The Elms Family Medical Centre

28/06/2025

Lung cancer screening starts from 1st July. This is the first new cancer screening program in Australia for 20 years.
To be eligible for a low dose screening CT scan you need to be between 50 and 70 years and be smoking or ceased in the last 10 years and have a 30 pack year smoking history (20 ci******es per day for 30 years or equivalent).

If you think this might apply to you and you are interested in screening then book an appointment with your GP to discuss your eligibility and for a referral for a CT scan.

For details read this article

The aim is to find and treat lung cancers early, before they grow and spread, to improve the chance of survival. Here’s what’s involved.

01/06/2025

Our winter newsletter is available on our website. Learn about changes to our doctor line up (hint, Dr Laura Machan is returning form maternity leave), our visiting specialist services, Government changes to Care plans, what your poo colour means and more!

18/05/2025

Monday 19 May is World Family Doctor Day.

WONCA is the World Organization of Family Doctors, with 118 Member Organizations representing over 500,000 family doctors in over 130 countries and territories around the world, and working in partnership with the World Health Organisation.

08/05/2025

Flu (influenza) and COVID vaccinations are available at The Elms.
We have already had a bad year for influenza and it is not even peak season yet (over 72,000 laboratory confirmed cases across Australia).
COVID continues to kill vulnerable people (over 250 deaths across Australia in the first 2 months of this year in the last wave-waves appear to be coming 6 monthly).
Please book in via reception or on-line for one of our free vaccination clinics COVID vaccines are free for everyone over 18 and can be yearly or 6 monthly depending on vulnerability. Influenza vaccines are free for particular risk groups and others pay $20 (risk groups include children age 6 months to 5 years, people over 65 and pregnant women as well as others).

Most people who get COVID today will experience only a mild illness. But some are still at risk of severe illness. Here’s what the virus looks like 5 years on.

23/04/2025

We are closed Friday 25th April for Anzac Day but will reopen on Saturday 26th as usual (hours 9am-12.30am)

15/04/2025

We are closed for Easter from Friday until Monday inclusive. We reopen on Tuesday.
If you need care over this time consider attending Urgent Care at Bacchus Marsh Hospital, or using the online services (nurse on call) at https://www.health.vic.gov.au/primary-care/nurse-on-call or the Victorian Virtual ED https://www.vved.org.au/

11/04/2025

Flu injections now available.
Please book for a "Flu clinic". You can book on line or by telephone. Those who are not eligible for free vaccines will be charged $20.

Who should get the flu vaccine?
Anyone aged six months or older is encouraged to get an annual flu shot.
For vulnerable people, like young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system, the flu can have serious and devastating outcomes.
That’s why the flu vaccination is free for:
-children aged 6 months to under five years of age (Victorian Government funded program)
-pregnant women
-people aged over 65
-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (6 months and over)
-people with chronic medical conditions.
For others who don’t qualify as above for government funded injections we charge $20 (the appointment is bulk billed).
Please book into a “Flu clinic” vaccination online or by telephone.
By getting your flu shot, you’re not just protecting yourself, you’re also protecting vulnerable people who cannot receive the vaccine themselves such as young babies less than six months old and those who have low immunity.

23/03/2025

Arthritis. The commonest form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis (OA).Previously thought to be just “wear and tear” and inevitable with ageing There are new approaches which show you can prevent or slow OA progression by lifestyle changes. Appropriate exercise programs and other lifestyle management (such as weight loss) can make an enormous difference. You may be able to avoid or delay surgery with these approaches. Surgery is not inevitable. Appropriate pain relief to allow this exercise may be available from your GP.
Please see this excellent evidence based website for good advice.

MyOA is designed to help people with Osteoarthritis Arthritis (OA) seize control and become active participants in their journey with OA

18/03/2025

The Autumn Newsletter for The Elms is now available here. We achieved accreditation again as a quality general practice. Learn about changes in our nursing and reception staff as well as medical students, Parkrun, New immunisations for pregnant women, Lung cancer screening, My Medicare program and more.

18/03/2025

Measles outbreak in Victoria.
There have been a number of cases of this highly infectious and dangerous disease. The initial cases were probably brought into Australia by travelers from overseas but there have been at least 5 cases contracted locally. The disease can be very dangerous but is preventable by immunisation.
Children should be vaccinated as per the immunisation schedule at 12 and 18 months (children under 12 months old are vulnerable although have some immunity from their mother).
Adults born during or after 1966 and before 1994 need to have 2 injections to be immune. (people born before 1966 are immune from exposure to measles when younger and the people after 1994 had 2 doses of the vaccine as part of the schedule).
If you don’t know, discuss with your doctor
Vaccinations for these people are available through our clinic at no charge (book with the nurse).

An outbreak of measles has been identified in Victoria, after two new cases were reported who likely acquired their infection in metropolitan Melbourne.

14/02/2025

RSV (Respiratory Syncitial Virus)vaccines now recommended and available (free) for pregnant women 28-36weeks gestation. This will provide protection for your baby for around the first 6 months of life when they are most vulnerable. Please book appointment with our nurse if you are in this category.
It works by stimulating the mother to produce antibodies which cross the placent and last approximately 6 months. The vaccine does not cross the placenta into the baby.
If as a pregnant women you miss this vaccination, babies will be offered an injection in hospital of synthetic antibodies to provide similar protection.

In 2025, eligible pregnant women will be able to receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

02/02/2025

Last Friday we did our CPR update. Keeping our patients safe.