RCH in the news - 2003
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New child safety handbook to prevent accidental injuries - 24 December 2003
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What is Brachial Plexus Palsy? - 19th November 2003
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Hotel staff and patrons raise $16,000 for children with cancer - 28th October, 2003
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New booklet helps parents manage children's pain - 9th October, 2003
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Commemorating a piece of Melbourne's heritage - 26th September 2003
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‘Billy’s Rocket Ship…travelling through the galaxy with a brain tumour’ - Book launch Tuesday 29 July, 2003
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Mothersafe – a new service at the Royal Children’s Hospital - 4 August 2003
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Family Resource Centre opens at Royal Children’s Hospital - 18th June 2003
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Thanks Victoria, For Another Good Friday - 25 April 2003
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'Spare part' surgery is a world first for Royal Children's Hospital - April 8th 2003
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Schools and hospital work together to promote good mental health - - April 1st 2003
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Home monitoring makes life easier for kids and families - 20th March 2003
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Managing young cancer patients pain and fears with Cello Lullaby - Thursday 13th March, 2003
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New treatment for new borns' problem - 5th March 2003
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New diabetes support for kids: Athlete helps hospital to help kids stay on track - 31st January 2003
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Royal Children's Hospital Confirms discussion on Grant - January 8 2003
New child safety handbook to prevent accidental injuries
Media release: 24 December 2003
Australian Athlete, Lauren Hewitt recently launched the new Royal Children's Hospital Child Safety Handbook to prevent accidental injuries to children aged 6-12. This handbook was launched to the public in December.
In 2001, there were 2,499 hospital admissions and 9,432 Emergency Department visits in Victoria from children aged 10-12.
"The Royal Children's Hospital Child Safety Handbook is a resource guide for parents of children aged 6-12. The aim of the handbook is to educate parents about how to protect their children from accidental injuries in the home, farms, school, playground, and it covers water and road safety," said Manager of the Royal Children's Hospital Safety Centre, Helen Rowan.
"We need to reduce the number of unintentional injuries to children in Australia and this handbook will show parents how to avoid accidents and injuries to children in the home and external environments," said Helen.
This handbook was developed with the Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education Office and Association of Independent Schools of Victoria and various health and safety advisory groups. The Royal Children's Child Safety Handbook will be distributed to all Grade 6 students throughout Victoria.
"Parents can obtain a free copy of the Royal Children's Child Safety Handbook by calling the Royal Children's Safety Centre on (03) 9345 5085. The cost of the handbook has been subsidised by local businesses through advertising," said Helen.
For further information please contact:
Annessa Conquest (03) 9345 5138
The Royal Children's Hospital
Public Affairs Department
What is Brachial Plexus Palsy?
Media Release - 19th November 2003
Plastic surgeons, physiotherapists and occupational therapists at Royal Children's Hospital have produced a booklet 'Understanding Brachial Plexus Palsy' to inform and support parents, general practitioners and obstetricians dealing with this unpredictable childbirth injury.
The brachial plexus is the large network of nerves extending from the neck into the arm. The brachial plexus can be injured during childbirth when a baby is larger than average, however newborns of all sizes can suffer a brachial plexus injury. A weakness of the arm is immediately obvious when the injury has occurred. The muscle that the nerve serves will be inactive and begin to deteriorate, the arm may not grow normally and muscles and joints may tighten. Treatment involves an immediate physiotherapy regime followed in many cases by up to six hours of microsurgery.
"The Royal Children's Hospital leads the way in assessment and treatment of children with this injury and is one of only a few centers around the world offering such treatment," said plastic surgeon Mr Bruce Johnstone. "It is the only hospital in Australia to have a multi-professional clinic devoted to this condition."
Most hospitals report one to two babies being born with a brachial plexus injury per 1000 births.
"Difficulty delivering the baby's shoulders is fortunately uncommon, but mostly unpredictable and unavoidable," said obstetrician Dr Sue Walker. "When it occurs after delivery of the baby's head, prompt delivery of the baby is essential to avoid any problems due to impaired oxygen supply. Referral to a multi-disciplinary team, such as the Royal Children's Hospital, offers these children and their families world class intervention, support and rehabilitation to ensure optimal long term outcome."
The booklet was recently launched at Royal Children's Hospital. To obtain a copy of the booklet contact the Plastic Surgery Department on 9345 6583
Media enquiries contact Julie Webber 9345 5522 and page.
