Welcome to our YFD June Newsletter. As we enter winter, the mornings are getting crisp, and the night air is getting cooler which means we are starting to see many more coughs and colds. Winter is a very busy time at YFD, and combined with the roll out of the COVID vaccines and flu vaccines you may have found it hard to get appointments at times. Our staff are trying their best to fit in urgent appointments on the day, but for less urgent appointments there may be a 2 – 3 week wait. We please ask our patients that are due to regular checks ups and scripts renewals to plan and book ahead because if that script suddenly runs out, there may not be an appointment available for you. If you do need an urgent appointment please discuss with our staff and they will do their best to accommodate your needs. We do need to save our on the day appointments for urgent cases so if your health needs can wait your patience is greatly appreciated.
In this month’s newsletter we will be updating you more on the COVID-19 Vaccination rollout (of course!), telehealth changes at the end of June, revealing our new nursing team and our private fees will be increasing so we can still continue to provide you with quality care.
You can also like us on Facebook or Instagram to keep up to date and see what the YFD team have been up to.
WHERE TO GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ON THE CENTRAL COAST
The question on many of our patients mind is – where do we get our Covid Vaccinations on the Central Coast? There is a lot of information out there, different vaccines are recommended for different age groups, the goal posts keep changing based on best available evidence – so it can be easy to get confused. We hope the following online links help…….
⭐️ A good place to start to see if you are eligible and where to get your Covid-19 vaccine is through the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker;
https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
⭐️OVER 60’s
You can book for your Astra Zeneca vaccination now through the eligibility checker link as above or through…
– Your regular GP (if they are Covid Vaccination providers)
– COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at Wyong Hospital through https://www.nsw.gov.au
– Coast and Country Respiratory Clinic COVID 19 Vaccine clinic in Erina https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/erina-respiratory-clinic/doctors
– For existing patients at Your Family Doctors at Erina. https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/your-family-doctors-at-erina/doctors/covid-19-vaccine-practitioner-58?purpose=covid-vaccine
⭐️ UNDER 60’s
– If you are under 60 in category 1a or 1b, or between the age of 40 – 60 you can now book online to be vaccinated for the Pfizer Vaccine at Gosford Hospital or Coast and Country Respiratory Clinic via the following link (hot tip -make sure you change the location from Sydney to Gosford 2250). Please don’t turn up without a booking.
https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
⭐️ Your Family Doctors has the AstraZeneca vaccine available for existing patients over 60. We do not have the Pfizer vaccine available.
⭐️ Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is free and it’s your choice. It’s your opportunity to protect yourself from the risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
⭐️ If you have any questions or concerns about your individual circumstances, it’s best to speak with your treating doctor. For more information, visit https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines.
⭐️For more on the latest recommendations on the Astrazeneca vaccine please follow the link –
COVID VACCINATION UPDATE – JUNE
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) announced on June 17th that :
- Pfizer is preferred over AstraZeneca from the age of 16 to under 60 years.
- AstraZeneca is recommended for patients over the age of 60.
- AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 60 years for whom Pfizer is not available, the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.
- For those who have had their first AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse events should receive their second dose (irrespective of age)
⭐️These changes are based on recent data regarding Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) cases in Australia and a reassessment of current age-specific risks and benefits of vaccination. ATAGI considers the benefit of vaccination in preventing COVID-19 with AstraZeneca outweighs the risk of TTS in people aged 60 and over. The risks of severe outcomes with COVID-19 increase with age and are particularly high in older unvaccinated individuals.
⭐️ At YFD we only have the AstraZeneca vaccine available at our Covid Vaccine Clinics. Our practice will be contacting patients between the age of 50 – 60 who are already booked to have their 1st AstraZeneca vaccination.
⭐️ For those between the age of 40 – 60 on the Central Coast and those with underlying medical conditions under the age of 60, you can book for the Pfizer vaccine at the Coast and Country Respiratory Clinic or Gosford Hospital via https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility (please note – recent changes may not be updated for several days)
⭐️For more on the latest recommendations on the Astrazeneca vaccine please follow the link –
TELEHEALTH CHANGES
We have been fortunate over the last 14 months to have had the availability of telehealth consultations to help get us through the hurdles that the COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown at us. However as of 30th June the current telehealth model is set to change. There will no longer be medicare rebates for longer telephone consultations. Therefore, telephone consultations will be only available for shorter appointments such as script only appointments, giving of results, or if you cannot attend the practice in person due to cold and flu like symptoms. Telephone appointments with a medicare rebate are only available to existing patients that have attended for a face to face appointment in the last 12 months. All other appointments will need to be attended face to face.
