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Reduce your drinking to reduce your risk 27 October 2020 In Western Australia, one person dies every three days from alcohol-caused cancer. Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen which means there is no doubt it causes cancer, just like tobacco and asbestos – in fact, alcohol is linked to more than 200 diseases, including at least seven types of cancer. There is strong evidence that drinking any type of alcohol increases the risk of cancer in at least seven sites of the body, including mouth, throat, breast, liver and bowel. The statistics speak for themselves, in 2018, one person was hospitalised every 26 minutes for an alcohol-attributable condition. Research has found there is no safe level of alcohol use, and the risk of developing an alcohol-caused cancer increases with the amount and frequency of alcohol use. To reduce how much and how often you drink, try: Having a few alcohol-free days each week. Keeping trac... -
Celebrating our achievements 21 October 2020 The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is proud to release its 2019-20 Annual Report. With almost half the year presenting unprecedented challenges for healthcare in Western Australia putting the spotlight on the pandemic response, it is pleasing to note that WACHS has continued to strive for service continuity and has upheld its commitment to country communities. WACHS services an area of more than 2.5 million square kilometres, with more than 10,000 people working across 110 health facilities- from regional centres to small health sites in some of WA’s most remote areas. WACHS works hand-in-hand with a range of agencies and care and service providers in regional and remote communities. These are some of our achievements this past year and more are detailed in the report: Formal launch of the WACHS Command Centre which brings together new and existing emergency and special... -
Telehealth Awareness Week 2020 is here! 21 October 2020 This week marks Telehealth Awareness Week (TAW20) where the WA Country Health Service is shining a light on our continued progress in harnessing technology to enable a better, more equitable health system. Between March and June this year, at the height of the pandemic here in Western Australia, our outpatient telehealth appointments reached over 49,000. That’s an increase of 84 per cent at a time when maintaining health and wellbeing couldn’t have been more important. Speak with your specialist to find out if you are eligible to receive your next appointment by telehealth. To learn more about our achievements during COVID-19 check out this infographic. For more information about telehealth visit Healthy WA. -
Albany radiation oncology service one step closer for local residents 07 October 2020 The tender for the forward works as part of the $13.1 million Albany radiation oncology service is set to be awarded next month, with construction earmarked for December. When complete, the project will deliver a specialised bunker, known as a Linac Suite, to provide radiation oncology services using high energy x-rays which destroy cancer cells. The forward works include improvements to parking, vehicle access and vital site preparation such as ensuring the bunker is housed safely and can protect patients, visitors and staff from potential exposure to radiation. Great Southern Regional Director Geraldine Ennis was pleased to note the important project was progressing well. “Having a radiation oncology service locally means Great Southern cancer patients who currently need to travel to Perth or Bunbury for multiple treatments will be able to remain close to family, friends and ... -
Country communities to receive specialist stroke advice 24/7 02 October 2020 Around 700 people in rural Western Australia suffer from a new stroke every year, with regional Australians 19 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than those living in metropolitan areas. Due to their geographical location, it is important that country residents have speedy and streamlined access to specialist stroke consultants. Understanding this, in 2015 the Department of Health partnered with the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and metropolitan health service providers to establish the WA Acute TeleStroke Service to provide stroke patients with access to specialist consultants who are based in metropolitan tertiary hospitals. Since then, there has been a 400 per cent increase in country patients receiving access to clot retrieval treatment, with 37 patients in 2018/19. The WA TeleStroke Service will soon be expanded to operate 24/7 so that country communities and people liv...
Last Updated:
24/01/2024