Hotel staff and patrons raise $16,000 for children with cancer
Media release - 28th October, 2003
Buying a cup of coffee can assist ill children. By charging hotel patrons a small fee for coffee the Olympic Hotel staff and patrons have raised $16,225 for the oncology department at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
A cheque to the 'My Room' Committee was recently presented by, Managing Director of Olympic Hotel in Preston, Joe Marcocci and General Manager, Paul Pavlou to Mary McGowan from the Children's Cancer Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital.
"Through personal experiences and Jo's involvement with the 'My Room committee,' our first choice to raise funds was the Children's Cancer Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital," said Paul Pavlou, General Manager at Olympic Hotel.
"Over the last five years we have been heavily involved in our fundraising. Our staff raffle meat trays and a slab of beer every Friday night to our customers. We also keep a tally board of our fundraising efforts so customers are aware of the amount raised for the hospital," said Paul.
"It's a fantastic effort by the staff and customers at The Olympic Hotel. They have raised approximately $38,500 over five years to support the Cancer Centre to update the facilities of the Day Chemotherapy Unit," said Mary McGowan.
"We would like to thank Crown Coffee, University Meats, Olympic Hotel staff and all their patrons for their ongoing support of our fundraising activities for the Royal Children's Hospital," said Paul Pavlou.
For further information please contact:
| Annessa Conquest Public Affairs- Royal Children's Hospital |
9345 5138 |
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| Paul Pavlou, General Manager of Olympic Hotel |
9484 4978 or 0412 074 487 |
New booklet helps parents manage children's pain
Media release - 9th October, 2003
Parents can learn how to manage their children's pain more effectively with a new booklet, 'Pain, Pain, Go Away: Helping Children with Pain'. The booklet was launched by the Children's Pain Management Service at the Royal Children's Hospital on Thursday 9 October.
"In October we're celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Children's Pain Management Service. We decided to launch this booklet to help parents manage their children's pain and explain the process to children, said co-author of the booklet, Stephanie Dowden, Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Children's Pain Management Service.
"The booklet, 'Pain, Pain, Go Away: Helping Children with Pain' gives vital information to parents to help them detect and manage their children's pain. It explains medical terms and lists common medications for children. The booklet also outlines actions and behaviours that don't help children with pain, for example, you should never lie to your child about their medical procedure or give them false reassurance, such as "it won't hurt at all," said Stephanie Dowden.
Vivian Monitto, aged 13, recently had surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital for scoliosis. "The nurses helped Vivian to manage the pain and played music to help her sleep. I was really impressed that the nurses from the Children's Pain Management Service called me once we had left the hospital to make sure that Vivian's medication was being taken correctly, said Vivian's mother, Liliana Monitto.
To obtain a copy of the booklet, 'Pain, Pain, Go Away: Helping Children with Pain' parents can phone (03) 9345 6429, or purchase the booklet for $2 from the Children's Health Information Centre in the main foyer of the Royal Children's Hospital.
For further information please contact:
Annessa Conquest
The Royal Children's Hospital
Ph: 9345 5138
Commemorating a piece of Melbourne's heritage
Media release - 26th September 2003
A commemorative plaque has been placed at the site occupied by the Royal Children's Hospital from 1876 until it moved to its current site in 1963.
Dame Elisabeth Mudoch D.B.E. and Mr Gordon Moffat former Chairman of Trust, the company which currently owns and occupies the site on the corner of Pelham and Rathdowne Streets in Carlton, unveiled the plaque at an event attended by guests from the hospital and Trust. The plaque was then placed on a restored pillar, the only remaining remnant of the original building and classified by the National Trust in 1982.
Dame Elisabeth became president of the hospital in 1954 and continued the struggle of her predecessor to move the hospital from Carlton and build the new children's hospital on its present site in Parkville. She was determined to provide Melbourne with the best possible facilities for the care and treatment of sick children, and for paediatric teaching and research. This year marks the 70th year of Dame Elisabeth's relationship with the hospital.
The committee of management of the 'Melbourne Hospital for Sick Children' purchased 'Carlton Gardens', the home of Judge Sir Redmond Barry in 1875, for the grand sum of 10,000 pounds. After extensive renovations and modifications it was officially opened as a children's hospital on September 27th 1876. By 1912, the original house was demolished to make way for urgently needed surgical wards.
When the hospital was first established in September 1870 it was known as the 'Free Hospital for Sick Children', but the name 'Melbourne Hospital for Sick Children' became the more familiar name from 1871. In 1903 the committee formally changed the name of the hospital to 'Children's Hospital', and the 'Royal' prefix was granted in October 1953.
