Media release
From the Minister for Health
Friday, 6 October 2006
WINNING PROGRAM SCRATCHES MORE THAN THE SURFACE
An Australian first in the health of eczema sufferers has changed the life of children affected by the chronic, debilitating itch and has been recognised by Health Minister Bronwyn Pike at a major Victorian healthcare award ceremony.
Announcing the winner of the Innovation in workforce design category of the annual Victorian Public Healthcare Awards last night, Ms Pike said the eczema program run by Royal Children’s Hospital made an outstanding difference to many Victorian families.
“This program is giving families back their lives and giving parents back their children, a priceless outcome for any public healthcare program,” Ms Pike said.
“Aside from saving lives, changing people’s lives for the better is the single most important achievement our hospitals can strive for, and RCH’s nurse-led eczema workshops have achieved that.”
Ms Pike said the workshop includes a three-hour session with a specialist nurse involving a physical assessment, extended education, demonstration of treatment, plus follow-up support from advanced nurse consultants.
“Since 1999, this program has turned around the lives of 250 children each year, empowering parents to be more confident in managing their child’s condition better at home, saving time in hospital and easing the suffering for the whole family,” Ms Pike said
“Eczema affects up to 30 per cent of Australian children and the disease is often physically and psychologically disabling and has been shown to be more stressful and costly than asthma and type 1 diabetes.”
The program has seen 73 per cent of workshop patients improve the severity of their condition, compared to 40 per cent for patients in clinician-led care. Parental satisfaction was at 86 per cent in the workshop as opposed to 44 per cent for the alternative clinics.
The awards, judged by 86 experts from the Victorian healthcare industry lead by respected health commentator Dr Norman Swan, have attracted hundreds of entrants and are now the biggest event on the State’s public healthcare calendar.
“The quality of entrants for this annual award event set the bar at a new level this year, with many deserving entries unable to be recognised, really emphasising the strength of the Victorian public health system,” Ms Pike said.
Media contact: Ben Hart on 9651 5799 or 0407 445 551