The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
Volume 11 / Issue 16 / 29 April 2025

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Building 5 is the new seven level building on the Canberra Hospital campus which opened in August. It houses several critical care services, including the Intensive Care Unit and the new Emergency Department, as well as the main reception for the whole campus. We know people sometimes struggle with finding their way around this campus. Last week Darcy and Kate went there to have a look at how people were finding their way to and around the new building.

We were pleased to see clear signage, both permanent and temporary, guiding people to the new main reception and emergency. Despite this, a volunteer told us that they were still helping people who entered through the old Emergency Department entry, to find their way through to the new entrance. As Kate and Darcy were talking to the volunteer a mother and child came through the old door, looking for the Emergency Department. The volunteer said that they would like to have some dedicated wheelchairs for the team, so they could help patients with mobility issues get to where they are going.

We noticed…

• The new reception area is spacious, feels calm, and is noticeably quieter than the old reception area. Kate and Darcy found the seating to be comfortable. Some high bench seats were unused.
• Most people do not seem to have difficulty finding the new entrance and services.
• Consumers are still confused about which level is the ground floor (it’s marked ‘level 2’ in the lifts). This has been an ongoing issue.
• There were no wheelchairs in the main entrance wheelchair bay for people to use. A receptionist explained that once used, they are left around the campus and people may need to find one. There were also no wheelchairs in the bay at the multistorey car park.
• Some areas, such as the volunteer hub, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lounge and the café on level 4 have not yet been finished.

If you have visited the Canberra Hospital campus recently and have feedback about finding your way around, or other aspects of the new or old buildings that you like, or find difficult, HCCA is interested in your feedback. You can email Darcy Whitmore on [email protected].

You can find information about getting to the new Emergency Department, and a map, on the CHS website here.

Darlene Cox
Executive Director

In this Issue

• Upcoming HCCA Events
• Infrastructure Update
• Policy and Research Update
• Quality Use of Medicines Update
• Health Literacy Update
• Chronic Conditions Network Update
• Items of Interest

Upcoming HCCA Events

Thursday 03 October, 6pm –7:30pm
Venue: Online via Zoom

Join HCCA for our final Managing Your Health webinar of 2024, where we’ll explore ADHD and executive functioning in the workplace. 

We’re excited to welcome two expert presenters, Carla Crossman - Educational and Developmental Psychologist and Executive Director of Spark for Life Psychology, and Emma Sharman an Autistic and ADHD Advocate and Speaker, who will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to support individuals with ADHD in overcoming executive function challenges to thrive in their workplaces. 

Infrastructure Update

The new eating disorder residential treatment centre is now open. It is Australia’s first public residential eating disorder centre. This project had input from the Butterfly Foundation, EDFA Eating Disorders Families Australia, Canberra Health Services, clinicians, and people and families with lived experience.

The centre will provide 24/7 specialised support for people with eating disorders, their families, and carers. It has therapeutic services that include specialist, intensive nutritional, and psychological treatment. The centre has 3 buildings connected with corridors for residential, therapy and consultation needs.

The aim of the centre is to create a home environment, where patients will be provided with real life experiences in growing and preparing food. Appointments start this week. Residential and longer stay treatments will start in the coming weeks. Find more information on the Eating Disorders Clinical Hub website.

On the weekend, Multiplex Constructions began upgrading the Yamba Drive entrance at Canberra Hospital. This project is a partnership with Major Projects Canberra and Canberra Health Services. This project is expected to run for 12 months. It includes:

• new seating
• a dedicated wheelchair collection point
• new art and sculptures to enhance the space
• a new bus stop to improve connections with public transport
• new landscaping and green space
• shade cover to protect from the elements and enhance comfort
• an upgraded courtyard area for staff.

The road and footpath to the Yamba Drive entrance will be closed. However, access to the new Emergency Department and Main Entrance (Building 5) will stay open via Hospital Road. Alternative access through Building 3 will be available starting Monday September 9. You may also see some changes happening in Building 2 with renewal works beginning soon. Patients, visitors and staff are encouraged use the Southern Multistorey Carpark to access the hospital’s new Main Reception and Emergency Department off Hospital Road. For more information about getting around the campus you can visit this website

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ‘Cottage’ program will relocate to a new facility in Lyons in 2026. This is part of preparing for the construction of the new Northside hospital in Bruce. "The Cottage" is a day program that supports teenagers with mental health issues. It will continue to operate at North Canberra Hospital until the move. The new Lyons facility will have access to public transport, green spaces, and recreational activities. The design of this facility will have input from young people, carers, and clinicians. The ACT Government has chosen Billard Leece Partnership Pty Ltd to design the facility. For more information visit this webpage.

