Coronacast is a podcast that answers your questions about coronavirus. ABC’s Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor break down the latest news and research to help you understand how the world is living through a pandemic. 

“COVID-19 Delta has arrived in the Eurobodalla. This variant is more infectious and as a community we are tiring of restrictions.” warns our practice partner GP, Dr Neil Starmer.

Dr Starmer stresses “The only way out of this mess is to vaccinate. The risk to you from the vaccine is less than the risk to you from COVID-19.“

Confused about your COVID-19 vaccination options and the risks? We recommend you read this article appearing in The Conversation 29 June 2021 – click on the read more link below.

In a nutshell, if you are under 40 years old and want to get a COVID-19 vaccine the options are:

1. wait until Pfizer becomes available for your specific situation (you can use the vaccine eligibility checker to see when you’re eligible)

2. think about getting an AstraZeneca vaccine.

The best advice is to discuss with your GP your own unique story, and the risks and benefits as they relate to you.

Also listen to QUEENSTREETMEDCAST  – Dr Neil Starmer unpicks the developing COVID-19 outbreak and vaccination confusion.

To be fully informed, read the full story by The Conversation  – click on the Read more link below.

New COVID-19 measures apply across NSW. 

If you are a CLOSE or CASUAL CONTACT or HAVE VISITED any of the NSW locations during the time and date indicated it is essential to follow the NSW Health advice. Latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW.

We have implemented stricter entry and infection protocols at our practices:

Patients and carers please note: If you have visited Greater Sydney or are a close or casual contact – do not enter our Moruya or Broulee practices. Get tested immediately and self-isolate.  Our waiting room is for patients only – our Covid Concierge will determine if your carer or family member may enter. Please do not arrive early for your appointment – waiting room numbers are strictly limited in accordance with infection protocols. All patients must wear a mask at all times within our practice in accordance with NSW Face Mask Rules

Be sure you are fully informed on the latest restrictions. Click on Read more below. Book your COVID vaccination at our practice online (links above) or use the government eligibility checker to find other vaccination locations.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) as the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60 years. This updates the previous preferential recommendation for Pfizer (Comirnaty) over COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in those aged 16 to under 50 years.  The recommendation is revised due to a higher risk and observed severity of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) related to the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine observed in Australia in the 50-59 year old age group than reported internationally and initially estimated in Australia.

Read the full statement: ATAGI Statement 17 June 2021

Follow the read more link for Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about your Covid vaccination.

Summer’s* fascination with heroin started when she was just a teenager, but she never thought she would become addicted. The 34-year-old’s life was completely controlled by her six-year heroin addiction. She says she would still be dependent if it wasn’t for a new form of opioid replacement therapy.

It was only when she used heroin at the North Richmond supervised injecting room that she was offered a new treatment – a once-a-month injection. “If it wasn’t for the injection, I’d still be in the same cycle,” Summer said. “If you put heroin in front of me, I’d kick it in the drain, I just have no interest in using ever again.”

Click on the link below for more of this story by ABC’s Erin Cooper – you’ll also find links if you or anyone you know needs help.

Coronacast is a podcast that answers your questions about coronavirus. ABC’s Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor break down the latest news and research to help you understand how the world is living through a pandemic. 

If you are eligible for a free government flu vaccination we have received the vaccines. There is no need to phone us – our vaccination clinics are open for ONLINE booking – click on the BOOK A FLU VAX button at the top of the Home page.

To check your eligibility for a free flu vaccination select the “read more” link below.

As we receive our Department of Health vaccines, we are running regular Flu Vaccine Clinics to both manage the demand and minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection via social distancing at the clinic.

Step 1:   You must please check your eligibility to receive a free government flu vaccination Step 2:  Please book your flu vaccination online – this greatly helps to manage the extremely high demand.

There must be at least 14 days between the Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Despite the many announcements and assurances from the government, the process for Australians to be vaccinated against COVID-19 remains confusing and has left everyone short on the details.

Queen Street Medical Centre is well prepared and ready to vaccinate but to date we have only been promised 50 doses of the COVID vaccine.

