Gold Coast Health Executive Director of Strategy and Service Planning Toni Peggrem sat down with Gold Coast Bulletin Chief Reporter Kathleen Skene.

Gold Coast Health is helping families to improve their lifestyle during Australia’s Healthy Weight Week.

Mothers who have caesarean births can now share the first minutes of their baby’s life, thanks to technology being trialled at Gold Coast University Hospital.

Brave five-year-old Gold Coaster Maddison today practised to become the youngest Gold Coast Health patient to have an MRI without the need for general anaesthetic.

Maddison, who turned 5 this week, was diagnosed with transverse myelitis last year, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment of the spinal cord. 

Gold Coast Health has welcomed the next generation of nurses who will start work in wards across the health service’s two hospitals.

This year’s intake of 149 Registered Nurses are completing a comprehensive orientation before heading into the clinical workplace in areas such as emergency, medical, palliative care, mental health and more at both Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals.

Gold Coast Health is the first Queensland health service to introduce an extended orientation for graduate doctors to provide a supportive transition from medical school to the hospital ward.

A total of 91 new graduate doctors started their internship at Gold Coast Health today.

The health service has extended orientation from one week to a fortnight to give interns the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the hospitals, services and clinical practice and procedures.

Advice from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates that temperatures in the Gold Coast area will reach 36 degrees over the next five days.

The hottest days forecast for Nerang and Coomera are Thursday and Saturday, with Surfers Paradise expected to reach 35 degrees on Saturday and Robina to hit 34 on Thursday and Saturday.

These temperatures are above what is normally expected in Queensland for this time of year.

Gold Coast Health’s Dr Anu Anuradha advised Gold Coast residents and visitors to take precautions to avoid heat stress during this time.

Gold Coast Health is urging the city’s residents and visitors to be alert for signs of heat-related illness as the summer holiday season begins.

More than 40 Gold Coasters were treated at Gold Coast Health emergency departments for heat-related illness from July 2015 to June 2016.

Public Health Medical Officer Dr Anu Anuradha from the Public Health Unit said it was important residents look after their health by staying cool and hydrated. “Heat-related illness occurs when the body overheats and cannot cool itself down,” Dr Anuradha said.

Patients living with a life-limiting illness are being offered telehealth consultations to improve quality patient care.

The contemporary approach by the Community Palliative Care Team increases access to consultants, reduces travel and inconvenience for patients, carers and families and improves patient satisfaction.

The team, which currently actively cares for about 400 patients living in the community, has delivered almost 100 consultations via telehealth since the model of care was introduced in March this year.

Gold Coast parents have been urged to be vigilant this festive season to avoid an unnecessary trip to the emergency department.

Gold Coast Health paediatric emergency specialist Dr Christa Bell has urged parents to be especially watchful of children around bodies of water, medications and household cleaning agents.

“We know Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate with family, but with busy households, curious little ones can quickly find themselves in trouble,” Dr Bell said.