Safeworkaustralia.gov.au have provided a set of National COVID-19 safe workplace principles. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/other-resources/national-covid-19-safe-workplace-principles

CONSUMER INFO: If you or someone you're caring for is taking blood pressure-lowering medication, here's what you need  to know -https://bit.ly/bpcovid19             -https://nps.org.au/covid-19-and-medicines-faqs#i-take-blood-pressure-lowering-medication.-what-does-covid-19-mean-for-me…?

Painaustralia welcomes the creation of deputy CMO for mental health @healthgovau and the appointment of Ruth Vine to this important role. Big mandate ahead and its great to see that the mental health aspects of COVID-19 will be seriously considered https://buff.ly/2Lpwl1i

The genie is out of the bottle': telehealth points way for Australia post pandemic  https://buff.ly/35Sj4HY

This pandemic highlights the importance of innovation and trying to provide services in new and more accessible ways  to ensure people can still access mental health supports and services how and when they need them during these difficult times." https://buff.ly/3cZVXh9

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide - World Health Organisation

Dramatic falls in the uptake of health care services have fuelled concerns that patients are delaying tests and treatments for fear of COVID-19 infection or facing an overwhelmed health system MJAInsight https://buff.ly/35ybdzl

“The long term harms, including increased social and health inequality, may well dwarf the death toll of covid-19 itself.”  Trust is crucial in lockdown—and beyond  bmj_latest https://buff.ly/2Wi2pJB

'I just spent my entire stimulus payment on a ketamine treatment at a private hospital for chronic pain because the public hospital I get it done at cancelled all elective admissions': life gets harder for vulnerable Australians during coronavirus crisis https://buff.ly/2zpzXO2

You may have seen information on hydroxychloroquine in the media over the last few days.  Our position hasn't changed. Currently, there is no evidence to support the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. https://bit.ly/npshydrox 

As we continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, many hospitals and health services are actually less busy than usual: Managing chronic conditions in the time of coronavirus insightSBS https://buff.ly/2VL8rTV

The TGA will permit conditional substitution of certain medications to ease serious shortages as a result of unprecedented demand due to COVID-19 https://buff.ly/3bMn6nF

5 highlights from NPSMedicineWise’s new comprehensive update for health professionals on the use hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 https://ajp.com.au/news/there-are-very-limited-data-to-support-its-use/…  

Coronavirus has created a crisis for primary care doctors and their patients: How the COVID-19 is making health care access problems even worse. Important lessons for everyone as we all come to terms with the full scale of the fallout from the pandemic https://buff.ly/3eRy3Gt

As case numbers of COVID-19 continue to rise around the world, an increasing number of reports of neurological symptoms are emerging. Some studies report that over a third of patients show neurological symptoms. https://buff.ly/2KCAZZw

NPSMedicineWise has released new information for health professionals on hydroxychloroquine in the latest addition to their COVID-19 information hub. https://buff.ly/3cQPgxM

The Aged Care Royal Commission is calling for submissions from the general public and organisations relating to the impact of COVID-19 on the aged care sector. If your pain management needs in aged care have been impacted by the pandemic please contact us. https://buff.ly/2yOIQAu

Clinical Challenge: Chronic Pain and COVID-19 — Pain patients may be hit harder than others https://buff.ly/2Vv1GVa

Immunosuppressants and Coronavirus: Here is What You Should Know Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians are advising patients to stay on their immunosuppressant medications. Here’s why. https://buff.ly/2VOnR8Z

Chronic Pain and Social Despair–Doctors Need to Listen. "similar to our lack of system readiness for COVID19 our complicated and costly healthcare system is not only unprepared to deal with the epidemic of stress in society, it contributes to the problem." https://buff.ly/2ziI52X

Should a doctor prescribe hydroxychloroquine for family and friends to treat COVID-19? According to an editorial published today by NPSMedicineWise the answer should be 'no', from medical, ethical and possibly even legal perspectives. https://buff.ly/3eI1KcU

Principles of ethical prescribing for self and others: hydroxychloroquine in the COVID‑19 pandemic published in the Australian Prescriber by NPS Medicinewise https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/principles-of-ethical-prescribing-for-self-and-others-hydroxychloroquine-in-the-covid-19-pandemic

Dr Jill Newby, Associate Professor of Psychology at the  UNSW, shares practical ways for workplaces to cope with COVID-19  related anxiety. https://blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-training/community-and-schools/covid-19-webinars

IVF and low-risk elective surgery to begin again as National Cabinet ditches coronavirus ban https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/coroanvirus-national-cabinet-elective-surgery-ivf-to-resume/12168770?fbclid=IwAR3o4tKWUszptLXxXxgD1mCPxfLlEHniRjfnJNI1lDef15-I3COzZYrNl00

Australia's elderly will be better supported to avoid medicine-related harm following important changes to Home Medicine Review (HMRs) and Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) programs announced by the Government https://www.psa.org.au/remunerated-medicine-review-follow-ups-now-allowed/

Elective surgery cancellations take toll on patients but nurse says ‘it’s not in vain’ https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/04/15/elective-surgery-cancellations-coronavirus/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20News%20-%2020200415

"There is an urgent need for research to address how mental health consequences for vulnerable groups can be mitigated under pandemic conditions, and on the impact of repeated media consumption and health messaging around COVID-19" The Lancet https://buff.ly/3cneDHq

“This initial assessment shows that the risks, in particular cardiovascular, associated with these treatments are very present and potentially increased in COVID-19 patients. Almost all of the declarations come from health establishments,” https://buff.ly/2y7x5oi. 

Dr Nick Coatsworth and Prof Michael Kidd, Deputy Chief Medical Officers provide a COVID-19 response update for Allied Health Practitioners https://buff.ly/2JQPmsR

American Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine has joined multiple American Societies in Endorsing COVID-19 Chronic Pain Best Practice Guidelines https://buff.ly/39SZFaj

“The chronic use of high dose of opioids is associated with side effects which may increase disease severity of COVID-19. This link is purely speculative, as we were unable to find any published data looking specifically at associations” Dr Andrew Huang provides a rapid response in the BMJ to the risk factors for Opioid use and disease severity of COVID-19 https://buff.ly/3dYCAGB

Interim arrangements for prescriptions for supply of medicines: Helping you get your medicine if you are confined to your home https://buff.ly/2xUeIU2

Australian Government Department of Health - COVID-19 infection control training
This 30-minute online training module is for health care workers in all settings. It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.

The RACGP has welcomed moves to allow GPs to send electronic prescriptions. Under the arrangements, patients can get a prescription from their GP directly sent to their pharmacy of choice via email or phone and their medication can be delivered to their door https://www.medianet.com.au/releases/186099/

NDIS participants to receive priority home delivery from leading supermarkets Stuart Robert MP https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/5711

BMJ covers Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COVID-19 https://buff.ly/349hK2B

It's Estimated 1 in 4 Coronavirus Carriers Could Be Asymptomatic. Here's What We Know https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-what-we-know-so-far-about-those-who-can-pass-corona-without-symptoms?fbclid=IwAR0ToAo5VPhEVrfp7b2G6W46W_6Qe4f7ze_nN88mgIl6v24vFKrZsvJ4tbw

'I feel like a sitting duck': how the threat of coronavirus affects our most vulnerable https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/i-feel-like-a-sitting-duck-how-the-threat-of-coronavirus-affects-our-most-vulnerable?CMP=soc_567&fbclid=IwAR1TAfLIRjN64Kvbr6o1V3akBZ169O-dRv-0_L1nKiaL86FdH0_u8vS_-NA