NIHRACS Weekly Update At 3 August 2022

Norfolk Island Patients’ Travel Accommodation and Assistance Service (NIPTAAS) Reminder

When your NIHRACS GP refers you to Australia for medical treatment or investigations please remember to collect a NIPTAAS claim form for accommodation and travel reimbursements before you leave Norfolk Island.

The claim forms can be collected from the hospital front office or are available on the NIHRACS website. www.norfolkislandhealth.gov.nf

Please be reminded that it is your responsibility to collect signatures from the hospital or clinic for each appointment in order to obtain your reimbursement.

Health and Wellbeing Expo 2022

The Health and Wellbeing Office along with the planning group are in the process of organising the Health & Wellbeing Expo to be held on Saturday September 10 subject to the COVID-19 situation at the time. The last Expo was a huge success with a wide range of Health & Wellbeing exhibitors as well as healthy food options. If you would like to have a table at this year’s Expo to showcase your business or organisation, or would like to sell healthy food, please contact Maria Massey on email: maria.massey@hospital.gov.nf or call 22687 for more information. Medication Safety Tips

Medication safety is an important topic that we as providers and patients often overlook. As we age, we tend to add more and more medications to our drug regimen. Adding medications may increase the risk of drug interactions. The older we are, the harder it is on our bodies to break down and process these medications. Whether you are the one on multiple medications or caring for someone who is, medication safety is something we can all use more education on. Below are five important tips to help you or a loved one when it comes to medication management.

1. Ask questions to get the information you need about medicines and make better informed decisions. For example, how do I take the medicine, when do I take the medicine, are there common side effects?

2. Know it’s a medicine. Medicines don’t just come on prescription – they include over-the-counter medicines from a pharmacy, supermarket or other store, as well as herbal remedies, vitamins and other supplements.

3. Know the active ingredient. Active ingredients are what make your medicines work. If your pharmacist offers you an alternative brand of prescription medicine, you can be sure it will work the same way as your usual medicine.

4. Always follow instructions from your doctor or pharmacist and read the labels and packaging of your medicines carefully. For more detailed information, read the

NIHRACS Weekly Update

At 3 August 2022

Consumer Medicine Information leaflet which is available for prescription and pharmacist-only medicines.

5. Keep track of all your medicines. Keep a current list of your medicines on paper to keep with you, especially on visits to your doctor, pharmacist or to the hospital. You can use the NPS Medicines List, or use the free MedicineWise app on your smartphone.

Welcome to Dr Sue Fletcher

Dr Nitin Gupte, Dentist, is on leave, returning in late January 2023. Dr Sue Fletcher will be in the leave relief position.

Dr Sue Fletcher graduated from the University of Western Australia and has been practicing for many years, mostly in private practice. She currently lives in Perth, Western Australia.

These days, she visits only her favorite places as a locum dentist. Sue first visited Norfolk Island in 2021 when she saw an ad for a two-week locum. She couldn't believe her eyes, as a visit to Norfolk Island was on her bucket list, and when she arrived it well and truly lived up to expectations. She loved both the island and the people, and has since returned three times. This time she will be here up until Christmas, and is really looking forward to catching up with her patients and friends.

Dr Sue has extensive experience working in remote places where it is difficult for patients to access good dental care, so can manage tricky dental problems which normally would need to be referred to a specialist. She is more than happy to have a chat about your dental concerns, and see what can be done for you on island.