— Darcy
(Infrastructure Project Officer)

Policy and Research Update

Canberrans for a Good Death recently launched the results of their survey of Canberran’s attitudes to a potential expansion of voluntary assisted dying eligibility. Jess Lamb from HCCA attended the event at the Legislative Assembly.                

Canberran’s in general are supportive of Voluntary Assisted Dying as is HCCA’s membership. Roy Harvey from Canberrans for a Good Death says ‘there is strong support for widening eligibility for VAD and strong support for doing it sooner rather than later’.

The Policy and Research Team has recently welcomed Sivana Chandra back from leave and she will be full steam ahead on HCCA’s Project looking at the Experiences of people with dementia. You can learn more about the project below.

— the Policy and Research team
(Jess, Stephen, and Shivana)

The HCCA BPSD Project seeks to understand how people living with dementia, their families and carers access health care when living in a residential aged care facility (RACF).

HCCA would like to hear from family or informal carers of:

• people aged 60 years and above or 50 years and above for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who:
• Identify as having a diagnosis of dementia and have experienced BPSD;

AND 

• Are living in a RACF in the ACT;

AND

• Have presented to the Emergency Department or been hospitalised in the last two years;

Confidential conversations will be conducted by HCCA staff.

If you or someone you know might be eligible to participate, please contact Jessica Lamb at [email protected] or phone (02) 6230 7800.

The Project’s findings will be used to develop and improve access to health services to better meet the needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

The HCCA BPSD Project is approved by the ACT Health Human Ethics Research Committee (approval number 2024.ETH.00080) and funded through the ACT Health Directorate.

The Canberra Health Services (CHS) Division of Mental Health, Justice Health, and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS) is undertaking a review of their Clozapine Therapy Guidelines.

If you would like to provide feedback on the draft Guideline, please contact Jessica Lamb at [email protected] or by phoning the HCCA office on 6230 7800. Feedback is due no later than Monday 23 September 2024.

Canberra Health Services is currently developing a Voluntary Assisted Dying Model of Care to be implemented under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2024. Voluntary Assisted Dying will be available in the ACT from 3 November 2025. You can read about Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACT on the ACT Health website.

HCCA would like to hear your thoughts on the draft Model of Care.
To get a copy of the draft, please contact Jessica Lamb via [email protected] or phone the HCCA office on 2630 7800. Feedback can be provided to Jessica until Monday 23 September 2024.

Quality Use of Medicines Update

Our work on the national project - Using Medicines for Better Health - is progressing really well. Kathryn Briant is leading this work for HCCA and is working very closely with the QUM Alliance.

Recently I  recorded a podcast with Australian Prescriber, which was released on 27 August 2024: Quality use of medicines: who owns it now? (tg.org.au) This is a conversation with me and Darlene Cox and Jonathan Dartnell from QUM Connect. The full Australian Prescriber article on which the podcast is based can be accessed at: Quality use of medicines: who owns it now? - Australian Prescriber (tg.org.au)

A range of consumer resources have been developed for eczema and are available through our Consumer Hub.

There are a number of eczema resources still under development too! You can find out more about the Consumer Hub and Eczema resources in our news article.

Health Literacy Update

Ivapene attended the Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism (MACM) Forum discussing key priorities for the ACT multicultural community.

In addition, Ivapene did a short radio interview with Many Scott of 2XX FM - Multicultural Voices – to talk about her role and the work of HCCA.

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

Women’s Health Matters (WHM) is excited to announce the launch of their new website My Pregnancy Options ACT. My Pregnancy Options is your one stop shop for pro-choice, accessible, local and reliable information about pregnancy options, abortion options and contraception options for the ACT.

You may remember that in 2022, the ACT government announced no cost abortions for ACT women and gender diverse people for abortions under 16 weeks gestation, including a communications package. WHM was subsequently funded to develop a website including:

You can use the website to help you make a choice, to understand your choices, or to help someone you know. ACT residents can find a list of GPs and clinics providing no cost abortion services. Head to the website now to find out more! 

