Hope you all have a lovely Easter and enjoy some sunshine wherever you are. We are closed over the 4 days of the long weekend, and then again on Anzac Day. Given this, you will find we are quite booked up if you go to book online. Please call during the week early if you are concerned about an urgent medical problem. As always you can call the locum after hours or attend Emergency at RPAH, Sydney Children’s, Balmain or Canterbury Hospitals. Dr Jenny is back on Tuesday. Dr Annabel and Dr Cara both away next week and then back …
Doctor’s leave- March/April
Dr Patti will be on leave from 4-26 March. Dr Nicolette is covering this period for her. Please book in as you need and we will ensure that any ongoing issues are handed over to Dr Patti on her return. In April, Dr Jenny will be away for the first week of the school holidays (week beginning 15/04/2019) and Dr Annabel will be away the following week. We will be closed for the public holidays in April. Other than that, it’s all hands on deck. Remember you can make appointments online from our website or the Appointuit app. For urgent …
Meningococcal Vaccine Update
The National Immunisation Program schedule for children now includes a Meningococcal vaccine covering the 4 strains ACWY for all children aged 12 months. If your child is older and therefore has already had the Meningococcal vaccine C , they can still have the ACWY but you will have to purchase this privately. It’s only one vaccine and costs less than $70. High school children will be receiving this vaccine in Year 10. In the past two years it was given to students in Years 10-11. We have been provided with stock of this vaccine for anyone aged 15-19 who missed …
My Health Record
My Health Record is an online summary of some of your health information. Health information stored in your record can include information from you, your healthcare providers, and Medicare. It can be accessed by you through mygov.au, by any GP through their practice software, and hospital staff through their IT systems. From 16 July 2018 the Government has decided to implement the My Health Record as an “opt-out” system, meaning that you will have a My Health Record created for you unless you decide to opt out. You will receive a letter from the Government (to the address associated with …
Doctors on leave in September/October
Dr Joe has been away the past 2 weeks, but returns on Friday 7th September. Dr Patti will be away for the first 3 weeks of September, returning on Tuesday 25th September. In her absence Dr Catherine Pratten will be working on some of the Wednesdays and Fridays. Catherine has worked in general practice for many years, and also works at Family Planning NSW. Dr Jenny is away the first week of the school holidays in October, and then Dr Annabel will be away in the second week, returning on Monday 15th October. After that, things settle down for a while! …
Doctor’s leave July/August
Dr Cara is away now and will be back on 16 August Dr Jenny will be away from 3 August, returning to work on 13th August Dr Joe will be away for 3 weeks starting 19 August As always we will hand over your care as required to other doctors in our absence.
Fee increase on July 1st 2018 at Erskineville Doctors
On July 1st 2018 Erskineville Doctors will be introducing a small increase to our fees. For a standard appointment it will cost $80 and for a long appointment $128. Your medicare rebate has increased by 1.5% for these items (now $37.60 and $72.80) which will help limit your out of pocket costs. This is a first increase for Medicare rebates since 1 July 2014. It is a positive start, however a 1.5% increase in Medicare rebates for a limited number of attendance items is still well below the annual increase in our operating costs. The fees charged by this practice …
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 …