Professor Peter Ebeling, Professor of Medicine and Head of Endocrinology at Western Health, launching the Western Health Research Report at Sunshine Hospital. 79964 Picture: ANNETTE DE JAGER
By Alesha Capone
CHALLENGES facing health professionals in the West include the high rate of diabetes and obesity, a significant number of disadvantaged residents and a growing demand for medical staff.
These problems were outlined by Victoria University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Dawkins at the opening of the Western Health Research Week last Monday, at Sunshine Hospital.
In a speech titled ‘The Impact of Research Partnerships in Improving the Health of Melbourne’s West’, Mr Dawkins said there was a “disproportionate prevalence of diabetes and obesity” in the western suburbs.
He also said there were a “disproportionate number of residents from lower socio-economic backgrounds” in the West, including many from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Mr Dawkins said there was a “growing demand for health professionals, particularly from growth areas” in the West.
“The West of Melbourne poses an important challenge for health and illness research,” he said.
Mr Dawkins said Victoria University’s new strategic plan aimed for the institution to become “world renowned in limited number of focus areas” including research into disease prevention and management, sport, exercise and active living and food nutrition.
He said by 2020, the university hoped to enter the ranks of the world’s top 20 research facilities and conduct “research which links back into the community”.
Mr Dawkins said the Australian Community Centre for Diabetes (ACCD), which is located at the university’s St Albans campus, was part of this plan.
The ACCD aims to develop new approaches to diabetes prevention and management, by bringing together diabetes experts and research activities.
Mr Dawkins said one in every seven people in the West aged over 55 have diabetes.
Ardeer, in Brimbank, has the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, with one in three people aged 55 or older being diagnosed with the disease.
Included in Western Health’s Research Week were the results of a study, which surveyed all inpatients who attended Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals during a single day.
Out of 254 patients seen by doctors within 24 hours, more than a third had diabetes.
The study said diabetes-related disease was “the cause for a significant number of hospital admissions”.