Contact Julie Webber on 9345 5130 for further information.
A photograph and story about this event appeared in the Herald Sun 26th September 2003.
‘Billy’s Rocket Ship…travelling through the galaxy with a brain tumour’
Book launch at the Royal Children’s Hospital - Media Release Tuesday 29 July, 2003
Childhood brain tumours account for the most common solid tumour (cancer) in childhood and the Royal Children’s Hospital diagnoses around 35 primary school aged children with brain tumours and treats around 150 each year.
Today at 10.30am, Peter Schwab, Coach of Hawthorn Football Club will be launching an educational interactive book about brain tumours for primary school children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
‘Billy’s Rocket Ship…travelling through the galaxy with a brain tumour’ aims to educate and heighten awareness of this complex and serious child illness. To be used within a primary school setting in conjunction with the Department of Clinical Haematology and Oncology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, the book will be supplied to each classmate and classmates of siblings of primary school aged children diagnosed with a brain tumour at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The book provides basic information about childhood brain tumours, treatments and common symptoms experienced by a child with a brain tumour through an activity based story.
“Having seen first-hand the impact a brain tumour can have on a child in terms of school attendance and importantly integration with classmates and the general school community, ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ will play an important role in assisting a child to return to school during and post completion of treatment,” said Peter Schwab.
“The treatment for childhood brain tumours represents one of the most complex illnesses in paediatric health. Children are faced with a daunting journey of lengthy periods of hospitalisation and treatment, which may include a combination of surgery, together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Awareness of this ‘journey’ and support from the child’s school and wider community is vital,” said Dr John Heath, Consultant Haematologist and Oncologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The book was written by Lisa Buchner, a special education teacher who is the author of several other children’s books on topics such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ was written with assistance from the Department of Haematology and Oncology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute, the Children’s Brain Tumour Association, and Schering-Plough Pty Ltd.
| What: When: Where: |
Book launch of ‘Billy’s Rocket Ship’ Tuesday 29 July, 10.30am Royal Children’s Hospital, Ella Latham Meeting Room Flemington Rd, Parkville |
For further information, please contact Annessa Conquest, Public Affairs, Royal Children's Hospital, tel: 9345 5138 or page on 9345 5138.
This event received the following media coverage:
- Channel 7 news
- Channel 9 news
- The Age – story and photo
- ABC National Radio, The World Today - interview
- Magic 693 radio news
- 3AW radio news
- 3AK - interview
- Perth 6PR radio news
Mothersafe – a new service at the Royal Children’s Hospital
Media Release 4 August 2003
The Royal Children’s Hospital has launched a new service for pregnant women called Mothersafe.
Mothersafe is a clinical teratology service provided by the Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit and is based on the model developed by the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women Mothersafe Service.
As the only teratology service in Victoria, Mothersafe aims to:
- Provide a consultative counselling service for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women planning pregnancies who may have concerns regarding drug exposure (prescription medications, over the counter preparations and complimentary and alternative medications).
- Determine any possible risk, exposure may have during pregnancy and/or lactation to the mother and child.
- Offer short term and long-term follow-up of infants for minor and major malformation and neuropsychological development.
- Provide a resource and education program to community health care professionals, medical, pharmacology and nursing undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates.
- Promote research activities and contribute to the collection of information on the use of drugs in pregnancy and lactation and their safety.
“Through the service we aim to strengthen our association with international teratogenic information services and contribute to their extensive databases on the safety or risk of drugs and chemicals in pregnancy and lactation,” said Associate Professor Noel Cranswick, Director of the Paediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Guidelines for referring patients.
- Physician referral
- Exposure to known or suspected teratogen
- Chronic illness
- Women requesting a clinic visit
- Exposure to new drugs
- Exposure to complimentary and alternative medicines.
The Mothersafe Clinic will be run from 4pm to 7pm every Tuesday. GPs requiring further information about the service should contact Associate Professor Noel Cranswick on 9345 6987 or Tria Williams on 9345 4702, Monday to Friday.
For Media enquires, please contact Annessa Conquest, Public Affairs, Royal Children's Hospital, tel: (03) 9345 5138
The Royal Children's Hospital launches betterdiabetes.com, Australia's first on-line personal patient record
Media Release - 16th July 2003
The Royal Children's Hospital has introduced Australia's first on-line personal patient record, BetterDiabetes.com for children and adolescents with diabetes.
