Demand soars for Medicare-subsidised mental health services

The pandemic has seen a 15% increase in the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health services delivered nationally, and a 31% increase in Victoria during September-October compared to the same period last year.

Welcome to The Medical Republic’s COVID Catch-Up.

It’s the day’s COVID-19 news in one convenient post. Email bianca@biancanogrady.com with any tips, comments or feedback.

14 October

• Significant increase in use of Medicare-subsidised mental health services, especially in Victoria
• Man experiences sudden irreversible hearing loss after severe COVID-19.
• The latest confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers from around Australia.

• The pandemic has seen a 15% increase in the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health services delivered nationally, and a 31% increase in Victoria during September-October compared to the same period last year, according to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
  The Minister’s office released figures showing that calls to Beyond Blue’s support line were 77% higher in Victoria compared to the rest of the country, and calls to Lifeline in Victoria were 16% greater than nationally.
  In a statement, the Minister said these figures were ‘of significant concern’. “We encourage all Australians, and especially Victorians, to continue to stay on top of their mental and physical health and wellbeing wherever possible throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” he said.
• A 45-year-old man has experienced sudden irreversible hearing loss after COVID-19, according to a case study reported in BMJ Case Reports.
  The patient was hospitalised with severe COVID-19, and was on invasive mechanical ventilation in intensive care for 30 days, during which time he also experienced bilateral pulmonary emboli, ventilator-associated pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension and anaemia.
  One week after being extubated, he reported experiencing tinnitus and sudden hearing loss in his left ear, despite no history of hearing loss or problems. He was treated with intratympanic steroids, which led to a small improvement, but did not completely regain his hearing.
  The authors noted that hearing loss and tinnitus had been associated with COVID-19 and influenza. “We suggest that patients are asked about hearing loss in the ITU environments when applicable, and any patient reporting acute hearing loss should be referred to otolaryngology on an emergency basis,” they said.
• The crew of a bulk iron ore carrier moored off Port Hedland in Western Australia are experiencing an onboard outbreak of COVID-19 which has added six new cases to the state’s total in the past 24 hours. The seventh case reported yesterday is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.
  NSW Health has issued a public health alert for a number of venues in south-west Sydney including Oran Park, Leppington, and the IKEA store in Tempe. A new pop-up testing clinic has been set up at the Julia Reserve Community Centre walk-in in Oran Park.
  Here are the latest confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers from around Australia, to 9pm Tuesday:
  National – 27,317, with 899 deaths
  ACT – 113 (0)
  NSW – 4296 (13)
  NT – 33 (0)
  QLD – 1161 (0)
  SA – 476 (1)
  TAS – 230 (0)
  VIC – 20,305 (12)
  WA – 703 (7)