News

Health professionals keen to learn about wounds management

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More than 150 nurses, aged care workers, doctors, Aboriginal health workers and podiatrists from across the region will attend a sold-out wounds management workshop at the Dubbo RSL this Saturday.

Wounds impact on many of our most vulnerable people including the elderly, people with diabetes, and those who have had surgery and other procedures such as skin cancer removal. This practical workshop will help local practitioners develop skills in the assessment, treatment and management of complicated wounds.

This event is delivered by the Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN), an organisation that funds primary health care services and supports General Practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and Wounds Australia, the peak national body for Wounds Management.

“We are thrilled at the strong response to this workshop, which reflects the health needs of our region,” said Andrew Harvey, CEO WNSW PHN. 

“Wounds Australia is pleased to partner with WNSW PHN to bring some of the state’s top wound specialists to Dubbo and share best-practice for wound prevention and management,” said Anne Buck, CEO of Wounds Australia. 

Diabetic foot ulcers are a common and debilitating complication of diabetes. These wounds need special treatment to support healing, as a lack of management can lead to amputation. Training in managing these wounds is an important focus for the workshop, with Western NSW having higher rates of diabetes than the Australian average. Over 19,800 people are registered with the National Diabetes Service Scheme in the Western NSW PHN area.

The workshop will be led by Peta Tehan, Chair of Wounds Australia (NSW) branch and lecturer at the University of Newcastle’s School of Podiatry. She has many years of experience in both private and public settings, including the High Risk Foot Clinic at the Royal Newcastle Centre and has a PhD (Podiatry).

WNSW PHN is one of 31 Primary Health Networks across Australia that support and strengthen primary health care, working closely with general practice and Aboriginal health services. WNSW PHN offers a comprehensive continuing professional development program to ensure health practitioners in our region have access to locally relevant training.

Wounds Australia is the peak body for wound care and management in Australia advocating, educating and supporting to improve wound management for all Australians. Wounds Australia publishes Standards and Guidelines for best practice in wound prevention and management and runs the annual Wound Awareness Week.

Update April 2020

Ausmed has developed a wound and dressings guide that identifies some of the most common wound types and guide you in setting your aim of care and selecting the best dressing or product to achieve that aim.

Ausmed Wound Care Guide