Launched at the hospital on Wednesday 16th July as part of National Diabetes Week, BetterDiabetes will enhance the care of patients with Type 1 diabetes by enabling patients to take responsibility for their own medical records.
BetterDiabetes is a new way for patients to manage their diabetes and communicate with their diabetes care team. The on-line personal patient record will create an up-to-date lifelong health record and will include current issues, test results, glucose readings and insulin dosage.
By using BetterDiabetes, patients will be able to:
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Access their patient record via an internet website.
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Create a lifelong health record that the patient owns and controls.
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Have an accurate summary of their diabetes history, including all clinic visits.
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Load glucose readings directly into their health record.
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Track and graph all measurements and test results - glucose, height, weight, HbA1c (long-term control checks).
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Send a secure message to their diabetes educators asking for advice on how to best manage their diabetes and receive a secure message in reply.
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Authorise diabetes educators to view agreed parts of their BetterDiabetes record to help them give the best advice.
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Have access to their health record 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.
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Set up an emergency health record on the internet.
"Living with diabetes can be overwhelming for some of our patients. BetterDiabetes.com is an empowering internet strategy that has the potential to simplify care, improve communication and motivate both our metropolitan and regional patients to take responsibility for their diabetes care," said Dr Fergus Cameron, Head of Diabetes Services at the Royal Children's Hospital.
BetterDiabetes has been designed and purpose-built as a joint undertaking between the Departments of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Information Services at the Royal Children's Hospital and Global Health Ltd, a leading Melbourne-based health IT company providing innovative health IT solutions.
For further information, please contact Annessa Conquest, Public Affairs, Royal Children's Hospital, tel. 9345 5138 or page on 9345 5138.
This event received the following media coverage:
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Channel 7 News
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The Australian - article and photo/online
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ABC Radio
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Nova FM
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Gold 104
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Mix 101.1
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3AK
Family Resource Centre opens at Royal Children’s Hospital
Media Release - 18th June 2003
Families visiting Royal Children’s Hospital now have a brand new space to call their own. The hospital’s new Family Resource Centre was officially opened by Minister for Health The Hon Bronwyn Pike MP on Wednesday 18th June.
The centre is a bright comfortable and inviting space where parents can share lunch with family and friends, attend to the needs of their children, or just sit and rest for awhile.
Families with children staying in hospital use the FRC to escape from the ward. They can attend to business or personal needs in the FRC business centre or simply relax with other siblings and family members.
Many families arrange to have several outpatient appointments on one day to avoid repeated visits to the hospital. This means they spend a long and tiring day at the hospital so the FRC is a welcome refuge for them. They are also able to store bags and belongings safely rather than carry them round the hospital.
This new facility will benefit thousands of families who come to the hospital each year to visit children or to attend outpatient appointments. Last year 30,997 children were admitted to RCH and 273,053 outpatient appointments were made.
Some of the facilities provided in the FRC include
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A spacious lounge area for relaxing
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A multi-purpose meeting room
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A resource room containing health related videos, books and brochures
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A business centre with inter-net, email, photocopying and fax facilities
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A kitchen for families to prepare light snacks
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A dining area with an adjacent play room
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An outdoor balcony for relaxing or escaping
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Private cubicles where parents can attend to children’s needs
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Secure lockers for storing personal belongings during the day
The Centre is open from 9am till 5pm weekdays and hospital staff and volunteers are on hand to assist families with information or other requirements.
Three fundraising groups joined together to provide $270,000 to establish the FRC: Uncle Bobs Club which has supported the hospital for many years, Bluey Day, the police and emergency services annual fundraiser, and The Leukaemia Foundation.
The centre was planned and designed in consultation with consumers such as the Association for Children with A Disability, the Chronic Illness Alliance and the Islamic Community who are represented on the hospital’s Community Advisory Committee.
Please contact Julie Webber Public Affairs Manager RCH - 9345 5130 or 0407 327 418.
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Minister Bronwyn Pike and Community Divisional Director Christine Minogue. |
Uncle Bobs Club |
Bluey Day |
The Leukaemia Foundation |
All photos by Peta Philp, ERC.
The Royal Children’s Hospital supports the funding of pneumococcal vaccine
Media Release - 16th June 2003
Clinicians at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital are supporting the Meningitis Centre in their efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of this disease and encourage funding of a pneumococcal vaccine for all infants under 2 years of age. Meningitis is an inflammation of the outer covering of the brain and spinal cord. It is a serious condition with bacterial meningitis resulting in severe outcomes with a fatality rate of between 5-20%.
