Alfred Health

Alfred skin cancer specialists took to the cricket this week to offer free skin checks at the Renegades v Hurricanes match. Hosted by MSCAN, the team from the Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred conducted checks while sharing tips on what to look out for on your own skin. "Staying on top of your own skin is the best way to ensure you are ‘spot safe’ and can make the difference for early detection," Prof Victoria Mar, head of the Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred and pictured with Renegades batsman Josh Brown said. “The simplest approach is to look out for significant change in size, shape or colour, and ‘ugly ducklings’ – those moles that don’t look like the ones around them." To learn more about checking your own skin, visit https://bit.ly/42zZrSv

We asked our staff what they are grateful or thankful for this year and – with the help of Alfred Bear – we created this little video to share what some of them said keeps them coming back to work for themselves, for their teams, and in support of our wonderful community. As we approach the end of 2024, thank you to our incredibly talented and committed workforce of healthcare workers and other professionals.

As we approach holiday season, doctors at The Alfred’s Emergency and Trauma Centre are issuing a crucial reminder to the public: road safety is everyone’s responsibility. With the hot weather, family events, end of year celebrations and exciting summer road trips on the horizon, it can be easy to lose sight of the basics, but doing so can have serious consequences for ourselves and the people around us. Deputy Director of Emergency Services at Alfred Health Rohan Laging said he's witnessed a clear increase in road trauma admissions over the summer months. "We often see serious road trauma injuries to the head, chest and abdomen, most of which require treatment by a team of emergency workers and trips to the operating room,” Dr Laging said. Dr Laging said everyone has the ability to ensure our collective safety. Not only that, but the steps to take are simple. “If you’re getting on a scooter, put on a helmet. If you’ve had a few drinks, don’t drive. If you’re going on a long car trip, schedule breaks. “If you’re in a hurry, take a moment and make sure you’re in the right frame of mind to be driving a one-ton vehicle made of steel and glass,” Dr Laging said. "It might sound basic, but these actions save lives – not only that, but they ensure you get to enjoy your summer and not spend it with me in the emergency department.”

For the past two decades, nurse practitioners have been enhancing the patient experience at Alfred Health, providing structured advocacy and education, advanced clinical care, and working with teams to support patients through to discharge and beyond. Luke, a nurse at The Alfred for 22 years, began his journey in the nurse bank before advancing to a specialised nurse practitioner role in continence care, eventually expanding his practice to address critical gaps in urology services. "When I started working more in the urology space, I noticed opportunities for innovation in patient care,” Luke said. "Continuing to think critically about the patient journey allows us to make things better for them - like where are we seeing them come back, what conditions are bringing them back, how often is that happening and how can we improve that?" More: https://bit.ly/3BoWpY8

Today, we jointly announced that Alfred Health, Peninsula Health and Kooweerup Regional Health Service will merge in 2026 to create a new and larger health service – Bayside Health. The formation of Bayside Health (working title) will provide care for a population of more than 1.1 million Victorians, enhance patient care and increase opportunities for everyone who works in our health services. We know that together we can deliver better, safer, and more convenient healthcare for our community into the future. Full announcement: https://bit.ly/3OOJJgj

We are delighted that our own Professor Eric Chow has been awarded the Health Services Research Association Australia and New Zealand (HRSAANZ), Mid-Career Investigator Award. An STI epidemiologist and biostatistician at Alfred Health’s Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC), Prof Chow is being honoured for his significant and lasting contributions to health services research aimed at improving the treatment, prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). “I am extremely honoured to receive this award which recognises the real-world impact of our work in improving the accessibility and effectiveness of sexual health services in Victoria,” Dr Chow said. “This achievement would not be possible without the incredible collaboration between our research team and clinicians at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. Together, we are improving people’s sexual health and providing safe, professional, and non-judgemental care for Victorians.” Congratulations Professor Chow and thank you for your invaluable work!

It’s not often you associate Alfred skin cancer specialists with Hollywood stars. But as part of the fight against melanoma, Prof Victoria Mar and Prof Mark Shackleton have joined patients, sporting heroes, media icons and celebrated actors in the new documentary Conquering Skin Cancer. As a country, we remain united in the fight against Australia’s cancer, said Prof Mar, Director of the Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred. “It’s so important that we try to reach as many people as we can with the sun safety message." “If we can continue to change our sun-seeking habits, commit to prevention across generations, and emphasise the importance of early detection, we can beat this disease.” Critics have said the moving documentary is a film that could change, or save, your life. Don’t miss out – head to https://lnkd.in/gK-8ZWVQ to find a screening near you.

The hardest conversations to have can often be the most important. It’s why we partnered with our friends at the Epilepsy Foundation and Monash University in the creation of a video to improve clinicians’ awareness of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). The sudden, unexpected death of someone from epilepsy often occurs during sleep with no clear cause. The best way of preventing SUDEP is to lower the person’s risk by preventing seizures. Senior Research Fellow and Head of SUDEP Research at Alfred Health Dr Shobi Sivathamboo said patients and families are often completely unaware of SUDEP, and that needs to change. “The possibility of dying from epilepsy is daunting — patients have a right to know, but clinicians are often reluctant to talk about it,” said Dr Sivathamboo. “While SUDEP risk can’t be eliminated altogether, empowering patients to make informed decisions and manage their risk starts with conversations like this.” The video is being shared across our professional network and can be viewed by anyone here: https://bit.ly/3OFCyHg

As our Women’s Recovery Network (Wren) celebrates its first birthday, the team behind it remains more focused than ever on increasing access to the pioneering mental health service. When Wren opened in 2023 it was in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system. The review called for the creation of a single gender mental health service. One year later, Wren remains Australia’s only single gender ward accessible through the public health system. It’s a safe space that director of the Women’s Statewide Mental Health Service Dr Jennifer Babb describes as a crucial service for Victorian women. “Wren is what happens when we listen and act,” Dr Babb said. “It’s why Wren is so much more than a women’s only unit; it delivers gender specific and trauma informed care.” While visiting Wren and meeting with clinical and lived experience staff, Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt described the service as “a real exemplar of for the rest of the state.” “This is what the reform to our mental health system is all about,” Minister Stitt said. “It’s being able to make lasting change to the services that are available, as well as building new models of care.”

This Sunday, 1st December is World AIDS Day. It’s a day to come together in the fight against HIV and remember those we have lost to an AIDS-related illness. HIV Prevention Nurse Heidi Metcalf said it’s also a day to show support to those who are living and thriving with HIV in 2024. “It’s not the HIV from the 90s or 2000s. Thanks to antiretroviral treatment, there is a growing volume of patients in our community who are living long, productive lives with HIV,” said Heidi. “The experience of HIV is like living with any other chronic condition. For people living with HIV, it's something to be aware of but it does not define them.” You can show your support by wearing a red ribbon. A booth staffed by our wonderful friends and volunteers at Thorne Harbour Health has been set up in the main corridor of The Alfred.