Albino Support Group

Provides information and support for those affected by albinism.

c/o 921 Bringelly Rd, Bringelly 2556
Phone: (02) 4774 8565
Fax: (02) 4774 9096

Australasian CHARGE Syndrome Association

Offers support and information to parents of children with this condition. Supports research and holds a conference every two years.

PO Box 91, Glenfield NSW 2167
Phone: (02) 9605 8475
Fax: (02) 9605 8759
Email: austcharge@hotmail.com
Website: www.austcharge.com.au

Australian Lung Foundation

PO Box 847, Lutwyche Qld 4030
Phone: 1800 654 301
Fax: (07) 3357 6988
Email: enquiries@lungnet.com.au
Website: www.lungnet.com.au

Campbelltown Area Parkinsons Support Group

Information and support for persons with Parkinsons Disease and their families.

Campbelltown City Library,
Cnr Hurley St and Camden Rd, Campbelltown NSW 2560
Phone: (02) 4626 4959

Disease Reporting

Under the Public Health Act 1991 and Regulation, doctors are required to notify the following diseases:

By phone as soon as possible
- Foodborn illnes (>= two linked cases)
- Gastroenteritis (in an institution)
- Measles
- Pertussis
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Smallpox

By phone or mail
- AIDS
- Acute viral hepatitis
- Adverse event following immunisation
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
- variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
- Leprosy
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis

Notification Mechanisms
Please initiate case notification within 24 hours of diagnosis. Notifications should be directed to the local Public Health Unit. Doctors and hospital chief executive officers (or their delegate) should provide information specified in the Doctor/Hospital Notification form, either by telephone or in writing. AIDS is reported on the AIDS Notification form. In order to protect patient confidentiality, notifications must not be made by facsimile machine except in exceptional circumstances and when confidentiality is ensured. All notifications are strictly confidential. Infectious diseases notification forms are available from your local Public Health Unit and can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/forms/.

South Western Sydney Public Health Unit
Locked Bag No 7017, Liverpool BC NSW 1871
Phone: (02) 9828 5944
Fax: (02) 9828 5955

Doctors' Health Advisory Service

Phone: (02) 9437 6552
Website: www.doctorshealth.org.au

Down Syndrome Association

Phone: 1800 811 629

Federal Privacy Commissioner

GPO Box 5218 Sdney NSW 2001
Phone: 1300 363 992
TTY: 1800 620 241
Fax: (02) 9284 9666
Website: www.privacy.gov.au

Genetic Counselling Services

Association of Genetic Support Australia: (02) 9211 1462
Genetic Information / Education: (02) 9926 7324
Pre natal diagnosis / Counselling: (02) 9926 7280

The Gut Foundation

Provides professional and public education and promotes research into digestive disorders to improve gastrointestinal health.

C/o Gastrointestinal Unit, The Prince of Wales Hospital
Barker St, Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 9382 2749
Fax: (02) 9382 2828
Email: gutfound@gut.nsw.edu.au
Website: www.gut.nsw.edu.au

Heart Moves

Heart Moves is a low to moderate exercise program suitable for anyone who has not done any exercise in a while. It is run by accredited fitness leaders specifically trained in managing low to moderate exercise programs. The program is open to everyone and is designed to be safe for people with cardiac or diabetic conditions. It is suitable for people:
- who are concerned about exercising
- have high blood pressure
- are overweight
- have diabetes
- have a heart condition
- who have had heart surgery
- have high cholesterol, or
- want to continue exercising after rehabilitation

Phone Heartline: 1300 362 787

High Risk Foot Clinic

Conducted at Liverpool Hospital by podiatrists mainly for neuropathic problems. Orthotics issued.

Phone: (02) 9828 3000

Macarthur Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Conducted at Campbelltown Hospital Physiotherpay Department for patients with chronic obstructive airways disease, referred by a doctor. Excluded patients are those with mental disorders, cardiac disease, or learning dysfunction. Each Group has 10 patients and runs twice a week for eight weeks with follow up at 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients can also drop in if they have concerns. There is usually awaiting list.

Phone: (02) 4634 3888

Post Polio Network NSW - Campbelltown Macarthur

This group maintains contact by telephone exchanging information.
Phone: (02) 9618 2279

Privacy NSW

Level 17, 201 Elizabeth St Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box A123 South Sydney NSW A1235
Phone: (02) 9268 5588
Fax: (02) 9268 5501
Email: privacy_nsw@agd.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/pc

Private Health Insurance Ombudsman

Suite 1201, Level 12, 31 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9261 5855
Freecall: 1800 640 695
Fax: (02) 9261 5937
Email: info@phio.org.au
Website: www.phio.org.au

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

Facts about Prostate Cancer
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer, after lung cancer. Approximately 10,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Australia.
- 2,600 men per year die from prostate cancer in Australia each year. Therefore approximately 9500 men with prostate cancer die of some other cause. Most of these men are in the older age group - over 70 years of age.
- Although men's awareness of prostate cancer has increased over the past two years, only about 15% of men are appropriately tested with a combination of PSA and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE).
- Early curable prostate cancer is without symptoms.
- It can be difficult to differentiate between aggressive cancers and those with a more slowly growing history.
- Prior to testing for prostate cancer, patients need to be adequately informed of the pereceived benefits and the risks.
- Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) in men are almost always from benign disease. Prostate cancer is usually advanced before causing LUTS.

What is my overall risk of prostate cancer?
If there is no family history, a man has a 1 in 12 risk of developing prostate cancer in his lifetime.
If a first degree relative (brother or father) has a diagnosis of prostate cancer, the risk increases 5 fold.

