NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has declared a state of emergency across the state for the next seven days. Your safety and welfare is on our minds and we extend our wishes to everyone affected by these devastating bushfires.

Leaving early when threatened by fire is always your safest option and you should never wait and see what happens when a fire is threatening.  Staying alert to what’s happening in your area is essential – visit this site https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me and download the free fires near me app to receive updates and alerts.  Click Read More for more essential information links and the RFS information line.

With record hot temperatures across the state, our registered practice nurse Kate Tiller advises it’s important to be particularly aware of dehydration. Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluid than it’s been taking in. Kate, who holds qualifications and experience in paediatric nursing,  is keen for parents and carers to be aware that infants and children are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. See Kate’s article and download The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne fact sheet.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of our clinical pharmacist Ms Joanne McMahon to provide medication-related advice to patients at no charge. Jo will work closely with our doctors at our practices in Moruya and Broulee conducting our our new ‘Better Medicines’ clinics – aiming to help patients to improve their use of medicines.

According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) January 2019 report “Medicine Safety: Take Care” problems with medications can occur at anytime during their use.

If you suffer with chronic pain our second six week group programme aims to help you learn how to self-manage your pain and other symptoms. Starting Wednesday, 9 October 2019, this no-fee programme will be conducted for up to 10 patients by GP Dr Aidan Lawrence and Exercise Physiologist Hamish Gorman. You will need a referral from your usual GP for an initial consultation with Dr Lawrence.

NSW Health Director of Communicable Disease, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, says 115 children have been admitted to Children’s Hospital Westmead with flu this year, including two needing critical care. “So we are again encouraging parents and carers of children from 6 months up to five years old to take advantage of the free flu vaccine”.

Many patients with Type 2 Diabetes attending this weekly exercise/diet group  are reporting the group has given them the kick start they needed feel more motivated to improve their health. Our QSMC Dietitian/Diabetes Educator Carole Richards leads the group – launched in October 2018, in conjunction with Aden Reynolds from Eurobodalla Health & Fitness. You can join this group at any time – it runs on Fridays at the QSMC Moruya meeting room, starting at 11.30 and is Medicare funded.

Well here we in beautiful Autumn so once again we are encouraging our patients to have the flu shot and to do as much as possible to protect themselves and others in the community. We are now receiving our first free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program and we have plenty of Flu Vax clinics set up so please don’t worry if you can’t find a spot immediately and there’s no need to rush.

The flu vaccine is available free of charge to some people who are in the nominated Program categories, and we have vaccines available for purchase at QSMC Moruya. Remember you can pass on the virus just by being out and about – this is why prevention is better than catching the flu. For more important advice and good reading click on the Read more link below.

February saw a fitting farewell for our Dr Tim Shepherd who has retired after 35 years of wonderful service to our community. We feel it’s not the end of an era but the beginning of the new for Tim and his wife Jann who’ll be enjoying their love of the “great outdoors” – hiking, kayaking and camping. Our Dr Tim hopes to be making what he says are “cameo visits” to consult from time to time when other GPs are on leave.

“To all my patients who have been a huge part of my life for 35 years – you will know how my time will be spent. This photo is just a sample! I will miss the day to day interaction with these friends who have been intimately connected to my life – and in many cases, from whom I have received energy, wisdom and friendship . Thank you to you all – it’s reassuring to know there is a wonderful team to continue “after Tim”.

For over two years South East Radiology (SER) has been campaigning for Medicare rebates to be available on the MRI scanner in Moruya. SER is happy to announce their MRI site, located in the Mirrabooka wing of our Queen Street Medical Centre, has been granted a full Medicare license by the federal government today. This license will enable patients with an eligible referral from a specialist or GP to access Medicare item numbers and now have their examination bulk billed with no out of pocket payment.

Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting time, but it can also be a time when you need some extra support. Our QSMC registered Child and Family Health Nurse, Nicki Vukasin has many years experience in helping new parents – she’s provided these great resources available locally and on the web.

Connect for Kids is a new home-based mental health service for children, delivered at no cost to parents or carers  by Psychologists via video link (Telecare). Royal Far West use their expertise in Telecare to connect children outside of major cities with health specialists. There is no fee for the children who access the service.  Click here for more details..