The practice will be closed from, Saturday 23rd December 2023 – Monday 1st January 2024, we will re-open on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

All practice staff and GPs will be unavailable during this period.

Plan ahead, and book an appointment now with your GP, if you will require a new pescription over this period. Please note, that our online repeat scripts and referrals service will be turned off during this period.

Christmas opening hours

Friday 22nd December: 7:30am – 3:00pm

Saturday 23rd December 2023 – Monday 1st January 2024: Closed

Tuesday 2nd January 2024: 7:30am – 5:30pm

If you require medical assistance during the shutdown period, you can contact the Balmain GP Casualty at 29 Booth Street, Balmain on 02 9395 2155 between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week or for after hours assistance, call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6pm weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and all-day Sundays and Public Holidays.

In an emergency, always call 000 or go to straight to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) Emergency Department at Missenden Road, Camperdown.

Assigning your benefit for Telehealth consultations

From Monday 13^th November, if your doctor elects to bulk bill your Telehealth consultation, you will be required to accept the doctors billing by assigning your benefit via secure SMS.

This acts as a record that you have provided consent for your Medicare rebate (e.g., $41.40) to be paid directly to your doctor. This is a Medicare requirement.

At the end of your Telehealth consultation, your doctor will ask for your verbal consent to bulk bill and record this in the consultation notes – they may also check your mobile number.

Once the billing has been completed, you will receive a secure SMS from our designated practice number (this is the same number we send appointment confirmations from).

To access your billing information, you will need to enter your (or your child’s) date of birth.

You will then be provided with the option to either Accept or Decline the assignment of the benefit.

It is very important that you respond to this SMS, as it ensures your doctor is paid for the services they have provided.

If you choose to decline this request, you will be required to pay a private fee for your consultation.  

If the billing information does not seem accurate, please call reception for clarification prior to making your selection.

Shingles vaccination

We do not have stock of the government funded Shingrix vaccine.

There is an extremely limited number of vaccines during the initial weeks and months of the revised Shingles vaccination program.

As such, we will be prioritising the vaccination of patients who are at highest risk of illness (e.g. immunocompromised patients undergoing cancer treatment) and have not previously had any dose of a Shingles vaccine before.

If you would like more information about your eligibility for free Shingles vaccine, please make an appointment with your GP or call and speak to our Practice Nurse.

Last updated 15th November 2023

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From 1st November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix will replace Zostavax on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for eligible people.

The Australian Government has announced that from 1st November 2023, those aged 65 years and over, First Nations Australians aged 50 years and older and immunocompromised people aged 18 years and older* will be eligible to receive the newer Shingrix vaccine for free, as a part of the National Immunisation Program.

The new eligibility criteria means more people have the opportunity to be protected from Shingles, however it is different from the advice we received form the Department of Health and Aged Care in September.

If you have recently received a private Shingrix script from your GP, and would now like to wait until after the 1st November for a free vaccination, do not have this script dispensed.

If you would like to have a Shingles vaccine, or would like more information about your eligibility please make an appointment with your GP or call and speak to our Practice Nurse.

For more information about Shingles, please visit the Health Direct website.

It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine for 2023. Cases are increasing the moment and have not yet peaked. Notifications are highest amongst children, as reported in the media. As school goes back next week this is time when kids will be more at risk of acquiring influenza.

Anyone aged 6 months and over can receive an influenza vaccine, that offers some protection against four strains of Flu. Influenza is a serious illness that can lead to hospitalisation, and in many people will result in at least a full week unwell at home. Prevention includes all of the strategies we have used to reduce risk of COVID, and flu vaccines add about 50% effectivness in reducing the risk of influenza and serious illness.

A free vaccine is available to people at highest risk of severe illness, including all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over, children from 6 months to less than 5 years of age, people with serious health conditions, pregnant women and those aged 65 years and over.

Note that children are likely to be much more unwell with influenza than they are with COVID. Kids can have a flu vaccine on the same day as their scheduled childhood vaccines.

All other people, aged 5 to 64 years can receive a Private Flu vaccine for the cost of $25.00. Pharmacies also have flu vaccines available.

If you are attending an appointment with your GP, you can ask for them to administer a fluvax during that appointment if time permits. You can also book a flu vaccine appointment with the nurse. If you are eligible for a COVID vaccine (6 months since last vaccine OR last COVID illness) and we have stock it can be administered at the same time.

More information about the Flu vaccination can be found on the NSW Health website and NCIRS.

So far this year, there have been 19 cases of meningococcal disease reported in NSW. The majority of cases have been due to the Meningococcal B strain of the infection. Meningococci can cause meningitis and other invasive disease (sepsis) – these are rare but life-threatening.

Meningococci are carried in the throat,and transmitted through close contact and respiratory droplets. The most at risk groups are children under 2, and 15-19 year olds, but people at any age can be affected.

Young children

Parents of young children will be familiar with the recommendations – Meningococcal ACWY (Nimenrix) is administered in the 12 month schedule, and Meningococcal B  (Bexsero) is also recommended though not funded. Bexsero can be administered at any time with the regular scheduled newborn vaccines, and requires 2-3 vaccines (depending on age of first dose).

