After hours ‘Home GP’ service
After hours ‘Home GP’ service is accessible and effective primary health care for people whose health condition cannot wait for treatment until regular primary health care services are next available. It should not be a substitute for primary health care that could otherwise occur ‘in hours’.
Changes to aged care
The Australian Government is progressively implementing changes to the aged care system. This is in response to the growing population of older people and the challenges facing the current aged care system.
The changes seek to create a better system to give older people more choice, more control and easier access to a full range of aged care services.
The changes will help deliver:
- more choices for people to stay at home longer
- more choices for carers to access respite and support such as counseling
- more aged care homes and support for homes in regional, rural and remote areas
- fairer means testing to work out what each person pays for aged care services
- a stronger aged care workforce
- more advocacy options for consumers
- more aged care places for Indigenous Australians
- targeted help for veterans with mental health problems
- a new Dementia Supplement to assist with the costs of caring for people with a cognitive impairment in their home and those with severe behavioural and psychological symptoms in aged care homes, improved support for people with dementia in hospital and primary care, and an increased focus on people with younger onset dementia and measures to reduce the time between symptoms and diagnosis
- training for aged care staff to be sensitive to the needs of diverse groups
- a new Aged Care Gateway to help older Australians find and access the services they need
- a single body responsible for the accreditation and quality review of aged care and home care services
- stronger controls to handle consumer complaints.
More information is available on the Aged Care reforms, on the Department of Social Services (http://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/ageing-and-aged-care/aged-care-reform) website. For more information on Aged Care visit http://www.myagedcare.gov.au
Anxiety Management
Anxiety refers to feelings of worry, nervousness, or a sense of apprehension, typically about an upcoming event where the outcome is uncertain, or where the person feels he or she might not be up to the task. Anxiety is commonly experienced in high pressure situations, for example, prior to a making a speech or sitting an exam. Feelings of anxiety can also arise following a stressful event, like an accident where the person is left feeling shaken. Anxious feelings are usually accompanied by physical sensations such as a churning stomach, light headedness, and a racing heart.
At Hawkesbury Road Family Medical Centre we provide options to help you with your anxiety management.
For more information go to https://www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/anxiety/
Child Health and Immunisation
The vaccine is provided free under the National Immunisation Program for people at high risk of complications from flu, including Australians aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those medically at risk. For more information on immunisation visit http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/
Dedicated Pathology Service Onsite
Pathology is a medical specialty that focuses on determining the cause and nature of diseases. By examining and testing body tissues (e.g. biopsies, pap smears) and fluids (e.g. blood, urine) pathology helps doctors diagnose and treat patients correctly.
Depression Management
Getting help for depression is not a sign of weakness. It is important to find ways of getting help to treat it as soon as possible. A General Practitioner (GP), nurse or mental health professional will be able to advise on the choices you can make about which treatment will suit you best.For more information on depression management go to http://hrfmc.com.au/depression-management
Diabetes and Asthma Management
A new study has found that people with asthma may have a higher risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. The study looked at the relationship between asthma and four other inflammatory conditions.
For more information on how diabetes and asthma are and linked and how better to manage these conditions go to http://www.asthma.org.au/Asthma-and-Diabetes-Go-Hand-in-Hand.aspx
Dietitian
At Hawkesbury Road Family Medical Centre we have an on site dietitian to help you with any of your diet management needs.
Implanon Insertion and Removal
Implanon is a small flexible rod, which is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It slowly releases progestogen a hormone similar to the hormone progesterone, which is naturally produced by the female body into the blood stream to prevent pregnancy for up to three years.
For more information go to http://hrfmc.com.au/implanon
Medical Check-up
A medical check-up is an examination of your current state of health, often carried out by your GP. From the moment we are born, and even before, we undergo a variety of tests to ensure we are on the right track to good health. As we get older, many of us become more vulnerable to illness. In order to reduce this risk, a number of health checks or screening tests are recommended at different stages of our lives. For more information go to http://www.bupa.com.au/health-checks
Health Assessment
A medical practitioner can utilise an MBS health assessment item to undertake a more comprehensive assessment of a patient with complex care needs. Health assessments also permit the needs of specific groups (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, refugees and aged care residents) to be addressed in a targeted and culturally appropriate manner.
For more information go to http://www.health.gov.au/mha.htm
Men’s Health
Men’s health covers a broad spectrum of issues from erectile dysfunction and male pattern baldness through to prostate cancer and sti’s.
For more information go to http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mens-health
Women’s Health
Women’s health covers a broad spectrum of issues from breast and ovarian cancer through menopause and incontinence and sti’s.
For more information go to http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/womens-health
Mental Health
Information about action to build a stronger, more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective mental health system.
For more information go to http://www.health.gov.au/Mental+Health+and+Wellbeing-1
Minor Surgical Procedures
In general terms, surgery is the term traditionally used for treatments that involve cutting or stitching tissue. However, advances in surgical techniques have made the definition more complicated: Sometimes lasers, ultracisions, rather than scalpels, are used to cut tissue. Surgery is a broad area of care and involves many different techniques.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and works to prevent disease and disability through physical means. Physiotherapists are experts in movement and function who work in partnership with their patients, assisting them to overcome movement disorders, which may have been present from birth, acquired through accident or injury, or are the result of ageing or life-changing events.
Psychologist – Appointment Required
Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. It is an academic discipline and an applied science which seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist and can be classified as a social, behavioural, or cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behaviour, while also exploring the physiological and biological processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviours.
Skin Check and Treatment
The sooner a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better your chance of avoiding surgery or, in the case of a serious melanoma or other skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death.
For more information go to http://www.cancer.org.au/check-for-signs-of-skin-cancer.html
Work-Cover Assessments
If you suffer a work-related injury you may be able to claim compensation. Our doctors can help assess your eligibility.
For more information on Work-Cover Claims and Assessments go to http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/types-of-claims