#2328_WSLHD_CPH_YIR 2023_4A_WEB

Health professionals/clinicians

HEALTH PREVENTION

Expert advice for immunisation providers Our Immunisation team provided support and advice to general practice and other immunisation providers through phone calls, practice visits and educational events. 2023 outcomes: • Helping to plan 452 catch-up vaccination schedules of overdue children and adults. • Investigating and supporting practices to manage 117 cold chain breaches. • 24 immunisation cold chain audits. • Detailed assessment of vaccine storage and handling practices of 14 practices requesting a NSW Health Vaccine Account Number • Post-exposure immunisation advice for 77 people bitten or scratched in Australia and overseas by bats and other animals. • 6 webinars and a face-to-face event delivered for GPs and practice staff in areas with low vaccination uptake, in partnership with WentWest Primary Health Network.

Belinda Ferris from the Immunisation team.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Maternity linkages with Population Health

Throughout 2023 we strengthened our relationship with maternity clinicians and senior staff across WLSHD to embed a preventive population health approach in the care provided to pregnant women and their babies. This will help to ensure the best start to life for all babies born in western Sydney as part of the First 2000 Days Framework. Some of the integrated population health approaches include: • Screening pregnant women for conditions that can be passed to their babies such as syphilis and hepatitis B. • Using a smokerlyzer to screen for tobacco use. • Discussing tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, healthy diet and physical activity and support services such as Get Healthy in Pregnancy and Quitline with pregnant women. • Encouraging breastfeeding. • Weighing and measuring babies and children to monitor healthy growth. • Supporting parents and carers to immunise children against vaccine preventable diseases.

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WSLHD Centre for Population Health Year in Review 2023