As of July 1st, 2024, there have been 6,277 cases of influenza reported in South Australia for the year, according to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. It is important to note that this may not be an accurate reflection because of the number of people who do not present to their GP when ill and are therefore not tested. The number of people being diagnosed with influenza this year is therefore believed to be higher. This represents an increase of 14% compared to the [...]

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer. The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment. Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits such as sleeping better, [...]

MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration model. It aims to formalise the relationship between you as a patient and your general practice, your GP and the team of health care providers that you may need. It is voluntary and free to register in MyMedicare. If you choose not to register in MyMedicare, you’ll still be able to access the same quality of care from your healthcare providers. You’re eligible to register in MyMedicare if you have: a Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veteran Card face-to-face [...]

Every week in Australia, 299 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer. While the risk of bowel cancer increases with age, the disease affects people of all ages. However, it is one of the most treatable types of cancer when detected early. During the early stages, there may be no symptoms which is why screening is so important. From 1 July 2024, the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will be lowered from 50 to 45. Eligible people aged 45-49 can request their [...]

Australia needs over 1.7 million donations every year to meet demand which means three donations every minute. National Blood Donor Week in June encourages people to donate blood if you meet the eligibility criteria. After blood is donated, the Australian Red Cross will usually separate it into red blood cells, platelets and plasma in their laboratories. Red blood cells only last 42 days from when they are donated. Donated red cells help the following: 34% - cancer and blood diseases 19% - anaemia 18% - [...]

Did you know that: 90% of kidney function can be lost with no symptoms. 3 in 4 Australians are at risk of kidney disease. 1 in 6 hospitalisations are kidney related. Currently over 1.8 million Australians are unaware that they have signs of kidney disease.  So, what are the risk factors of kidney disease? Age - people over 50 years of age are more likely to get kidney disease. Obesity - obese people are a higher risk Smoking High blood pressure Diabetes Family history of [...]

Today, a woman or girl diagnosed with ovarian cancer faces a 49% chance of surviving five years. The average five-year survival rate for all cancers nationwide is over 70%.  It is one of the most lethal cancers affecting women. With one Australian dying every eight hours from the disease, there is a desperate need for research to find better treatments and develop an early detection test. It is estimated that more than 1,200 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023. The average age at [...]

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease which is characterised by bone fragility. Everyone loses bone structure with advancing age, and this loss of bone architecture means that fractures are more common. Over 70% of all fractures occur in women and men over 70 years of age. In women, menopause with loss of oestrogen is the most common cause of bone loss. Fractures of the hip, for example, have the highest morbidity, mortality and cost and are associated with a loss of independence. If you are over [...]

There have already been 24,019 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu across Australia so far this year, according to official Department of Health figures. That's up 29 per cent compared to the same time last year. Flu vaccination is recommended every year for anyone aged 6 months of age and over, to reduce the risk of becoming ill with the flu. The best time to vaccinate is in autumn, but flu vaccines can be given at any time during the flu season while the vaccine is [...]

It is estimated by the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare that 48% of Australian adults report at least 2 sleep related problems. Getting enough sleep is crucial for our overall health and wellbeing. While most Australians are meeting national recommendations for how much sleep is required each night, many still experience some form of sleep problem. Poor sleep can seriously affect a person’s quality of life and increase the risk of developing chronic health conditions. It also has a substantial impact on the Australian [...]

The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care has just released guidelines to ensure your ongoing protection against COVID-19 by understanding the latest vaccination recommendations for 2024.  75 years and older Recommended every 6 months.  65-74 years Recommended every 12 months. Can consider every 6 months.  18-64 years With severe immunocompromise: Recommended every 12 months. Can consider every 6 months. Without severe immunocompromise: Consider every 12 months.  5-17 years With severe immunocompromise: Consider every 12 months. Without severe immunocompromise: Not recommended.  Under 5 years Not recommended. As with [...]

Each year in Australia, 1,550 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer according to the Australian Government’s Cancer Australia research findings. The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague and similar to other conditions so it is important that women are aware of their own bodies. There is no screening test for ovarian cancer and a Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer – it screens for cervical cancer. If you experience: Abdominal bloating or increased abdominal size Abdominal or pelvic pain Appetite loss Urinary changes [...]

The latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (November 2023) state that the life expectancy of Australian males is 81.2 years and for females is 85.3 years. This is a slight decrease from the period 2019 – 2021. It is also commonly reported that men would rather ignore their health symptoms than see their GP. So, what are the symptoms that men in middle age should see their GP about? Chest pain Blood in urine Shortness of breath Erectile dysfunction Fatigue Dizziness Excessive thirst [...]

As has been reported in the media recently, King Charles will be undergoing ‘corrective surgery for an enlarged prostate’ shortly. The prostate is a gland that sits in the pelvis of males, just below the bladder, and plays a role in semen production. About 1 in 2 people aged over 50 years will have some prostate enlargement. This may result in the following symptoms: difficulty urinating frequency of urination waking at night to urinate  If you have any of these symptoms, it is recommended that [...]

January 31st 2024 is CTE Awareness Day. CTE is a type of dementia in which many repeated injuries to a person’s head can lead to a loss of neurons and their connections over time. It is thought that brain vibration, inflammation, or a person’s genetic profile may play a role in the development of CTE dementia. Athletes in contact or collision sports such as all codes of football, equestrian, boxing, wrestling, basketball and ice-hockey may be at risk of both concussion and repeated head trauma. [...]

Every year, in Australia: skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers the majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun the incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the world, two to three times the rates in Canada, the US and the UK. 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 [...]

Every three years as part of the Royal Australian of College of General Practitioners Accreditation requirements, our Clinic conducts a patient practice improvement survey. This is organised through an external company called CFEP. In September, 211 patients of the Stirling Central Health Clinic completed the survey. Questions in the survey asked about a range of topics including our provision of clinical care, satisfaction with your consultation, making appointments, after hours care, treatment in the practice, privacy and so on. Overall, 97% of all patient ratings [...]

(Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, National Immunisation program). From 1 November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for eligible people. A 2-dose course of Shingrix® will be available free for: • people aged 65 years and over • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over • immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with the following medical conditions: o haemopoietic stem cell transplant o solid organ transplant o haematological malignancy [...]