Easter opening hours

The practice will be closed for the 4 days from Good Friday to Easter Monday. National Home Doctor Service, 13 7425, is our nominated after-hours locum service. A locum GP can visit you at home and provide a report directly to our practice for the next working day. Emergency services are available at Balmain Hospital GP Casualty, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Canterbury Hospital. Remember you can book online for next week by registering on our website for appointuit. We hope you all have a lovely Easter.

Doctors’ leave – December/January

December already! Just a heads up on what our doctors are up to over the next 2 months: The practice will be closed on any public holidays in December and January. Dr Annabel is away from Saturday 16 December and will be back on Tuesday 2 January. She is then away for the last week of January, starting Monday 22 January and back when school starts on Monday 29 January. Dr Jenny will take a break from Thursday 21 December, and be back at work on Monday 8 January. During the Xmas/NY week, the practice will be open in the …

Changes to Pap test screening

From 1 December 2017 there are some important changes the Pap test screening program (now known as the National Cervical Screening Program). The key messages  are: Younger women can wait to have cervical screening tests at the age of 25, where it used to be 18 Older women should have their next test at the time it is due (that is 2 years since your last Pap test, or sooner if you have been advised to do so previously) Women will now be offered ongoing screening up to the age of 74 The test will still be like a Pap …

Organ donation registration

You may have come across the recent campaign to increase the number of people registered for organ donation. It’s important to note that even if you have ticked this on your driver’s licence, you should go to this page  and register linking your name and Medicare card number to your consent for organ donation. There is a lot more information at the Organ and Tissue Authority website, including FAQs about organ donation and the process, why you need to register, and how to have the important conversation about your decision with your family.   https://register.donatelife.gov.au/

Going up!

You will have noticed the practice has been very busy the last few months. We are excited to let you know that we have finally taken lease on the upstairs in our premises, which gives us an extra doctor’s room. As of 8 May we will be using this room for consulting sessions, initially 2 days a week. To start off Dr Chris Ganora will work upstairs on Tuesdays and Dr Shereena will work upstairs on Mondays and Wednesday afternoon. There may be changes over time and other doctors will also be working in the upstairs room. If you have …

Free shingles vaccine for 70-79 year olds

A new vaccine is being provided free of charge for people aged between 70-79 through the National Immunisation Program. Zostavax is a vaccine to prevent shingles (see below for more information about shingles and the vaccine) At Erskineville Doctors we currently have small stock of Zostavax. A doctor will write the order for the vaccine, but it can be given by our practice nurse. There are a few situations where we would not advise the vaccine, this is mainly in people whose immune system is severely compromised by a disease process or medications. You should discuss this with your doctor. …

My Health Records

My Health Record is a Commonwealth Government initiative to allow patients to create a personal online e-health record that contains important medical information for health practitioners to access in different locations. This can be particularly useful for patients with chronic medical conditions who see a number of specialists and sometimes require hospital care. Your GP will be able to upload a Shared Health Summary to your Health Record. This will list your allergies, medications, significant medical conditions and immunisations. Currently the My Health Records are also collecting information about: • Medicare items claimed • PBS medications prescribed and dispensed, • …

Medicare indexation freeze

In 2014 the Government put a freeze on indexation of Medicare rebates for four years from 1 July 2014 until July 2018. In the Federal Budget this week they announced extending this freeze until 2020. Freezing Medicare rebates for four years is simply winding back the Government’s contribution to patients’ health care costs. In practice it means that the $37.05 rebate you currently receive for a standard consultation will not increase at all until 2020. The relative value of this and any other medical rebates will decline significantly over time, as businesses providing medical care will likely increase fees in …

Appointments

Appointment Only Please call to make an appointment as consultations are by appointment only. Standard consultations are 15 minutes long. Please tell our receptionist if you require a longer appointment. Longer appointments are suggested if you have more than one issue to discuss. You will also need a longer appointment for childhood immunisations , for a mental health issue, if you need a Mental Health Care Plan to visit a psychologist, or to organise a care plan (including for allied health referrals). Our receptionists will ask some questions to help book you for the right length of time. We appreciate …