Dr Stephen Parnis, an emergency physician and past Australian Medical Association vice president, said the protesters “made it difficult and traumatic for sick kids, their families and staff to get to RCH”.“I am disgusted beyond words at their ignorance and malice. You are beneath contempt,” Dr Parnis tweeted.It comes as a Melbourne speech pathologist warns of the hidden dangers Covid can cause to the throat and voice.Dr Debbie Phyland, who has worked in the industry for more than 35 years, said she has never seen a bigger threat to people’s voices than she has now. “It has had such a proclivity for the middle airway, the larynx in particular,” she said. “It’s had a massive impact on, not just the acute stage where someone has the virus, but lingering effects of swelling, inflammation, hoarseness and weakness. “It’s been really problematic.” It comes as Victoria recorded 4300 new cases on Saturday with 543 hospitalised and 22 lives lost. Dr Phyland said more patients were reaching out to her with the same issues. “We have seen a whole lot more patients with chronic cough, breathing issues and problems with the throat like lingering inflammation,” she said. “There’s definitely been an increase in those particular issues. “If it’s managed well, it’s a short term problem that can be completely reversed.” The speech pathologist said it was important to rest and do vocal massage exercises. “We know it can really reduce inflammation and improve function,” she said. “Avoid taking anything too dry, like cold and flu tablets as they prolong the issues.” Dr Phyland said it was “extremely concerning” to see how Covid has impacted individuals who use their voice for their career. “People who rely on their voice for their job have really battled through different types of scenarios,” she said. “Singers and performers haven’t been able to work through Covid and then they are finding they are suddenly sick that effects their ability to do their job,” she said. “So many teachers have struggled with their voices, having to teach with masks. “The hearing-impaired population have also suffered enormously because they haven’t been able to lip read because people have been wearing masks.”The latest product falling victim to supply chain issuesPopular drug used to treat children and adults with ADHD has been wiped from pharmacy shelves.Families are struggling to get their hands on Ritalin – a stimulant drug used for the attention disorder.Prescriptions for the drug have tripled in the past 10 years and have significantly increased during the pandemic.The Therapeutic Goods Administration drug shortage notice board lists Ritalin’s 10mg, 20mg and 30mg doses in short supply,as well as some antidepressants and high blood pressure medications. Supplier Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia said the issue was due to a manufacturing issue that has now been resolved.“(The supplier) notified the TGA of shortages of multiple strengths of Ritalin … due to a manufacturing issue,” they said. “Novartis has confirmed that the Ritalin LA 60mg shortage is resolved and supply has resumed.”Local pharmacies across Melbourne said the popular ADHD drug has been totally wiped from shelves.Community Pharmacy Wantirna pharmacist Kennedy Lee said distressed parents had been calling the store trying to get their hands on the drug for their children. “We have had lots of concerned parents calling up our pharmacy trying to get Ritalin,” Ms Lee said. “A lot of parents have been ringing up, many from different parts of Victoria, trying to source it for their children.”Psychiatrist and author Dr Tanveer Ahmed says that the demand for ritalin has gone up “significantly” in recent years.“The current shortage means kids are struggling with their behaviour and learning across schools, playgrounds and homes,” Dr Ahmed said. “This is causing significant disruptions in households, schools and workplaces,”Dr Ahmed believes that in time the shortage will affect patient behaviour. “The parts of the brain this drug works on is not just about attention and concentration, but also empathy and self awareness,” he said. “So steadily but surely it will also impact relationships and social interactions for a sizeable minority of the population.”Dr Ahmed says that the shortages demonstrate the need for Australia to secure its own supply of certain essential products.“Be it medications, technology, whatever they may be, the pandemic has shown that you can’t have everything on a ‘just in time’ basis.” Australia is grappling with shortages across a wide range of medicines, with more than 300 drugs listed by the TGA as under pressure. A smaller amount of these, about 50, are listed as critical.The problem, which has made worse by supply-chain pressures being experienced around the world, has prompted calls for Australia to develop a stronger approach to stockpiling and local manufacturing
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