The majority of meningitis cases in Australia are caused by the pneumococcal and meningococcal germs. In 2003 the National Immunisation Program began funding a vaccine to protect children between 12 months and 20 years of age against meningococcal C.
The focus of Meningitis Week 2003 is on pneumococcal disease, which is an equally life threatening disease but far more prevalent among infants than meningococcal. The pneumococcal germ causes a number of infections ranging from ear infections and pneumonia to life-threatening meningitis.
A vaccine is now available to help protect children against pneumococcal disease. Because the disease affects babies and toddlers, the vaccine needs to be given as early as possible at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Infants who commence this vaccine at one year of age require only two doses, and one dose is required if commenced at 18 months. However, because the majority of severe cases are seen as infants it is best to protect babies as early as possible.
The effects of pneumococcal meningitis in infants can be extreme.
- About 5-10% of infants die.
- Children who survive can have brain damage that affects their ability to learn and develop.
- Many have long term intellectual disabilities.
- Many have fits.
- Many have deafness.
- Over 20% will have severe long term problems.
- A large percentage will have minor long term effects which include significant behavioural problems.
- Children who survive pneumococcal meningitis are about twice as likely to suffer severe long-term problems than those who survive the meningococcal meningitis.
The conjugate pnuemococcal vaccine has been available in Australia since December 2000. It offers excellent protection against seven of the common types of the sinister pneumococcal disease. However a lack of awareness, as well as the high cost of the vaccine, prevents many families from accessing it. Each dose of pneumococcal vaccine ranges in price from $110 to $185.
Consider:
- Since the introduction of Hib vaccine in Australia in 1993, meningitis due to the Hib germ is almost eradicated.
- The meningococcal vaccine is now available and will prevent about half of the meningitis cases due to meningococcal disease.
- The pnuemococcal germ has now assumed the place as the commonest form of meningitis in children under 5 in Australia.
Doctors at Royal Children’s Hospital support the call for drug companies to lower the price of the vaccine and for government to fund the vaccine to protect babies in the community from this terrible disease.
RCH vaccine expert Dr Jenny Royle is available for interview or comment.
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Julie Webber |
Tina McCarthy State Co-ordinator -The Meningitis Centre 0405 484 897 |
This issue appeared on ABC’s 7.30 Report on Tuesday 17th June 2003.
Thanks Victoria, For Another Good Friday
Media Release - 25 April 2003
The patients, families and staff at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital have over nine million reasons to say ‘thanks Victoria’.
That’s how much generous Victorians donated to this year’s annual Good Friday Appeal — $9,806,373.03 to be exact!
Money raised by the Good Friday Appeal supports medical research and the purchase of medical equipment. This year the hospital will purchase a state-of-the-art CT scanner at a cost of more than $2million.
The appreciation of everyone at the hospital goes out to the thousands of people who work tirelessly all year and on Good Friday to support the appeal.
Groups such at the Pied Pipers, Uncle Bobs Club, Safeway staff, just to name a few have given special support to the appeal and the hospital for many years.
The RCH Auxiliaries exceeded their previous total again and raised an incredible $1,321,995.50.
Thanks Victoria from the kids!
 RCH Staff (Picture by Jay Town, Herald Sun). |
 Effie pictured with 3 East staff on Good Friday. |
 Cadbury's Easter Bunny visiting intensive care staff on Good Friday. |
'Spare part' surgery is a world first for Royal Children's Hospital
MEDIA RELEASE - April 8th 2003
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Plastic surgeon Mr. Chris Coombs performed a world first procedure at Royal Children's Hospital by using a little boy's 'extra' finger as a spare part on his other hand.
Timothy Hristodoulou, now four years old, was born with hand deformities. Tim's parents Sandra and George knew from prenatal tests that he would be born with some problems. However they viewed his hand deformities as purely cosmetic problems that could be fixed.
Tim's left hand was described by his mother as a 'lobster claw'; he had a thumb, an index finger, no middle finger, a ring finger and a half-pinky finger. The ring finger and pinky were fused together.
His other hand was almost right - except for the spare little finger between his pinky and ring finger.
Eighteen months ago Tim's index finger was moved to where the missing middle finger should be to close the cleft in the middle of his hand. And in February this year, Mr Coombs successfully removed the spare finger from Tim's right hand, separated the ring and little fingers on his left hand and microsurgically relocated the spare finger to its new position, atop the half pinky on Tim's left hand.
