New Street Medical Centre would like to announce that Dr David Velten is no longer practicing at our clinic.

We would like to thank Dr David Velten for spending the last 4 years with us and it is with warmest personal regards that we wish David success whilst he focuses on his career in Sports Medicine.

Men’s Health Week 10-16 June 2019.

Why Men’s Health?

All this emphasis on the health of boys and men – what’s that about? They’re alright, aren’t they?

In many cases, the answer is no.

A boy born in Australia in 2010 has a life expectancy of 78.0 years while a baby girl born at the same time could expect to live to 82.3 years old. Right from the start, boys suffer more illness, more accidents and die earlier than their female counterparts.

Men take their own lives at four times the rate of women (that’s five men a day, on average). Accidents, cancer and heart disease all account for the majority of male deaths.

Improving men’s health outcomes is a two-way process involving men, women and families, and health services combined.

It is important that men make use of health services to preventatively manage their health and find out before it’s too late if problems exist. But equally, health services need to know how to reach out to, communicate with and engage with men to be effective in helping them when they do come through the door.

It’s a two-way process that is about creating environments that support the ability of men to access healthcare effectively and support health services to treat men effectively.

Here are some ideas to how both parties can create an environment that enables each to improve men’s health outcomes:

Men, Women And Families

• Be active in getting medical help if you don’t feel well, have a problem that won’t go away or notice unusual symptoms.
• It’s OK to seek help – don’t try to do everything on your own or bury problems. Talk to your wife, friends and workmates.
• Push hard to get the help you need to manage your life, work, family and financial needs.
• Ladies, be proactive in helping your men and boys get the help they and you need. Use available hotlines, speak with professionals to get the best course of action and be persistent.
• Don’t leave it too late to seek help. Fear is not a killer.

Dr Clare Gillett graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) and has a Diploma in Child Health. Dr Gillett is interested in medical education and is a Registrar Medical Educator with Murray City Country Cost GP Training. Claire enjoys all aspects of General Practice, in particular women’s health and paediatrics.

Claire enjoys spending time with friends, walking her dog and travelling.

Consulting Sessions: All day Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

Thank you to all patients who took the time to complete our patient surveys.

In response to our recent survey an area of concern was improving patient waiting times.

Our Doctors and staff will endeavour to work as efficiently as possible. Our receptionists, when possible will call patients if the doctor is running late and advise patients when they present to the clinic if your doctor is delayed.

To assist with reducing waiting times, we kindly ask patients to help in the following areas:

• If you have more than one family member to be seen, please make an appropriate appointment as seeing extra patients without an appointment takes extra time.
• Please inform the surgery ahead of time if you are running late.
• If you think you require longer time for discussing more than 1 issue, please book a longer appointment. Our receptionists will always assist you with making the appropriate appointment time.

We look forward to working together to improve patient satisfaction.

The 2019 Flu Vaccine is  NOW AVAILABLE.

The cost of the flu vaccine is $16.00 per vaccine unless you are eligible for a free flu vaccination through the government’s Annual Funded Influenza Program.

If you are pregnant, aged over 65, suffer from certain chronic conditions or are Aboriginal younger than 5 or older than 15, you may also be eligible for free flu vaccinations as part of the Annual Influenza Program.

For this important vaccine for all adults and children. We have a few options for Flu Vaccination appointments this year:

1. FLU VACCINATION CLINIC

The flu clinic will commence the week starting April 8th. There is a cost of $15.00 for the nurse and $16.00 for the vaccine (if you do not qualify for the government funded vaccine).

The flu clinic will run Mondays 0800-1100 hrs and Wednesdays 0800-1000hrs and 1400-1600hrs. The appointments will be 5 minute appointments and the patient must complete a consent form prior to their vaccination.

This is a great option as it is a streamlined system with minimal wait!

2. BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE NURSE

You are able to book an appointment with the nurse when your usual Doctor is here. The nurse will administer the vaccine as per the Doctors order. This is a bulk billed service and $16.00 for the vaccine (if you do not qualify for the government funded vaccine).

After your flu vaccination you are required to wait onsite for 15 minutes to monitor for any adverse events.

Please call 9595 9777 to book your appointment.

Cervical Screening Tests

What is the Cervical Screening Test?

The Cervical Screening Test is a simple procedure to check the health of your cervix. If you have ever had a Pap test, the way the test is done will feel the same.

The five-yearly Cervical Screening Test replaced the two-yearly Pap test. If you’re aged 25 to 74 you should have your first Cervical Screening Test two years after your last Pap test.

The Cervical Screening Test is more effective than the Pap test at preventing cervical cancers, because it detects human papillomavirus (known as HPV). The Pap test used to look for cell changes in the cervix, whereas the new Cervical Screening Test looks for HPV which can lead to cell changes in the cervix (see diagram of the cervix below).

HPV is a common virus that can cause changes to cells in your cervix, which in rare cases can develop into cervical cancer.

Once you have had your first Cervical Screening Test, you will only need to have one every five years instead of every two, if your results are normal.

Why has screening changed from two to five years?

The Cervical Screening Test is more effective than the Pap test. The Pap test used to look for cell changes in the cervix, whereas the new Cervical Screening Test looks for the HPV which can lead to cell changes in the cervix.

Because of this, it is safe for you if your test does not indicate (show) you have a HPV infection to wait five years between tests. Even if your test shows you have HPV it usually takes 10 or more years for HPV to develop into cervical cancer and cervical cancer is a rare outcome of a HPV infection.

How is the Cervical Screening Test more accurate?

The Cervical Screening Test is more accurate than the Pap test as it detects human papillomavirus (known as HPV).

HPV is a common virus that can cause changes to cells in your cervix, which in rare cases can develop into cervical cancer. By detecting a HPV infection early, it allows your Doctor to monitor the infection and intervene if there are any changes to cells in your cervix.

Please call the clinic to book your next cervical smear test or if your not sure when your last one was, please call to speak with one of the practice nurses.

Immunisations

At New Street Medical Centre we are committed to reduce and eradicate vaccine preventable diseases in our community. Our team can provide advise on and administer a range of vaccinations for all ages and reasons including childhood vaccinations, influenza prevention, travel, work and vaccinations around pregnancy.

With first days of kinder and pre school coming up it is important to ensure your child is up to date with their immunisations.

All parents/guardians planning to enrol their child at childcare or kindergarten in Victoria must provide the service with:

* a current Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR); AND
* the statement must show that the child is up to date with all vaccinations that are due for their age, or that they are able to receive.

An Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register is the only type of immunisation record accepted by early childhood and care services for the purposes of confirming enrolment and must be provided within the two months prior to the child starting at the service.

Our GP’s and nurses will refer to national clinical <http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home~handbook10part2~handbook10-2-1> guidelines to determine what vaccines are recommended at what age, what needs to be on a catch-up program and what is considered a valid medical reason not to be fully immunised.

If you think your child is not up to date or you require some more information, please call reception on 9595 9777 to discuss this further.

New Street Medical Centre stock all childhood vaccinations required for Immunisation Department, as well as additional private vaccinations.