What tests should I have?
Most organisations representing those who treat prostate cancer including the Urological Society of Australia recommend that men between the ages of 50 and 70 with a ten year life expectancy or greater should be aware of regular testing by PSA and DRE after informed consent.

How often should I be tested?
Annually from 50 to 70, unless there is a family history of prostate cancer, inwhich case it should be annually from 40 to 70 years of age.

Are ther dietary recommendations to prevent prostate cancer?
There is some evidence that a number of substances may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. These include selenium, reducing fat intake, lycopenes (which can be found in cooked tomatoes, tomato sauces and ketchup) and possibly Vitamins D and E.

What motivates the patient/partner to enquire about prostate cancer?
Men (or very often their female partners) will be concerned because of family history or symptoms from benign disease. They also may enquire due to an increase in awareness or a friend having a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

What do I tell an asymptomatic 50 year old man?
If they are interested in being tested, they should be couselled concerning the pros and cons of testing for cancer of the prostate. However, it wwould seem entirely appropriate that any informed patient requesting testing should be entitled to do so.

If the patient requests to be tested
A DRE and PSA are the recommended method of investigation. The risks of tesing should be explained, i.e. that an abnormal result will probably require specialist intervention and most likely a prostate biopsy which is a test with few side effects, the main one being infection (less than 3%). Furthermore, a diagnosis of organ confined prostate cancer may lead to intervention with potential side effects such as impotence and less commonly incontinence and bowel problems.

Some Reasons FOR Testing
- Early stage prostate cancer seldom has any symptoms but can be tested by the PSA and DRE tests
- Prostate cancer is often curable if detected and treated early
- The use of PSA and DRE to detect prostate cancer early may reduce the likelihood of death from prostate cancer
- Once prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate, it is very unlikely to be curable
- Side effects of treatment are potentially fewer with early diagnosis anf treatment
- A very low PSA level (less than 1) is associated with a very low chance of developing and dying of prostate cancer and this can be reassuring

Some Reasons AGAINST Testing
- An abnormal PSA test does not indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
- An abnormal result may require additional invasive testing and treatment.
- To date there is no clinical trial evidence that PSA testing saves lives.
- Some cancers grow slowly and do not threaten life but there are currently no tests to identify these less threatening cancers.
- All treatments of prostate cancer have side effects.
- The side effects of potentially curative treatments for locallised prostate cancer include the risk of impotence, less commonly urinary incontinence and bowel problems.

Phone: 1800 220 099
Website: www.prostate.org.au

Quitline 131 848

Quitline 131 848 is a free confidential telephone based service primarily designed to help smokers quit smoking. It can also provide assistance to the family and friends of smokers and others requesting information about smoking. I you are not fluent in English an interpreter service is available. By call Quitline you can:
- be sent a free Quit Kit
- take advantage of talking to our specially trained Quitline telephone counsellors
take part in our callback and follow-up service

What is the Quit Kit?
The Quit Kit provides you with plenty of ideas on how to quit and stay a non-smoker. It contains:
- a Quit because you can booklet, which includes a step-by-step guide to quitting
- Products to help you quit smoking brochure which outlines products known to be effective in aiding quitting. This brochure includes information on bupropion (Zyban) and nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches, gum, lozenges, sublingual tablets and inhalers.
- You can Quit pocket guide that contains simple messages and hints on how you can stay a non-smoker

Telephone Counsellors
The counsellors are specialists who have been trained in health / education / psychology and smoking cessation. They know the health effects of smoking, understand the quitting process and are aware of the difficulties many smokers face in quitting. They are friendly, helpful, non-judgemental and able to assist you at whatever stage you are at in the quitting process. The counsellors can:
- give you advice about quitting smoking
- help you assess your level of nicotine dependence
- provide strategies on preparing to quit, preventing relapse and staying a non-smoker
- provide information on products and services to help you quit
The counselling and information service operates 8.30am to 9.30pm weekdays.

Callback and Follow-up Service
The callback service is available for smokers who would like further help with their efforts to quit smoking. Up to six follow-up phone calls can be scheduled throughout the most difficult period of quitting. This service has proven to be very popular as it can help to keep you motivated and on track. Once you have nominated a quit date, a Quitline counsellor can call you on the following days to help you through the process of quitting:
- the day before your quit date
- within the first two days after your quit date
- within the first week of your quit date
- twice within the following three weeks

The callback service can be tailored to meet your individual needs. You elect how many callback phone calls you wish to receive. You will be offered a follow-up call three months after your quit date just to check on your progress.

Quitline 131 848: 13 1848

Sleep and Chest Disorders Centre

It is SCDC's aim to promote greater awareness of the importance of sleep health to a person's general wellbeing. They provide the following sleep health brochures for your information:
- Living well with narcolepsy
- Restless legs syndrome & periodic limb movement disorder
- Sleep well, live well
- Sleep your way to the top!
- The dangers of drowsy driving
- What are sleep studies all about?
- Why can't I sleep?

Level 1, 23-25 O'Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9221 1211
Fax: (02) 9238 0588
Email: info@sleepcentre.com.au
Website: www.sleepcentre.com.au

The Wales Day Centre Colorectal & Proctology Clinic

Has a website focussing on colorectal and proctology patient education.

66 High St, Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 9399 5411
Fax: (02) 9398 1837
Website: www.wales.com.au

Wound Clinic, Macarthur

Conducted at Rosemeadow Communiity Health Centre. Primary Health Nurses are available to advise GPs.

Phone: (02) 4633 4177