Preston Family Medical 2025

18/09/2025

In Dementia Action Week, we come together to raise awareness, offer support, and stand in solidarity with those affected by Dementia. ❤️

Dementia is a leading cause of death in Australia, with almost 1 in 10 people dying from it in 2023, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dementia Action Week is run by Dementia Australia, an organization dedicated towards funding research, advocating to the government and educating communities about Dementia. Preston Family Medical is part of a research trial about a dementia blood test (ADNET trial), ask one of the GPs if you have memory or concentration concerns. There are lots of lifestyle hazards we can tackle to reduce your dementia risk.

04/09/2025

In light of the recent events in Melbourne, we want to take a moment to affirm who we are as a clinic and community.

At Preston Family Medical, we welcome and care for people of all backgrounds, cultures, ages, genders, and sexualities. Everyone deserves safe, respectful, and compassionate healthcare, no matter their walk of life.

Our doors are open to you. Always.

— The Preston Family Medical Team

22/08/2025

https://www.mamamia.com.au/female-doctor-shortage/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMVLbJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnYjhxSXVCTDVQSG9YQlhYAR4vV1O5DaEZp_btp0aNDNlwzNSbiN7BJJEBcwrLSz8BIVkHCy7fke-GC8GFFw_aem_K4Rr9j9qUqigITwioNCU1A

"Really thorough, affordable ones who bulk bill or have a minimal gap fee? They're unicorns."

14/08/2025

Yellow may not be everyone’s colour, but on Daffodil Day, it looks good on all of us. 🌼

Daffodil day is a special day organized by the Cancer Council; A day that symbolizes hope and celebration for those living with cancer. On August 21st, people all over Australia wear yellow, as a reminder on the people who have been lost and a celebration of those who are still alive.
Daffodil day has many facets including an annual dip (cold swim), a series of stalls selling daffodils, and a fundraising drive. All the money donated goes to support cancer patients and cancer research, creating an wave of goodwill that will save lives. Last year, Australians donated over 3.3 million dollars to the Cancer Council! We know that 1 in 12 people will be diagnosed with cancer before they are 85, so your vital support is still greatly needed and appreciated!
Check out the Cancer Council website for more information!

07/08/2025

💓Your blood pressure has a lot to say — are you listening?"

Blood pressure checks involve measuring the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries. The trouble with high blood pressure is it does not have any symptoms but long term can lead to heart disease or a stroke if left untreated. When you get a blood pressure check, the doctor or nurse will fasten a inflatable cuff with a device that measures the pressure to your upper arm. This is called a sphygmomanometer, and it will inflate, compressing your arm before deflating. It doesn't hurt and regular checks provide a baseline for your blood pressure, allowing you and your doctor to monitor any significant changes over time.
Get a blood pressure check today, as it could save your life one day!

31/07/2025

We're deep into cold and flu system, so knowing what your mucus can tell you is essential!

Mucus is a vital part of our immune system, and serves as a protective shield against germs and irritants. Everyone produces mucus but when we get sick, our bodies start to work overtime to make it, strengthening our barriers against pathogens. Normally the mucus is clear or slightly white, but an abnormal colour can alert us to various diseases. Reassuringly, most of these don't require antibiotics, as the immune system will fight them off.
If you have a cold or flu, please do a triple RAT test and book an appointment with us, but make sure to wear a mask in the clinic.

27/07/2025

We’ve been painted!!!! Just for today please come in the secret door to the right or through the plenty road front doors. Thanks!

24/07/2025

In a few days it's going to be national Donate Life Week! Several of our patients have had organ transplants, and have been given a chance to live their best lives. It runs from the 27th July to the 3rd of August and was created to encourage more Australians to become organ or tissue donors. This is essential because while 4 in 5 Aussies say they support donation, only 1 in 3 chose to become donors. For bone marrow, tissue, kidneys and partial liver donations you can give as a living donor. Other organ donation only occur after death. Organ donation can give someone another chance at life.
You can register at Donatelife website, your Mygov account, through your Medicare Express Plus phone app, with drivers licence renewal or downloading the printed form found on the website. Click on this link to sign up!

Registering to be an organ and tissue donor is easy! On this page you can submit a new registration and check if you are already registered.

03/07/2025

Twenty Australian sunscreen brands were tested and only four met their advertised SPF 50 rating. Of those other sixteen, one tested as a SPF rating of four; Seven in the twenties; Four in both the thirties and forties. If you want specific informaton on paticular brands and their ratings, visit the article linked at the bottom of this post. CHOICE, a leading consumer advocacy group coducted the tests.
Despite the somewhat grim results, throwing out the sunscreen you have is not the answear. "Don't go and throw your sunscreen out, if anything, use more — that's the most important take-home message," says the Melanoma Institute's head of dermatology Linda Martin.
https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/beauty-and-personal-care/skin-care-and-cosmetics/articles/sunscreen-test

26/06/2025

June 29th is World Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) Day! Scleroderma is a chronic disease that causes the body's immune system to falsely attack connective tissues, hardening the skin and damaging internal organs. Connective tissue connects, supports and binds other tissues and organs. Scleroderma triggers your cells to produce too much collogen, which under normal circumstances supports your connective tissues. An exessive amount causes damage.
World Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) Day was created in honour of Swiss painter Paul Klee, who was diagnosed with the disease and passed away on June 29, 1940. While the disease itself is not life threatening, it can be a cause serious organ damage.

25/06/2025

Preston Family Medical is a private medical clinic.
From July 1st 2025 there will be fees for most appointments. There will be reduced fees for pension & children under 12. Children under 5 will be bulk billed Please talk to your usual GP about joining our chronic care program, the family medicare safety net and other ways to reduce your medical costs.

19/06/2025

MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration model that allows you to cement your relationship with your regular practice and GP. When you register in MyMedicare, your chosen practice will become your primary health team, and you receive Medicare rebates at this clinic. This will also ensure a more standardised schedule between the patient and doctor, in addition more medicare items which includes funded telehealth consultations.
You are eligble to register in MyMedicare if you have a Medicare card or are registered with the Deparment of Verterans' Affairs. Provided you have either of those, then you must have two face-to-face visits at the same practice in the past 24 months.
In addition to this, a family of patients are avalible for Medicare Safety Net, which is a program you can register in as a family that is designed to help lower your out of pocket medical costs. All medical costs get added up such as seeing a doctor or specialist and some scans, blood tests and CT scans. When you as a family spend over a $2500 per year, the government will give you a higher rebate back reducing your out of pocket expenses. There is a link under this post where you can register with the Medicare Safety Net program for couples and families.

Use this form to register or amend your family's details for the Medicare Safety Net.