These will not be delivered until after Easter. We have planned our rollout of the COVID vaccine along the same lines as our flu vaccination clinics.

When supplies of the vaccine arrive, we will administer it according to the government queue. Dr Neil Starmer, Practice Partner

This information is taken directly from the Australian Government, Department of Health website – https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/when-will-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine

This video describes how vaccines will be rolled out, and who they will go to first. Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines will become available in phases. Priority groups have been identified using public health, medical and epidemiological evidence. Learn about priority groups and who will receive the first doses of the vaccine. This includes people that would be at higher risk of serious illness if they contracted COVID-19, and those most likely to be exposed to it.

DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLIES ARE GOVERNED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.

PLEASE DO NOT PHONE US – WE WILL POST ALL INFORMATION ON THIS SITE.  Follow the Read more link for the full story and important links.

We have introduced electronic prescriptions – you will still have the option to have a paper prescription, but electronic prescriptions are convenient, easy and efficient for you, your doctor and your pharmacist.  Follow the read more link for more information and to watch the short video.

A warm welcome to our new GP registrars – Dr Neil Mackay and Dr Borna Das, who joined our Moruya GP team on Monday, 1st February.

After four years of training in orthopaedics in far north Queensland, Dr Mackay completed his first 12 months of the 18-month GP  registrar training programme in Pambula last year and joined us to complete his final training semester – Neil and his young family have decided to settle here in our local area. 

Dr Das has now embarked on her first six-month GP training semester after recently working as a Senior Resident Medical Officer (SRMO) in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

This month marks a milestone for our Dr Peter James who is retiring on December 21st after nearly 40 years of dedicated, wonderful service to the health and wellbeing of our Eurobodalla community.

Peter spent his early GP years working in rural Queensland until moving to Brisbane to practice and later heading to Sylvania in Sydney. Peter finally settled with his family here on the South Coast where he worked for many years as a Visiting Medical Officer at Batemans Bay Hospital in addition to his GP consulting at Batemans Bay Medical Centre.

In 2014 Peter joined our Queen Street Medical Centre where he’s a much loved and highly regarded member of our GP team. Peter, we extend our deepest thanks and very best wishes to you for a healthy, relaxing and enjoyable retirement – it’s been a pleasure and priviledge to work with you and we’ll miss you greatly.

With Summer on our doorstep and Aussie skin cancer rates among the highest in the world, it’s time to put on the sun protection and a reminder to be checking our skin.

According to our skin cancer management GP Dr Thilan Walgamage, we need to be checking our skin every month “it’s not just a quick once over” he says “think of your skin like a road map – check head to toe and study your spots and moles and take notice of any changes. In the early stages of skin cancer development, you’re the one with the best chance to see changes”.

Thilan’s advice is that if you see something NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL get it checked by trained professional right away. It could be skin cancer. This is what you should look for…

It’s just over 12 months since we announced the appointment of our clinical pharmacist Jo McMahon. The clinical results and feedback from our clinical team and our patients are impressive.

“I have checked blood results and calculated renal function for hundreds of medicines to ensure that the dose is correct. Patients discharged from hospital who need to understand changes that have been made to their prescribed medicines can be followed up and I can liaise with the patient’s community pharmacy if required.”

As we greet these first days of Spring, it seems fitting to be extending a warm welcome to Dr Bronwyn Henderson. Dr Henderson is the newest member of our practice GP team taking our tally of GPs joining us since August 2019, to six . This team of six now comprises doctors Nadira Khan, Shenoa Holliday, Gareth Carroll, Polina Smerdova, Lisa Brown and Bronwyn Henderson.

Bronwyn started her clinical career in 2005 as an intensive care paramedic and clinical education tutor in Auckland. Since 2017 she  has been a resident medical officer and an emergency department registrar at Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals. In March Bronwyn was appointed an occasional locum emergency department (ED) registrar at Moruya and Batemans Bay Hospitals.

Dr Henderson is now consulting Tuesday to Thursday at our Moruya practice.