The cost of chronic wounds in Australia is estimated to be $3 Billion per year, impacting 420,000 Australians. Not only is this a national economic concern, but more importantly, is the suffering the person may be going through.
Australian Health Journal met with Hayley Ryan, Board Director and Chair at Wounds Australia and Director at WoundRescue to hear her work in chronic wound management, palliative wounds and pressure injury prevention to comfort those living with a wound.
Hayley has over 22 years’ experience in nursing and has 18 of these in wound care during this time. Hayley has a passion for healing wounds as a Clinical Nurse Consultant across Australia and New Zealand.
She gave testimony at the Royal Commission into Aged Care in July 2019, through the Wounds Australia’s submission, on several topics including: wound care statistics, the causes of wounds, prevention of wounds, the use of appropriate wound dressings, substandard wound care, and recommendations to improve wound management within aged care.
In this interview Hayley talks about how she first got interested in wound management before talking through the current issues with wound management in the Australian health system. These issues include access, education and awareness as a health priority.
Hayley also talks about Wounds Australia’s 11 Point Plan. It has been produced to be a clear and effective blueprint for governments to follow. The plan draws on the knowledge and skills of Australia’s top wound care experts to dramatically cut patient numbers and the funds to treat them.
There is a goal in handling the complications of delivering treatment across primary care, community care, hospital and aged care settings turning into a more defined and streamlined process.
In terms of growth in specialist wound care knowledge in health workers, Hayley talks about the education and training pathways health care professionals can take, including through Wounds Australia, Monash University and Wound Rescue.
You Might also like
-
Psychiatrists to discuss connectedness at RANZCP 2023 Congress
Next week, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) meet for the RANZCP 2023 Congress on the theme of “New Horizons: Connected Futures”
Australian Health Journal spoke to current President-Elect Dr Elizabeth Moore and soon to be President, RANZCP about the Congress, as well as the recent Federal Budget announcements around mental health funding.
-
Dental and oral health care priorities for the elderly
In 2023, there are a number of changes occurring in dental services including the start of a new Senate inquiry and new registered nurses in residential aged care. Yet in the meantime there are gaps and delays in dental and oral health interventions for elderly Australians, unless training is more widely deployed.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Leonie Short, a dental therapist working for Seniors Dental Care Australia on what she considers are dental and oral health priorities for the elderly, based on her work in the aged, home and disability sectors.
-
SAHMRI Celebrates 10 Years of Research
SAHMRI represents an exciting and unique statewide concept, bringing together basic and translational research, South Australia’s three universities and the health system. SAHMRI works in collaboration with its partners to provide a clear focal point for health and medical research, including paving the way for new partnerships, innovative research projects and improved health outcomes.
Executive Director, Professor Maria Makrides spoke to Australian Health Journal about 3 achievements in the past 10 years that have had significant impact
International leadership breakthroughs in leukaemia research
Culturally appropriate Indigenous health research and clinical care
Omega 3 fatty acids as a preterm birth prevention