matthew Jutsum 3225 2680
MEDIA NOTE: The surgical team are scheduled to arrive at the Cairns International Airport at 9.30 am on Monday 23 October.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said Queensland Health’s Operation MASH (Mobile Air Surgical Hospital) would diagnose and treat children for significant ear problems.
“More than 50 children are expected to be treated for ear conditions that would otherwise be undiagnosed and untreated,” Mr Robertson said.
“Operation MASH is an outstanding example of how Queensland Health clinicians are working together to improve the health of the Bamaga community.
“It involves a team of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons and medical staff from the Logan and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, anaesthetics specialists from Cairns Hospital and surgical nurses from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.”
Mr Robertson said the team would set up a temporary operating theatre in the Bamaga Hospital emergency department.
“Bamaga is not equipped to perform surgery so operation MASH will establish a temporary operating theatre and recovery suite that matches facilities found in regional hospitals in Queensland.
“Led by ENT consultant Dr Bernard Whitfield, the team will perform procedures including adenoidectomy (removal of infected adenoids), myringotomy (repair of a perforated ear drum) and insert grommets.”
Mr Robertson said the project started in September when a team from the Royal Children’s Hospital trained Bamaga health care workers, nurses and education staff to perform basic ear health screening.
“This training is empowering local health care workers to perform hearing tests and refer children to services such as Australian Hearing or ENT specialists,” he said.
"Over two days local staff screened 45 children with outstanding support from families in the local community.
“The follow-up surgical clinic this week is vital to the restoration of hearing health to the children of this remote community where glue ear is prevalent in more than 75 per cent of screened children.”
Mr Robertson said the outreach program would be carried out in four other remote communities over the next twelve months.
23 October, 2006
MEDIA: Matthew Jutsum 3225 2680
MEDIA NOTE: The surgical team are scheduled to arrive at the Cairns International Airport at 9.30 am on Monday 23 October.