Outpatient Services

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

Diabetes educators help people who have diabetes or who may develop diabetes. They can help you understand and look after your diabetes.

Some reasons to come and see a diabetes educator:

• You have just learned you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
• To learn to live with diabetes.
• To learn how to look after your diabetes.
• You are confused or worried by your diabetes.
• To learn about testing your blood sugar levels (how, why and when)
• You need to start a new diabetes medicine or insulin
• You need an update on current treatments

Your diabetes educator can provide information on:

• What is diabetes?
• How to manage when you are sick.
• The different medicines for diabetes.
• How healthy eating and exercise can help keep you well
• Helping you to avoid other health problems.
• Type 1 diabetes – avoid the lows and highs.
• DAFNE – Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating program

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

A dietitian can assist you with working out what to eat if you have:

• Diabetes – Type 1, Type 2 and gestational
• a food allergy or intolerance
• Hyperlipidaemia
• Gastroenterology – irritable bowel, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis
• Weight loss (but only when associated with a medical condition)
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Undesirable weight loss due to substance abuse, cancer, loss of appetite
• Osteoporosis
• Renal disease (but only when client accessing medical supports)

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

Occupational Therapists help people to do everyday activities safely.

For example:

• Showering, dressing and grooming
• Getting in and out of a chair or bed
• Meal preparation and cooking
• Household chores

They can visit your home and other places you go to, to see if any changes can be made to make it easier and safer for you. The Occupational Therapist may suggest some changes to how you do some activities. They may recommend equipment, modifications or techniques to make it easier and safer for you to do things.

For example:

• hand rails in the bathroom and toilet
• ramps or handrails to help you go up and down stairs safely
• shower chairs to increase safety in shower
• wheelchairs and other aids to help your mobility
• ways to help reduce the risk of you falling
• working with you to achieve your goals
• coping with fatigue
• ways to help management of memory difficulties
• pain management and relaxation
• minimise risk of developing pressure ulcers

(03) 5722 5194

8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday

The Oncology Day Unit provides chemotherapy and supportive treatments to people affected by cancer. It also provides a range of treatments for people with other chronic illnesses.

The unit was redeveloped in 2009 using funds raised by the local community. There are eleven chemotherapy chairs and one bed in a spacious, well lit environment in which family and friends of patients are welcome. The Oncology Day Unit embraces a patient focused model of care.

Location

The Oncology Day Unit is located on the ground floor of Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) between the Cafe and the Medical Imaging Department. You can access the unit by coming in the front entrance of the hospital on Green Street, turning left into the main corridor and walking past the cafe to the unit on the left. Alternatively you can come in through a dedicated driveway entrance that is situated between the Emergency Department and the main entrance where you are welcome to drive in to be dropped off or picked up.

Parking is available on the streets around the hospital. Cusack Street and Green Street in the block towards the overpass have all day parking. The area directly in front of the hospital is two hour parking.

Medical Services

Patients receiving chemotherapy in the unit are under the care of Medical Oncologists at Border Medical Oncology in Wodonga. Medical staff from NHW provide support to patients and staff in the unit.

 

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. It works by destroying or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy mainly affects fast-growing cells, like cancer cells. Other fast-growing cells can also be affected, like the cells that cause hair to grow. There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs. Usually, people have several at the same time but sometimes only one is used.

The aim of chemotherapy may be to cure cancer, to relieve symptoms, to help other treatments work better or to improve survival.

 

Who works in the unit?

The unit is staffed by enthusiastic and dedicate cancer nurses. Other support services are available and can be arranged for you when you are receiving treatment in the unit. These include:

• social work
• dietetics
• psychology
• pastoral care
• breast care nurses
• lymphoedema therapy
• palliative care
• district nursing
• stomal therapy
• physiotherapy

 

What to expect

When you arrive at the unit you should check in at the front counter and you will be shown into a chair in the ward area.  On your first visit you will have a discussion about your treatment and side effects with one of the nurse and you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

It is a good idea to arrange for someone to drive you home after your first appointment for treatment. You might be able to drive yourself for subsequent treatments depending on how you feel.

 

What to bring

Some chemotherapy treatments can take several hours so you are welcome to bring a friend or family member for company, something to read or music to listen to.  There is a portable DVD player that you can borrow for use while you are in the unit.

Morning tea, a light lunch and afternoon tea are provided. There is also a well stocked lolly jar should you need some sugar during the day.

Bring a list of current medications you take including over the counter preparations such as vitamins, herbal or natural medicines. Take your usual medications unless your doctor has told you not to. Eat your usual breakfast before you come.

What to wear

You should wear comfortable clothes with loose sleeves as most chemotherapy drugs are given through an IV drip that will be inserted into your arm.

 

Where can you get more information?

Please call the unit if you have any questions or concerns before your appointment.

 

There is an enormous amount of information about cancer on the internet. Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Services have a number of links to reputable websites that can be accessed by clicking on this link. www.humerics.org.au/

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

Physiotherapy aims to work with you to help your muscles and joints stay mobile.

The physiotherapist will assess your condition, and help you understand what is wrong. They will work with you to develop a treatment plan that takes into account your lifestyle, leisure activities, and general health. This may include advice on how you can help yourself; for example, you may be shown exercises that you can do at home.

Any condition that affects your muscles, joints, or nerves can be helped by physiotherapy. Common problems include:

• Painful conditions such as arthritis
• Back, neck and shoulder pain
• Children who have a delay in learning to crawl and walk
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other breathing difficulties
• Muscle weakness due to lack of activity or following recent illness/surgery.

Throughout your treatment program, the physiotherapist will check your progress at regular intervals and update your treatment and goals when necessary. Wherever possible your physiotherapist will also work with you to help you learn to manage your condition independently for the longer term.

Hydrotherapy – Adult

A 6 – 12 week water-based program designed to improve the strength, mobility and stability of various injuries and conditions utilizing both individual and group exercises.

• Program tailored to individual’s requirements.
• Session is led by experienced physiotherapist and held at YMCA Barr Reserve Aquatic Centre.

 

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

Social Workers provide a service to patients, their families and significant others according to the needs of the patient being served and accepted standards of social work practice in accordance with AASW guidelines.  This involves assessment of the need for social work contact, planning the type of intervention required and any follow-up or referral to community based agencies for ongoing support when the patient has been discharged.  Some of the interventions used include counselling, advocacy, discharge planning and support for the patient and family using a person centred framework.

Social Work services provide assistance with:

• Social/emotional issues
• Information about income support
• Information around services in the community
• Initial counselling around grief and loss, adjustment to injury/illness and anxiety
• Information and support for carers

Outpatient social work services are primarily limited to Antenatal Clinic, Diabetes Education and Nutrition patients.

Social workers can also be accessed by participants in Community Care Centre Programs.

Some useful Community Service Contacts:

Aged Care Assessment Service: (03) 5723 2007

Rural City of Wangaratta: (03) 5722 0888

Ovens and King Community Health Centre: (03) 5723 2000

Phone: (03) 5722 5239

Speech Pathology Services are available for clients who are dealing with communication or feeding/swallowing problems.  Children aged 0 – 6 yrs, and adults over 18yrs are eligible for the service.  Speech Pathologists assist with issues such as:

• Difficulty swallowing food/drink
• Early/infant feeding
• Language delay/disorder
• Stuttering
• Voice difficulties
• Speech sound difficulties