Such a procedure has not been documented anywhere in the world. Mr Coombs is confident the surgery has been successful and Tim will eventually have a fully functioning left hand.
"When we are confronted with unusual problems in reconstructive plastic surgery you sometimes have to 'think outside the box' to find the answer that best suits the problem", said Mr Coombs. "In Tim's case we have been able to maximize the function and aesthetics by microsurgically transferring this 'spare part' ".
Tim's parents couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome of the surgery. He returned to kindergarten this year with his hand in a splint and has been entertaining his classmates with party tricks - wriggling the new pinky from within the bandages.
Sandra and George look forward to Tim beginning school in two years with two hands - just like his classmates. Media is invited to meet Tim, his parents and Mr Chris Coombes at RCH tomorrow.
- DATE Wednesday 9th April 2003
- TIME 10.30am
- PLACE Ella Latham Meeting Room, 1st Floor
Royal Children's Hospital - ENQUIRIES Call Julie Webber 9345 5522 and page or 0407 327 418.
This story gained coverage on all television coverage Australia wide, on all networks. The story and pictures appeared in: Herald Sun, The Age, MX Newspaper.
Schools and hospital work together to promote good mental health
Media Release - April 1st 2003
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Daniel Andrews will attend Debney Meadows Primary School in Flemnington on April 1st to launch the 'Festival for Healthy Living Step by Step Guide For Schools'.
Mr Andrews will join principal Ms Terese Heally, staff and students from Debney Meadows, and staff from Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Service to celebrate the launch of this resource for schools.
Students from Maiden Gully Primary School near Bendigo, participants in last year's Festival for Healthy Living, will also attend and perform at the launch of the guide.
Mr Harry Gelber from RCH Mental Health Service devised the Festival for Health Living five years ago. It's an exciting and creative approach to mental health promotion for children and young people. Since the festival was established, genuine partnerships have developed and grown between the mental health, education and arts sectors
"Through performing arts, the program teaches children the skills to deal effectively with the issues that confront them in everyday life", said Mr Gelber. "The 'Festival for Healthy Living Step by Step Guide for Schools' assists schools to deliver their own Festival for Healthy Living. Schools may follow the model and adapt it to their individual environments, thus leading to a celebration of the achievements of students", he said.
The guide provides schools with access to professional development in areas of the arts and mental health promotion: its purpose is to assist schools to conduct their own successful Festival for Healthy Living.
Terese Heally said Debney Meadows Primary School is delighted to be participating in the festival for the first time this year. "We have many students from non-English speaking backgrounds and the festival provides them with an opportunity to explore their feelings in a non-verbal way", said Ms Heally.
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EVENT: |
Launch of 'Festival for Healthy Living Step by Step Guide for Schools' |
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DATE: |
Tuesday April 1st 2003 |
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TIME: |
11.00am |
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PLACE: |
Debney Meadows Primary School, Victoria Street Flemington. |
Students from Debney Meadows and Maiden Gully Primary Schools will perform at the launch. Harry Gelber and Terese Heally are available for comment.
Media enquiries please contact Julie Webber RCH Public Affairs 9345 5130 or 0407 327 418.
New research study to measure the value of music therapy in treating sick infants
Media Alert - 24 February 2003
A new research study to investigate the benefits of music therapy in newborns has begun. The study is being conducted by the Music Therapy Unit at the Royal Children's Hospital, researchers at the University of Western Sydney and other research partners*.
The three year study will seek to determine whether music therapy can help sick babies to recover faster and aid in their communication development.
The study will involve 80 babies from the Royal Children's Hospital Neonatal Unit, divided into two groups. One group of infants will receive music therapy for four weeks, a control group from the unit will not receive music therapy during the study (but will be offered the therapy later), while another control group of healthy babies (from the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne) will also be recruited as a healthy control group for the study.
According to Royal Children's Hospital Music Therapist, Helen Shoemark, "As part of the study I will gently stroke, hum and sing melodies to each baby. The melodies are created in response to how the baby feels at the time. It's like writing the baby their own song to encourage them to communicate."
Each session will be recorded and researchers will look for any signs of physiological improvement such as changes in heart rate, weight gain, or an interactive response. They will also assess the way communication develops and compare this with the other two control groups to see if there's a significant improvement.
