LETTER TO NSW HEALTH MINISTER – COMMONWEALTH CLINICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LYME DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA
YOUR ADDRESS
DATE
The Hon. Jillian Skinner, MP
Minister for Health and Medical Research
Level 31 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Dear Ms Skinner,
RE: COMMONWEALTH CLINICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LYME DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA
I refer to my previous letter to you regarding Lyme Disease in Australia. As you know, this is a very important issue to me, and I am very concerned about the failure of the relevant authorities in Australia regarding diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Friends and colleagues of mine have recently received a letter signed by Ms Sandra Gebbie, A/g Assistant Secretary, Health Emergency Management Branch of the Federal Department of Health. In that letter, Ms Gebbie advises:
“The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer is convening a Clinical Advisory Committee on Lyme Disease in Australia to provide advice on the evidence for Lyme Disease in Australia, diagnostic testing, treatments and research requirements. The committee will also provide advice on the most appropriate ways to disseminate information to health professionals and the general public.”
This is a wonderful development. It is great to see the Commonwealth taking the lead in such an important national health issue. I ask that NSW make a significant and appropriate contribution to the work of that committee, if called upon to do so.
In relation to any contribution that NSW may make, I raise the following:
1. There is of course already ample evidence of the existence of Lyme Disease in Australia (Given that Mackerras (1959), Carley and Pope (1962) and Wills and Barry (1994) all managed to grow and isolate Borrelia from Australian native animals and only one study has not been able to isolate and grow Borrelia in Australia, in fairness, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the existence of Borrelia in Australian ticks.)
2. Despite this preponderance of evidence, strangely there is division amongst the medical profession. (You are of course aware that those in the NSW Department of Health who advise you on this issue are not swayed by the preponderance of scientific evidence and the clinical experience of many practitioners.) I am concerned that any NSW representation on the advisory committee must include representation of the senior members of the medical profession who are convinced by the preponderance of scientific evidence that the disease exists here, and who from their clinical experience are well aware of the suffering caused by the failure to diagnose and appropriately treat this disease. I seek that you do all in your power to ensure this.
Yours sincerely,
YOUR NAME
(I suggest that you keep a copy of this and forward it to your local State MP, seeking that they do their job and represent you)
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