Illawarra Medical Centre

05/02/2026

February is RedFEB - a month dedicated to heart health ♥

Did you know that heart disease remains the #1 cause of deaths worldwide and in Australia, there are 1.3 million people currently living with one or more conditions related to heart, stroke, or vascular disease?

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by making positive changes to your lifestyle, including eating a heart-healthy diet, being active and smoke-free, and keeping stress at bay.

A Heart Health Check with your GP is a great first step to looking after your heart health. This will help you understand your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years and what you can do to prevent it.

Contact us on (08) 9208 6400 to book in for your Heart Health Check at IMC.

03/02/2026

Today is World Cancer Day, which aims to raise awareness of the second leading cause of death globally and advocate for more holistic, compassionate care for individuals, families, and communities impacted by cancer.

Cancer accounts for ~10 million annual deaths worldwide, with ~40% of these preventable by modifying risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, and physical inactivity.

Cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis — it’s a deeply personal matter that affects not just physical health but also mental, social, and economic well-being.

Find out more at https://www.worldcancerday.org

03/02/2026

🚨ATTENTION PARENTS OF YEAR 10 STUDENTS

Keep an eye out for your child's Meningococcal ACWY vaccine consent form coming home from school or in your emails. Signing and returning it means your child can receive their free, potentially life-saving vaccination.

And remember, you need 2 separate vaccines for Meningococcal so check if your state is also offering the free Meningococcal B vaccine. If not talk to your GP
Let’s work together to keep our kids safe! 💜

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02/02/2026

Something ringing in your ears? It might be worth getting checked for tinnitus.

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing, hissing, buzzing or clicking sound in your ears, when no sound is being made.

It's more common in older people and two-thirds of Australians are expected to develop tinnitus in their lifetime.

If you have any symptoms or concerns about tinnitus, book in with your GP who can refer you to an audiologist for further testing, if required.

Bookings at IMC can be made online or by phoning (08) 9208 6400.

For more information, visit https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/tinnitus

29/01/2026

When should women👩 start screening for cervical cancer?
And how frequently should they get screened? 🤔

🟢 Women are typically screened by the age of 30.
They should repeat the screening every 5 to 10 years if they test negative.

27/01/2026

Did you know that a child who contracts chronic hepatitis B has an increased risk of developing chronic liver disease and cancer later in life?

It is for this reason that the World Health Organization recommends that children receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

In Australia, every baby born since 2000 has been eligible to receive a free hepatitis B vaccine at birth, with further doses given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

This vaccination program has helped to reduce newly acquired infections by two thirds between 2000 and 2019, with a further a 60% decline in hepatitis B cases on those aged under 20 between 2014 to 2023.

Find out more in our recent blog>>

Vaccinating babies for hepatitis B at birth remains one of the best ways to protect children from this lifelong, deadly disease. Read more>>

25/01/2026

We hope you're all enjoying a happy, healthy, relaxing long weekend! Just a reminder that we are CLOSED today, but will be back to normal opening hours tomorrow.

If you do need any medical assistance today, please contact Night Doctor on 1300 644 483.

For any emergencies, please contact 000 and request an ambulance for urgent assistance.

23/01/2026

A reminder of our Australia Day long weekend hours:

Saturday, 24 January - OPEN 8am to 1pm
Sunday, 25 January - CLOSED
Monday, 26 January - CLOSED

Normal hours resume Tuesday, 27 January. For any assistance outside our normal operating hours, please contact Night Doctor on 1300 644 483.

For any emergencies, please contact 000 and request an ambulance for urgent assistance.

21/01/2026

With the start of the school year just around the corner, here's a few tips to help your child get a healthy start back to school>>

Check out our latest blog for some useful tips on how to help your kids enjoy a healthy and happy start to the new school year>>

20/01/2026

*SKIN CHECKS - AVAILABLE EVERY TUESDAY*
Are you due for your annual skin check? Dr Dhruva Ramachandran is available for skin cancer and skin checks on Tuesday mornings.

To make an appointment, contact our Reception on (08) 9208 6400.

19/01/2026

15/01/2026

The recent decision in the US regarding routine vaccinations for newborns against the hepatitis B virus has raised some concerns and fears of a resurgence of a disease that has been nearly eliminated in early childhood in the United States.

Here in Australia, hepatitis B vaccinations are given to all babies at birth, as part of the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

Find out more about hepatitis B and why it is important to continue to vaccinate newborns against the virus in our latest blog below>>

Vaccinating babies for hepatitis B at birth remains one of the best ways to protect children from this lifelong, deadly disease. Read more>>