November 27, 2024The Hon Ged Kearney MP Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, recently visited Bundoora Centre to attend an event hosted by Wounds Australia as part of Wound Awareness Week.
Ms Kearney had the privilege of meeting 91-year-old patient Shirley McKenzie, who lives with hard-to-heal wounds and receives treatment by the Chronic Wound Service at Bundoora Centre.
Also in attendance was Wound Awareness Week Ambassador Professor Fiona Wood AO, who is a highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon, and is known for her work pioneering the innovative ‘spray-on-skin’ which reduces scarring in burn victims.
Wounds Australia CEO Jeff Antcliff also attended, along with Debra Bourne, Chief Executive, Northern Health, various chronic wound service clinicians including Dr Katy Melrose, Clara Walker, Mei Zeng, Sally Graham and members from the leadership team including Hospital Without Walls Director Johanna Hayes and CTS manager Sue Hull.
Clara Walker, Wound Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), said the event helped raise awareness around the issues people living with hard-to-heal wounds face.
“One of these significant issues is the large financial cost associated with dressing products,” she said.
“The recently announced Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme will hopefully assist some patients with the cost of these dressings, and Wounds Australia’s five point plan to solve Australia’s chronic wound epidemic will address challenges affecting patients and clinicians.”
The Chronic Wound Service at Northern Health commenced more than two decades ago, with Dr Katy Melrose, Chronic Wound Geriatrician and Sue Hull, Community Therapy Services Director joining the service shortly after its inception.
Northern Health has three chronic wound sites at Bundoora Centre, Craigieburn Centre and Broadmeadows Hospital. Each site is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team including a geriatrician, wound CNC, registered nurse, podiatrist and dietician.
“Our service offers face-to-face centred based and home based reviews including Residential Aged Care Facilities. This service provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment, advice and education,” Clara said.
“Clients undergo a comprehensive medical and wound assessment including diagnosis, and will be provided treatment, advice and education. A wound management plan will be prescribed and we work closely with community nursing providers and GP’s who will provide regular wound care.”
“Anyone with a hard-to-heel wound – defined as a wound that has failed to heal within four weeks – is eligible for the service.”
“We are very blessed to work with other Specialities at Northern Hospital Epping including Vascular, Residential In Reach, Dermatology, Plastics, HITH and PAC.”
Earlier this year, Cassie Bramston and the Virtual Victorian Specialist Consults (VVSC) setup a telehealth state wide Chronic Wound Service to benefit bush nursing centres and regional nursing homes.