HOT DOC ONLINE APP AND BOOKING SYSTEM
We recommend downloading the Hot Doc app which is our online booking system. By downloading the app not only can you book appointments online but you can receive notifications on when it’s your turn to have the Covid vaccine or Influenza vaccine and when other health checks are due. https://www.hotdoc.com.au/
INFLUENZA VACCINATION UPDATE
There is still time to get your Influenza vaccine. Due to the Covid-19 Vaccination roll out many patients have had to wait for their flu vaccine as the two vaccines needs to be given at least 1 week apart. Flu season is usually at its greatest in July and August so it is not to late. Please call our reception staff or book online into one of our flu clinics or with our nurse for your vaccination.
We have both government funded and private flu vaccinations available. It is recommended that everyone six months and older get immunised against the flu.
Just a reminder that government funded flu vaccines are available for;
* the over 65’s
* children aged 6 months to 5 years,
* pregnant women
* those with certain chronic health conditions
* all Aboriginal and Torres straight islanders over 6 months.
Please note the enhanced quadrivalent vaccine FLUAD QUAD is specifically designed for patients over the age of 65. It has been specifically formulated to create a greater immune response amongst the elderly and are only available through your GP clinic.
Private flu vaccinations are available for $20.
If you have more questions about the flu vaccine please discuss with your doctor or follow this link on frequently asked questions. … https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/seasonal-flu-vaccination-faqs.aspx
FEE INCREASE
As of 1st July, our fees will increase so we can continue to provide you with quality care. We will continue to bulk bill children under the age of 16.
WINTER COUGHS AND COLDS
As the colder month approach us, so do the winter coughs and colds. If you have any cold or flu symptoms please call and let our staff know. The doctor can still assess you initially via a telehealth appointment. If a face to face review is required your doctor may book you into our Respiratory clinic (called the Check Clinic) at the end of the day so you or your child can be properly assessed. If you or your child is having trouble breathing please attend the emergency department or call an ambulance.
It is also recommended that patients with cold and flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and runny nose be tested for Covid-19. Our closest testing clinic is the Coast and Country Respiratory clinic in Erina. Bookings can be made online https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/erina-respiratory-clinic/doctors
To help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses, we continue to ask all patients to wear a mask when they attend our practice.
PATHOLOGY ROOM TEMPORARY CLOSURE
Due to water damage from the bout of heavy rain we had at the end of March our Douglas Hanley Moir pathology service is temporarily closed. We will let you know when our pathology service is in operation again. To find other local DHM locations to have your blood tests please click on the follow link …… https://www.dhm.com.au/locations/
STAFF NEWS
AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST MORNING TEA
On Thursday 27th May, the sun was shining and it was another fabulous Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea at YFD . It was the perfect place for patients to wait their 15 minute observation time post Covid vaccine while Dr Georgia served them a cup of tea and cake! So far we have raised $441 for the Cancer Council which goes towards much needed funds for cancer research, prevention, treatment and support!
You can still donate via https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/yourfamilydoctors
WELCOMES
We are excited to announce we have two new fabulous nurses joining our YFD nursing team. Joining our nurses Jodie Tuffy and Fiona Woods will be Lynne Campey and Carolyn Ghosh.
Lynne Campey has been nursing for over 30 years with experience in Emergency and Midwifery. For 15 years she has worked as a Child and Family Health Nurse and is passionate about helping families transition to parenthood with guidance and support for normal infant behaviour and development. She is an authorised nurse immuniser who has worked with the childhood immunisation mobile clinic program for 13 years. She moved into GP land a year ago and is enjoying being more involved in whole of life care.
Carolyn Ghosh, has been an experienced Emergency Nurse for over 20 years and has decided give General Practice nursing a go! Cassy is passionate about caring for patients across all ages especially our older population. Cassy looks forward to getting to know our lovely patients, and will be providing a broad range of care, including our over 75 Health Assessments.
We would also like to welcome another smiling face to reception – the lovely Melissa Wall. And yes, that means we have 3 Melissa’s working at YFD now!
We will be back next month to keep you up to date – in the meantime don’t forget to like us on facebook and Instagram. Stay healthy!
Love the YFD team xx