Teenagers

Meningococcal ACWY (Nimenrix) vaccine has been administered to Year 10 students for the past 5 years. If you didn’t attend school on the day it’s possible to have missed out. You can check your records on the Australian Immunisation Register through Medicare or My Health Record. If you have missed a dose, free catch up is available through our Practice Nurse up until age 19. Private cost is about $60-$80.

Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) is also recommended for teenagers. It is not offered in schools or funded by the government. Two vaccines are required – we can provide you a prescription, or vaccines are available for $135. Discuss with your doctor or the Practice Nurse.

Given that meningococcal disease spreads through close contact vaccination is worth considering  for younger people living in share accommodation and university colleges, attending music festivals and travel.  

People of any age who want to protect themselves against Meningococcal disease with either or both vaccine can make a time to discuss with their doctor. We particularly recommend this for travel.

Further information:

NCIRS Meningococcal Vaccines

Department of Health

A reminder (or a lesson!) about a couple of ways you are able to make some savings on your annual healthcare costs.

The Extended Medicare Safety Net can help to lower your out-of-pocket medical costs for out of hospital services.

We recommended that all patients register with Medicare as a family or couple so that your out-of-pocket costs are counted together towards the Extended Medicare Safety Net thresholds and the PBS Safety Net thresholds. You don’t have to be on the same card, but you do need to phone Medicare or fill out a form to advise them who is in your family (unfortunately this cannot be done online).

The threshold is calculated over the calendar year (1 January to 31 December) and resets on the 1^st January. You can monitor your out of pocket costs on the Medicare app and see how close you are to the threshold.

If you are registered, once you, your partner and children have spent over the threshold amount, the Medicare rebate for subsequent services will increase, meaning that the Government will give you back more for any consultation, investigation or procedure under the MBS for the remainder of the calendar year.

Thresholds as of January 2023

What does this mean for you and your family?

You see a doctor for a Standard Consultation. Before reaching the threshold, you will pay a private fee of $92.00 and receive a Medicare rebate of $41.20. Your out-of-pocket cost is $50.80.

If you have reached the threshold, you will pay a private fee of $92.00 and receive a Medicare rebate of $41.20 + 80% of the gap (40.64)– a total of $81.84

Your total out of pocket cost for that consultation is now only $10.16

PBS Safety Net thresholds for prescription medication

The PBS Safety Net for medicines is a separate scheme. Once you or your family spend a certain amount on PBS medicine you’ll reach the PBS Safety Net threshold.

The threshold is calculated over the calendar year (1 January to 31 December) and resets on the 1^st January. 

On 1 January 2023, the PBS Safety Net thresholds were updated to:

• $262.80 for concession card holders (about 36 PBS medication scripts)
• $1,563.50 for everyone else in Medicare (about 52 PBS medication scripts)

What does this mean for you and your family?

Before you meet the threshold, each medicine will cost up to:

• $7.30 for concession card holders
• $30.00 for everyone else in Medicare

If a pharmacist offers you a different brand of the same medicine, they may have different prices. If you choose a more different brand it may cost you more than the scheduled PBS price.

Once you reach the threshold, you’ll need to apply for a PBS Safety Net card to get cheaper medicines. Please speak to your pharmacist for more information.

Did you know?

• In 2022 children aged 5 to 9 years had the highest rates of influenza of any age group
• In 2022 of all influenza admissions to monitored hospitals, 55.9% were children less than 16 years old

Influenza is highly contagious illness that can lead to hospitalisation, and in many people will result in at least, a full week unwell at home. Children are likely to be much more unwell with Influenza than they are with COVID.

A Flu vaccine is the best way to protect your child from serious illness. The 2023 Flu vaccine provides about a 50% effectiveness in reducing the risk against the four dominate strains of Flu.

Children under nine years of age, receiving an influenza vaccination for the first time, require two doses of vaccine, spaced by a minimum of one month. Children who have previously had a Flu vaccine, require only one dose.

A free vaccine is available to people at highest risk of severe illness, including all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over, children from 6 months to less than 5 years of age, people with serious health conditions, pregnant women and those aged 65 years and over.

All other people, aged 5 to 64 years can receive a Private Flu vaccine for the cost of $25.00.

Those over the age of 18 years can also receive a COVID booster dose at the same time as a Flu vaccine. If your last COVID vaccination or COVID infection was more than 6 months ago you are eligible for a COVID vaccine booster now. This is particularly recommended for people aged 65+ or any of the high-risk categories previously identified.

Many of you will be come close to 12 months since your last vaccine, and efficacy is likely to be waning.

Appointments can be made via our website or the AMS Connect app. For assistance booking appointments at another time or for large family groups, call reception on 02 9557 2266.

These Flu vaccine appointments are for vaccinations only. If you wish to discuss other medical issues, please book an appointment with a doctor. Your GP can administer a Flu vaccine; however, these appointments will incur a fee for the consultation.

More information about the Flu vaccination can be found on the NSW Health website and NCIRS.