Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the team at the Ballarat Surgicentre

The Ballarat Surgicentre are going to be supporting kids with cancer by wearing our footy colours. We will be collecting donations for this worthy cause from Monday 5th October to Friday 9th October if you wish to contribute

🌞 SPRING 🌷 The sunshine the last few days has given us a taste of what’s to come with the new season. Although we are stuck at home a lot nowadays, don’t forget to protect your skin while enjoying the sunshine! If the UV is above 3, make sure you apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing while soaking up some Vitamin D and enjoying the colours of spring.

As we are all well aware, the COVID-19 Coronavirus has changed the way we operate in our everyday life. Here at the Ballarat Surgicentre we continue to implement safety precautions and screening measures to ensure our patients and staff are kept safe during these difficult times. While we continue to operate as per normal, we require our patient’s cooperation in ensuring we can all remain safe and well during these times. If you start to show any signs or symptoms of runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, shortness of breath or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 please call the facility as we will need to reschedule your appointment.

As it is now mandatory in Victoria to wear a face covering while outside of your home, we require all our patients and carers to please wear a face covering into the facility. Every patient and carer who enters the facility is screened with a variety of questions, temperatures taken and are asked to use the hand sanitisers upon arrival. If there is anyone who fails to pass this screening, they are asked to re-appoint. All staff at the Ballarat Surgicentre also have their temperature taken daily and are wearing face masks around the facility to ensure the safety of all individuals.

The Ballarat Surgicentre team understand that these are unprecedented times that are forever changing, so your continued support and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

New data shows that while fewer Aussie adults are deliberately seeking a tan, many continue to have tanned skin as a result of sun exposure, increasing their risk of skin cancer.

The latest figures from Cancer Council Australia’s National Sun Protection Survey show that the proportion of adults deliberately attempting to get a tan dropped from 15 per cent in 2003/04 to 11 per cent in 2016/17.

However, 66 per cent of adults still said they had tanned skin, with men more commonly reporting having bronzed skin.

Heather Walker, Chair, National Skin Cancer Committee Cancer Council Australia said that the survey showed that while Australians understand the dangers of deliberately tanning, adults still weren’t doing enough to protect their skin from harmful UV.

“Australians seem to be getting the message that there is nothing healthy about a tan – and are no longer lathering up in coconut oil and roasting themselves on the beach, but many adults still have a tan, which is a sign of UV skin damage.

“The most likely culprit is incidental sun exposure as Australians go about their daily activities. We know that less than half (44 per cent) of adults report using sun protection most or all of the time when they are outside for more than 10 minutes during summer.”

Ms Walker said that with two in three Australians expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 and over 2,000 Australians dying from skin cancer each year, it was important for all Australians to use sun protection whenever UV levels are 3 or above.

“It’s important for us all to remember that sun protection isn’t just needed at the beach or by the pool –you can get a tan from incidental sun damage while you potter in the garden, play cricket in the backyard, go for a walk or work outdoors.

“Don’t use sunscreen alone – slip on clothing, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

“We also need to remind Australians that it’s UV, not heat that damages our skin. You can get skin damage on a cloudy or cool day if the UV is 3 or above. Download the SunSmart app to check UV levels in your local area.”

Ms Walker said that the latest figures also pointed to the need for renewed Federal Government investment in a mass media skin cancer campaign.

“Melanoma rates are dropping in Australians aged under 40 – but we need to continue to build on this progress by reminding all Australians that every time you tan you increase your skin cancer risk.

“While Australian adults desire for tan has dropped compared to 2003/04, there have been no significant declines in the proportion of adults attempting a tan in our most recent surveys. Progress has stalled and we need to get back on the front-foot reminding Australians of the dangers of UV.

“We haven’t had a national skin cancer campaign in Australia in the last 12 years – now is the time for Government to continue to build on Australia’s skin cancer prevention success story with a renewed campaign to make sure Australians remain vigilant about sun protection.”

*article courtesy of www.cancer.org.au

This week at Ballarat Surgicentre…
We are supporting the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day Appeal. We have added a splash of yellow around Admin and have donation tins available if you wish to participate and contribute.

Even though winter is upon us, its important to be aware of what the UV index is in your area.
The importance of wearing a high protection sunscreen is just as important now as it is during the warmer months.
To check UV levels and the times sun protection is required, look at the UV Index in the weather section of your daily newspaper, on the Bureau of Meteorology website or download Cancer Council’s free SunSmart app to your mobile device. When UV levels are below 3 no UV Alert is issued