The Royal Children's Hospital is one of only two institutions in Australia to run a music therapy program in its Neonatal Unit. The program has been running for seven years and has provided much needed intimate contact to seriously ill babies, many of whom have undergone numerous invasive procedures. Music therapy also helps to encourage parents to make an emotional connection to their baby.
It is hoped that the research findings will establish the importance of music therapy and lead to more effective treatments for seriously ill newborns.
For further information, please contact Kate Stronach, Public Affairs, 9345 5138.
The story attracted the following media coverage:
- Channel 7 News 7.30 Report
- Channel 2 Sunrise
- Channel 7 Sky News
- Australia Sun Herald
- Sydney Drive 2SM - radio interview
*The Research Program is funded through an Australian Research Council Linage Project grant. The program is being run by the MARCS Auditory Laboratories at the University of Western Sydney in conjunction with the Royal Children's Hospital, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, the Mercy Hospital for Women and the University of Melbourne.
Home monitoring makes life easier for kids and families
MEDIA BRIEFING - 20th March 2003
Royal Children's Hospital is the first hospital in Australia to trial home monitoring for children and young people taking warfarin, a blood thinning medication. Approximately eighty RCH patients, aged from 1 - 22 years of age are taking warfarin and most of them will take the drug for the rest of their lives. The majority are cardiac patients.
Parents have undergone a rigorous education program before being allowed to do these tests at home. This included two weekend sessions with Fiona Newell, the anti-coagulation nurse. A true partnership is established between the family and the hospital in caring for the child.
Currently, the children must visit the hospital regularly - some come in weekly, others every two to three weeks - for a finger prick test to check their response to the drug: a low response indicates an increased risk of a blood clot, a high response can lead to haemoraging. Either outcome is life threatening for these children.
The families who being trained to participate in the trial are excited about it, as it means they no longer need to make the regular trek into RCH which can be time-consuming and disruptive for school and work.
In addition to being the first hospital to support home monitoring, RCH is the only hospital in this country to monitor these children by finger prick, rather than taking blood from the veins. Veins can be hard to find in many children making it a painful procedure, especially for children needing regular blood tests.
Managing anti-coagulation in children is more difficult than with adults, because children taking warfarin have significant medical conditions and undergo changing medication regimes; despite the difficulties the RCH results are better than those published anywhere else in the world.
For media enquiries contact Julie Webber 9345 5130
Managing young cancer patients pain and fears with Cello Lullaby
Media Release - Thursday 13th March, 2003
Children with leukaemia and other cancers at Royal Children’s Hospital are being soothed during medical procedures with specially selected music played by Australia’s leading cello duo and recorded in a 115 year old school chapel in Melbourne.
Cello Lullaby was devised by the hospital’s Dr Catherine Crock and recorded to CD, and will be available for public release following its launch at the hospital on Thursday March 13th.
Dr Crock recognised the need to calm children in operating theatres before and during regular oncology and haematology procedures, such as lumbar punctures and bone marrow aspirations.
Leading Australian cellists, Alfred Hornung and Niall Brown agreed to perform, and well known recording engineer, John Rowland provided his services free of charge.
Five year old leukaemia patient Kristin Cartledge enjoys the cello CD’s calming influence in theatre and looks forward to meeting Alfred and Niall at the CD launch on Thursday.
The CD was recorded at the Melbourne girls’ school, Sacre Coeur, known to all those involved in this project for it’s excellent acoustics.
‘Cello Lullaby - music for rest, relaxation and sleep’, has been trailed in the operating theatres at Royal Children’s Hospital and is proving to be effective not only with the young patients and their parents, but also with staff, who find it helpful in relieving stress.
Families with babies and young children will also enjoy the relaxing atmosphere Cello Lullaby will create in the home.
Media is invited to join us at the launch.
- DATE: Thursday 13th March 2003
- TIME: 10.30AM
- PLACE: Ella Latham Meeting Room, Royal Children’s Hospital
- PICTURE OPPORTUNITIES:
Five year old leukaemia patient Kristin Cartledge will meet Alfred Hornung and Niall Brown.
Alfred Hornung and Niall Brown will perform at the launch.
This event received the following media coverage:
- Herald Sun story and picture
- Channel 9 news
- Channel 7 news
- ABC news radio
- 3AK radio interview
Cello Lullaby can be purchased from selected Australia Post stores and at the RCH Foundation (telephone 9345 7030).
New treatment for new borns' problem
Media briefing - 5th March 2003
A neonatal expert at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne has developed an alternative way to treat meconium aspiration, a problem that occurs in newborn babies. A newborn baby at RCH is the first in Australia to undergo this new treatment.