As part of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance – Eczema program, Eczema Support Australia is holding a free webinar for consumers. The webinar will be live on Thursday 12 September 2024, at 7:30pm AEST.

“Burning Eczema Questions” brings together dermatologist Dr Li-Chuen Wong and a panel of individuals with lived eczema experience. The panel will answer questions and provide practice advice on managing eczema. A new video resource for the project “Eczema Unfiltered” will also be launched. 

Would you be interested in taking part in a public health research project?

HCCA, in partnership with Sydney Health Literacy Lab, is researching how we can help people who are prescribed anticoagulant tablets for atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).Your experiences and opinions could make a difference for others.

We would like to talk to people who are:

• Based in Australia and over 18 years of age
• An adult prescribed anticoagulants tablets for atrial fibrillation
• A carer of someone prescribed anticoagulant tablets for atrial fibrillation

To sign up for an interview, or to find out more:

• fill in your details here: register for anticoagulants consumer interviews, or
• call HCCA on (02) 6230 7800.

Learn more about the Using Medicines for Better Health Project.

Chronic Conditions Network Update

We had an excellent online Chronic Conditions Network meeting last week focusing on how community organisations can strengthen their advocacy by providing comments and feedback on health policies and guidelines.

The discussion was led by Jessica Lamb, our senior policy officer, and we focused on how feedback can be effective, how can we work together, and is it worth the time and effort? The short answer is YES!

We look forwarding to continuing this discussion our in-person meeting next month.

— Michelle
(Chronic Conditions Network Coordinator)

Items of Interest

a temporary fare free travel system will commence Friday 20 September as the new MyWay+ system is installed in ACT public transport.

System installation begins, including removing the existing MyWay equipment on board buses and installing the new MyWay+ validators both in buses and along the light rail alignment. System user testing will also take place with over 200 Canberrans providing feedback on the new system and its journey planning functionality.

Bus and light rail services will continue to operate as per the scheduled timetable and frequency, however people will not need to pay during the transition period to MyWay+.

Key changes taking place from Friday 20 September 2024:

• Travel will be free - The MyWay ticketing system will no longer be available. Travel on buses and light rail will be free. Customers will not be required to tap on and off during the fare free travel period that is set to finish this November.
• Timetable Information will be available online and at major stops and interchanges - NXTBUS will no longer be available. This includes on board buses at bus stops and stations as well as the SMS service.
• Bus services will continue to operate to the scheduled timetable. Where possible, static timetable information be available at bus stations.
• Light rail will continue to operate to the scheduled frequency. Next stop information will still be available for light rail (onboard and at stops)

Registrations are now open for the National Medicines Symposium 2024. This year’s event will focus on the safe and appropriate use of medicines in an ageing population.

Theme: Ageing well: safe medicines, better lives

Date: Tuesday, 19 November

Time: 10.00 am - 3.00 pm AEDT

Format: Virtual event – featuring individual speakers and panel discussions

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a fact sheet for consumers to provide information about the IV fluids shortage.

Closing date: Monday, 23 September 2024

The ACT Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards recognize those who welcome, collaborate with, support, and improve the experiences and outcomes for people with disability across workplaces, businesses, and the wider ACT community. This year’s awards recognize what it truly takes to be inclusive. From exceptional, innovative work practices to building communities that create and value strong, equal partnerships with people with disability – the Awards are the chance to recognise outstanding achievements happening in Canberra.

The Centre for a Better Canberra, a think-tank at the University of Canberra, has published its first policy paper Thriving Canberra
2024, Better and Fairer Utilization of Community Facility Zoned Land in Canberra. the paper finds that Community allocated land is underutilized, and there is significant demand for more community zoning. The report finds that if utilized correctly, Canberra could gain access to community land approximately the size of O'Connor. 

Find out more here

·                General health 

·                Mental health  

·                Sexual and reproductive health     

**FREE interpreter services available over the phone via the Australian Government’s Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450**

© 2024 Health Care Consumers' Association Inc, All rights reserved. Edited by Darlene Cox.

Our phone number is:
02 6230 7800

Consumer Bites is the newsletter of the Health Care Consumers' Association. Consumer Bites provides a small snippet of health related articles our members might find interesting to consider and analyse. The HCCA does not endorse any opinions or the claims contained within the articles.

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