right royal visit p2 7 bde's grand send - Department of Defence

24 PERSONNEL Army February 4, 2010
Care is improved
JOINT Health Command has
introduced a new ADF Medicines
Formulary that will significantly
improve pharmacy distribution
processes and bring the ADF in
ine with civilian best practice.
The new publication catalogues
the medicines routinely available
to Defence health practitioners for
prescribing to members.
SO1 Pharmacy Wg-Cmdr John
Hatfield said most ADF members
would notice little change.
“Most of the medicines in normal
use in the ADF are included in
he ADF formulary but there will be
ome changes,” Wg-Cmdr Hatfield
aid.
“Some products which are not
really medicines will no longer be
routinely available.”
He said the most common
xamples of these were dietary sup-
Rationalisation: Medicine
distribution is improved.
plements and “complementary”
medicines.
“Typically there is little or no
robust evidence supporting the use
of these products as medicines.
“Many ADF members will be
surprised to learn that some members
had been provided some of
these products in the past.”
He said multiple brands of the
same medicines would no longer
be available and where there were
many medicines available to treat
specific conditions, the range of
those available would be reduced.
Joint Health Command health
centres will also be able to obtain
other medicines when the healthcare
needs of individual ADF members
cannot be met with ADF formulary
medicines.
Commander Joint Health Maj-
Gen Paul Alexander said formulary’s
introduction was a long
overdue reform in ADF healthcare
provision. He said Defence could
no longer sustain an unconstrained
medicines provision system – something
which no other healthcare
system in Australia provided.
Defence remains committed to
ensuring high quality healthcare
and will use the ADF formulary to
ensure that happens.
Total surprise: Director of the Defence Academy UK, Lt Gen Andrew Graham,
Commandant RAdm Neil Morisetti (centre) and then Maj Mark Ascough.
Photo by Jeremy Clifton-Gould/SercoUK
Reward for
excellence
LT-COL Mark Ascough surpassed his own expectations
to become the first foreign officer awarded the
Chief of Defence Staff prize for Best Student at the
UK Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC).
Director General UK Defence Academy Lt-Gen
Andrew Graham presented the award to then Maj
Ascough – who completed the course last year – for
his professional excellence and significant contribution
to all aspects of life at Kings College, London.
“I was so surprised when my name was announced
that I sat there in disbelief,” Lt-Col Ascough said. “The
course was excellent and I would have to say on a personal
and professional level it has been a highlight of
my career to date.”
The ACSC prepares officers for staff and command
appointments within the joint service environment.
The ACSC included overseas study tours to Egypt,
Poland, Normandy and Washington.
New psych
takes prize
By WO2 Graham McBean
FORMER PTI Lt Scott Gayton began his new
career as a Defence psychologist this year after
achieving first-class honours in psychology from the
University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).
Lt Gayton’s award of dux of his honours degree
earned him the prestigious Australian Psychological
Society prize.
His thesis investigated resilience, post-traumatic
growth and general health and wellbeing among
Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics and USC
paramedical students.
His interest in the field
aligns with Defence Force
Psychology Organisation
research in human performance,
resilience and human factors
in land operations.
Lt Gayton said he was
fortunate to receive long-term
schooling and it showed that
support for soldiers was available
through Defence to achieve
their career goals.
“It was a tough year but
the long-term schooling was
a much better option for me
Achiever: Lt Scott
Gayton.
than long-distance education,” he said. “I am hoping
that with my background as an OR that I can help get
psych support down to unit level and get soldiers the
support they need when they need it.”
His research was one of 14 chosen out from 38
higher degree research projects to be presented at the
USC Research to Benefit Society conference last year.
As the APS prize winner, Lt Gayton will present an
abstract of his thesis at the APS annual conference in
Melbourne in July.
Lt Gayton has started an internship as a psychologist
at RMC. He believed his experience as a 3RAR
sniper and PTI would be invaluable in his new role.