Meconium is a black sticky material that comes from the fetal intestine. It is normally passed in large amounts after birth, until normal bowel actions set in about day 4-5. Meconium is occasionally passed into the amniotic fluid before birth, putting the fetus at risk of inhaling the noxious material into the lung. The disease that results is called meconium aspiration syndrome, which can be very severe, and often require many days of respiratory support on a ventilator in high amounts of oxygen.
Dr Peter Dargaville's research has led to a new method of treatment that appears to reduce the need for long periods of ventilation and result in a speedier recovery for these babies. The randomized trial recently began at the hospital and Callum underwent this new treatment on March 3.
Callum was born on March 2 with respiratory distress and transferred to the neonatal unit at RCH. Early-onset respiratory distress and meconium staining of the amniotic fluid indicated meconium aspiration sydnrome, and x-rays confirmed this diagnosis.
Babies with this condition are extremely sick and require sedation and long periods on high ventilation with the subsequent possibility of lung damage.
The treatment developed by Dr Dargaville involves cleansing the lungs with a soapy solution, suctioning the fluid out and repeating the cleansing action.
Callum is now doing remarkably well and expected to go home early next week.
This story received the following media coverage:
- ABC TV news in Tasmania
- ABC TV news in Melbourne
- 3RN Melbourne radio news
- ABC statewide radio news
- 774 ABC Melbourne radio news
New diabetes support for kids: Athlete helps hospital to help kids stay on track
Media release 31st January 2003
Royal Children's Hospital has introduced a new way of helping children and young people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels.
RCH is the first hospital in Australia to use the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in routine clinical care. The CGMS checks blood glucose levels every 30-seconds and stores the information to memory. Kids and their clinician can review a 72-hour period to help them identify what activity may have caused a swing in their blood glucose levels.
The device consists of a small meter the size of a mobile phone, attached to an electrode that is inserted under the skin. The patient wears the device for 72-hours. It's particularly useful for very young patients who are coming to terms with the disease, and teenagers who are rebelling against the restraints of the illness.
The hospital has been using CGMS for about four months with great benefits to patients and clinicians.
'It's the best thing to have occurred in terms of giving us the information we require to monitor blood glucose levels,' said the diabetes nurse educator, Rebecca Gebert.
'The monitors are expensive and time consuming for staff, but they provide the patient and clinician with blood glucose profiles which could not be obtained by conventional blood glucose monitoring - unless you did 20 blood glucose finger-pricks a day! It is a fantastic clinical tool'.
Funding for the devices came via international sprinter David Baxter and his involvement with Tattersall's Champions Dream Team, a program that rewards the achievement of career milestones by selected champion athletes by donating money to their chosen charity.
By making the Commonwealth Games team, and winning a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay David achieved two goals last year, and Royal Children's Hospital reaped the benefits.
David is a medical student with a special interest in juvenile diabetes: on Friday he will meet 18 year-old Casey and Darcy, 6, when they are fitted with monitors. Fifteen year-old Glenn recently used the monitor and will also be here to tell David how it helped him.
- TIME: 10AM
- DATE: Friday 31st January 2003
- PLACE: Green Desk, Ground Floor outpatients department, RCH
Please call Julie Webber on 9345 5130 or 0407 327 418 for further details.
This story appeared on Channel 9 news on 31/1/03 in Melbourne, Newcastle, Tasmania, Tamworth, Lismore, Gosford, Port Macquarie.
Royal Children's Hospital confirms discussion on Grant
Media Release Wednesday January 8 2003
The Royal Children’s Hospital confirmed it has been having discussions with an American philanthropic organisation, Atlantic Philanthropies, over a proposed $25 million donation to develop the role of the hospital in improving the health of children in Australia and developing countries in the region.
A spokesperson for the hospital said it was an extremely attractive offer from Atlantic Philanthropies which was being actively pursued by the hospital and its research partner the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
A condition of the donation is that the hospital and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute must match the grant with $25 million from other sources.
The hospital is now beginning to explore alternative funding opportunities to raise the $25 million, the spokesperson said.
Any funding will need to be over and above the existing fundraising activities of the hospital, which are so important in supporting existing services, the spokesperson said.
Issued By:
- Ken Davis
- Manager
- Public Affairs
- Women’s and Children’s Health
- Tel; (03) 9345 7058
- Mobile 0402 117 924