Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter. 2024 is in full swing, as we say goodbye to a humid summer and hello to a crisper Autumn. This means we do see an increase in the number of viral infections circulating and we need to prepare for winter ahead. The influenza vaccine will be expected to arrive early April and we will be conducting multiple flu vaccine clinics. We will also be holding our regular covid vaccination booster clinics (Pfizer). This edition includes information regarding our Easter opening hours, after hours and urgent care services, the 2024 Influenza vaccines, Covid Vaccine Boosters and don’t forget to sign up for my Medicare if you haven’t already. We said a sad farewell to some much loved team members last month but we are thrilled to introduce our new doctor in the house.
YFD EASTER OPENING HOURS & AFTER HOURS CARE
If you need a GP after hours during the Easter period – Bridges After Hours GP clinic at Erina and Kanwal will remain open. A copy of your consultation notes and any test results will be sent to your local GP as we know continuity of care is so important.
For opening hours please follow this link ….https://ccpc.com.au/after-hours-gp-clinics/ or call
- Erina – 02 4367 9699
- Kanwal – 02 4394 733
Urgent Care Service is now available at Long Jetty. This is for health issues that are not life-threatening but you need medical help fast and wish to avoid waiting in an emergency department. Call health direct on 1800 022 222 to access urgent care in Long Jetty. A nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and can book you an appointment from 8am to 8pm every day. Please note this clinic is not a ‘walk in clinic’ and the appointment must be made by the health direct nurse.
For more information on Urgent Care Service … https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/Pages/urgent-care-services.aspx
INFLUENZA VACCINE 2024
The government funded flu vaccines are expected to arrive at YFD early April. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for those at risk of severe illness from the flu. Those eligible for free influenza vaccines under the National Immunisation program includes:
- Children from 6 months to under 5 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 6 months
- Pregnant women
- People aged 65 years and over
- People with serious health conditions (including severe asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease)
Those not eligible for a government flu vaccine can receive a private flu vaccine at Your Family Doctors for $20.
This year we are running our flu clinics in a similar fashion to last year. To enable our doctors to be more available to our patients we will be conducting Nurse run clinics. These clinics will have an $15 admin free, even if you are eligible for a government funded vaccine. Unlike the covid vaccination clinics, there is no Medicare rebate for nurse run flu clinics. We understand the cost of vaccinating your family can add up, so we will be setting up designated family flu clinics with a reduced administration fee. Private flu vaccines will be an additional $20.
Flu vaccine appointments will be available for patients of our practice online via HotDoc under ‘Flu clinic’ when they arrive in stock or via this link https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/your-family-doctors-at-erina/doctors
We will notify patients when our flu vaccines arrive and clinics are available via facebook, Instagram and sms.
For more information about the flu vaccine ……..
https://yourfamilydoctors.com.au/influenza-vaccinations-2024/
2024 COVID BOOSTER VACCINE UPDATE
COVID-19 activity persists at high levels in our community. Ensure your ongoing protection against COVID-19 by understanding the latest vaccination guidelines for 2024 (as of 29th February 2024)
As with all vaccinations, people are encouraged to discuss the vaccine options available to them with their health practitioner.
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.
If you have had a recent COVID-19 infection everyone should wait 6 months until their next recommenced vaccine. This is to optimise vaccine protection.
Patients of the practice can book an appointment for the ‘Pfizer Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine’ Booster online via hotdocs ……..https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/your-family-doctors-at-erina/doctors/pfizer-vaccine-practitioner-5
For more information …
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/getting-your-vaccination/booster-doses
NO SHOW / LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION FEES
At Your Family Doctors at Erina your health is extremely important to us. We strive to provide quality care to all our patients and try very hard to provide urgent appointments when required. This can prove to be very difficult when patients don’t turn up for appointments without giving the practice notice. In the last 6 months we have had 389 patients not show up or cancel 1 – 2 hours before their appointment. This is the equivalent of a full time doctor taking a month off work. That’s a lot of high demand doctors appointments that could have been given to another unwell patient.
