The Elms Family Medical Centre

15/12/2025

Please consider measles vaccination for adults born between 1966 and 1992. There is an increase in cases around the world and more people contracting it overseas and spreading it in Australia. It is one of the most infectious diseases known and the vaccine is one of the most effective. Two doses of MMR vaccination are required. Having an extra one doesn’t do harm if you can’t remember if you have had them.

12/12/2025

Christmas celebration at lunch today. Great socialising and relaxed fun with the “stealing Santa” gift exchange.

06/12/2025

Do you have kids with mental health problems (anxiety, depression or just general wellbeing concerns)? Do you want to know if they need more help or could they use tools like this quality one developed by a number of professionals and universities? This is for kids and teens ages 7-17 years. If in doubt, please bring your child in to see one of our doctors (mental health consultations usually need a longer appointment).

Momentum Platform

30/11/2025

Bulk Billing Implanon insertions or removals.
Further to our recent post about Bulk Billing for IUD insertions, we are also extending this to the contraceptive Implanon (the “rod”) insertions and removals. This is due to increased Medicare funding under the Women’s Health Initiative by the Federal Government.
New patients welcome.
All of our GPs do these procedures (but not all do IUD insertions-see previous post).

22/11/2025

Bulk Billed IUD insertion. Due to recent government incentives we are able to offer this service at no out of pocket cost.
Please note that we have 3 doctors who insert IUDs (Intrauterine Devices): Dr Tahmina Sultana, Dr Ummu Rauf and Dr Rob Hosking.
An suitability assessment and planning appointment is required prior and this will be at our standard non-bulk billed rates. Please call reception to book an appointment.
If required, we have access to pain relief for the procedure (including the "Green Whistle").

10/11/2025

Do you, or someone you care for, have heart disease? This free program from the Heart Foundation is designed to support people with heart disease with information on medication support as well as diet and lifestyle advice.

Heart Foundation’s free support program for people living with heart disease and those who care for them.

06/10/2025

Be aware of thuderstorm asthma. This can suddenly affect people with mild or severe asthma or even people not diagnosed with asthma.
Please contact your GP for a plan on how to manage this risk.

This material was developed prior to COVID-19. Follow current COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.For more information about thunderstorm asthma, who is at ...

14/08/2025

Home blood pressure (BP) testing can be a very useful tool for managing your health. Your BP will vary during the day depending on what you’re doing.

Speak to your GP about what target you should be aiming for as it depends partly on your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) and other medical conditions you may have
Home BP testing is particularly useful for people whose BP rises when they attend a doctor. If you record your BP readings over a few weeks at different times of day this can be particularly useful for the doctor to consider if you need treatment or adjustment of existing treatment for elevated BP (hypertension).

Many places sell good quality machines, including local pharmacies and even Aldi (sometimes-like this coming Saturday for $35). Currently wrist and finger based machines are not considered as accurate.
If in doubt, we can also request a 24 hour test througha testing centre.

12/08/2025

Free Shingles vaccination.
We are running a number of shingles vaccination clinics over the next few weeks and we have adequate stock of vaccines.
If you qualify, and have not had your 2 doses of Shingles vaccine, then book with reception for one of these nurse and doctor clinics.
To qualify you must be over 65, or indigenous and over 50, or over 18 and immunocompromised (putting you at higher risk of more severe complications of shingles).

06/08/2025

We would like to announce the very welcome return of Dr Laura Machan from maternity leave. Laura will be working every Wednesday and Thursday and every alternate Monday and Friday (ie. 3 days per week) as well as the occasional Saturday morning.

05/07/2025

Changes to the Medicare Care Plan system. From July 1st 2025 the Federal Government has implemented changes to the system of Care Plans (also previously known as Chronic Disease Plans, Enhanced Primary Care Plans, Team Care Arrangements and GP Management Plans). Much of the bureaucracy around these plans has been reduced and the eligibility of patients expanded.
At The Elms, attendance for these plans will continue to be Bulk Billed. Review appointments for these plans can be every 3 to 6 months (bulk billed). Attendances for unrelated appointments will continue to attract our usual fees. People already on Care Plans will be transitioned across to the new program and will not notice much change except for the option for more review appointments that are Bulk Billed (previously this was only every 6 months).

To qualify for what are now called Chronic Condition Management Plans, a patient needs to have at least one chronic medical condition lasting at least 6 months (eg. Diabetes, Asthma, Heart Disease, Arthritis, etc) and would benefit from a structured approach to managing their condition. This structured approach may include reviews every 3 to 6 months. The aim behind this is to improve the health of patients by optimising the management of long term conditions. There is strong evidence that people do better with regular long term attendance with one doctor or practice (called “continuity of care”).

Also as part of this structured approach, we may (if needed) refer a patient to allied health professionals for up to 5 visits (that attract Medicare rebates) in a calendar year (eg, Podiatrist, Physiotherapist, Dietitian, etc).

Please discuss with your doctor if you think you may be eligible to be on one of these Bulk Billed plans.

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.