Due to huge impact this has on our practice and patients, YFD is implementing a 24 hour cancellation fee of $50. Cancellations and rescheduling appointments can be made by calling our reception staff during working hours or via our hotdoc appointment app. We hope this frees up some more appointments for our patients so they can continue to receive quality care when they need it.
MY MEDICARE
Have you signed up for My Medicare yet? Your Family Doctors at Erina has joined thousands of healthcare providers across Australia in registering in MyMedicare, a new voluntary registration system that will help us formalise the relationship between us and our patients.
If you hold a valid Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran card and have been to see us in person twice over the last 24 months, you’re now eligible to register in MyMedicare.
By registering in MyMedicare you can access longer funded telehealth consultations with our practice and other benefits.
For more information, chat to us at your next appointment, or read more in our blog … https://yourfamilydoctors.com.au/we-registered-for-my-medicare-now-you-can-too/
THE DAFFODIL DIP
At YFD, we love fun local community events that raise money for a great cause! The Daffodil Dip is certainly one of these. On Saturday 30th March 2024, The Terrigal Surf Life Saving club will be hosting the fun 400m ‘dip’ in the ocean for all ages and abilities as part of the Terrigal Ocean Swim Classic.
The Daffodil is the symbol of hope, and the Cancer Council wanted to create an ocean of hope for cancer patients and their families by filling Terrigal Beach full of these fabulous vintage Daffodil Swim caps!
Swim, paddle or just dip and play – but be there to help create a visual that will always be remembered. Your $35 registration includes the dip and your daffodil cap and 100% of registration fees are donated to Cancer Council NSW – Central Coast.
To join in the fun – grab your family or friends and register now……
https://www.doitforcancer.com.au/register/terrigal-daffodil-dip/2024
STAFF NEWS
WELCOME DR MICHAEL LITTLE
We are excited to welcome Dr Michael Little to Your Family Doctors. Michael grew up in inner Sydney and completed degrees in history and psychology before graduating Medicine at the University of Sydney in 2013. He completed general hospital training and then worked for four years in obstetrics and gynaecology. He moved to the Central Coast in 2023 and worked at Toukley for 12 months before joining Your Family Doctors at Erina. He is a GP Registrar, with broad interests including women’s health, chronic disease management and minor surgical procedures.
For a limited time, Dr Michael Little and Dr Renee Pope will be accepting new patients. Our other doctors are presently working at capacity and have their books closed.
FAREWELL DR NICK AND ELISE
At the end of January, we said goodbye to our much loved receptionist Elise and GP Dr Nick Young. It is always bittersweet when we say goodbye to team members – we will miss them greatly but also excited for what lies ahead. We couldn’t let them leave couldn’t without a lovely YFD team farewell breakfast in Terrigal.
CONGRATULATIONS KIARA
Congratulations to Kiara who recently successfully completed her MPA course!
Medical Practice Assistants (MPA’s) are highly valued multi-skilled team members of our medical practice, formally trained to perform a wide range of administrative tasks as well as assisting our doctors with a wide range of treatment room procedures and patient care. This includes assisting with wound dressings, minor procedures, measuring blood glucose, blood pressure, performing ECG’s, spirometry, removing sutures, chronic disease management, health assessments and much more! What handy team members to have to complement our receptionists, nurses and doctors!
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On March 9th we celebrated International Women’s Day. At YFD we are very lucky to have so many inspirational women under the one roof. To all our incredible female doctors, nurses and reception staff -thank you for being amazing!.
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Thanks for reading our Autum Newsletter – keep healthy and we will be back in a few months with more news. In the meantime like us on facebook or instagram to keep up to date with the important health information and to see what the YFD team has been up to. Our website is also a great source of information, so please check out our blog for health information written by our team. Stay well.
Love Team YFD x