Boston Bay Family Health Practice

09/02/2026

THE STORY OF LIFE..

Two stories in two weeks!!! It's been a while people.. it's been a while. But I guess that's life… it passes.. one day to the next.. and many times I've thought “that would make a good story”. the 12 babies of Christmas.. yes 12 babies in 12 days!. the antics of the Grandies.. Nate, 4, guess what I've got in my pocket for you Poppa? And then pulls out the rude finger 🫣. more tales from the Coffee pot.. which always seems to be spilling at the moment, and if you remember, a spilt coffee means too much haste and life is too busy.. she who teaches is she who most needs to learn..Sally's google search which culminated in “Ask your Mother”.. definitely a high point in my life, which you'll understand if you know how capable and independant Ms Sally is!!

And then today's story, which also nearly didn't get written.. so I guess there are two parts to this story..
1 why am I not writing?
And
2 how does this photo tell the story of life?

Why am I not writing? As usual, I didn't come on to write this.. it's just appearing as I write.. I guess it means someone needs to hear it, whoever and wherever you are. Why am I not writing? Because I love to write! It's fun.. I enjoy it.. I learn from it everytime (even if you don't)..

But lately, I've had some other things I'm supposed to write.. some recruitment adverts and stories.. and, for some reason, I don't want to write those.. can't bring myself to write them! I don't know why.. I can't figure out why I don't want to write a post about how stunning Port Lincoln is.. how great our people are.. what an amazing team of Doctors and Nurses we work with.. and how it's the best of all worlds when it comes to work-life integration.

Yep, you read that right - I don't talk about work-life balance, I talk about work life integration.. if you need to keep your life and work seperate, there's something wrong with the work you're doing! And maybe we can take that further, there is something wrong with your perception of the work you're doing.. Think your work is not important? I call bu****it!!! Give me any job you like and I will give you a reason why you matter and what you do matters!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. those Guys and Dolls who drive around before daylight picking up our rubbish do one of the most important jobs on this planet!! In fact the advent of systematic sewerage and rubbish collection has done more for health and longevity than any other measure in history.. including all the advice and medication my colleagues and I provide!

Anyway.. back to the writing.. I'm not writing because I think that I shouldn't be writing because I need to write the advertorials and I don't want to do that, so I haven't let myself write the good stuff.

But now I've decided, stuff it!! (In my brain it's a different word but I'd better not write that 😉) I can write whatever the heck I want to write.. and I want to write stories.. so, I will. And maybe, every now and then I'll divert across and write my advertorial to attract more Docs our way.. but I'll do it when I feel like it.

The irony, of course, is that even without the Advertorials we've attracted 3 new Docs who are joining us in the next couple months.. maybe the videos work better than my writing anyway (man I hate making videos though!!!) it all comes out in the wash!!!

Back to the story of life..
You see.. when I have a shower I wash my hair first.. then condition.. then body wash.. then rinse out the conditioner.. But David does it body wash then shampoo. I don't get why he does it that way.. he doesn't understand why I do it my way.

But, ya know.. we both get out of the shower clean.. with hair washed.. no stress!
And it just goes to show there is more than one way to get the deed done - whatever that deed maybe..

6+3=9.. and so does 5+4.. 2+7.. 1+8..

There is more than one way to skin a cat!! More than one way to get the job done. And it doesn't need to be done “your” way! As long as the quality and safety is there, just let it get done.. in fact, many times, your way is not the best way.. let’s hark back to the recruitment strategy of video over writing.. definitely not my choice.. definietly more successful than i could have made it! And I guess that means we also have to hark back to Ms Independence.. she had to Ask her Mother.. but her Mother also had to leave it (the recruitment) in her hands! Not gonna live that one down for a while!

Everyone does it differently.. there is not one “right” way to live in this world.. and if there is, it may not be your way..

Have a great week people.. and as you meander through the days have a thought.. Do you want to be right.. or Happy?
Dr Kris xx

Photo: Conditioner before shampoo?! Who does that!

01/02/2026

HUSBANDS DONT MAKE THE BEST TOUR GUIDES…

Just finishing up a week’s holiday in New Zealand. It's been a lovely week but a couple things I need to remember for next time..

1 don’t trust the husband with event planning, and

2 never, EVER, “wing it”.

You think I would have learnt from Sal’s stories, wouldn't you - tales of winging it and ending up in some cheap dive motel?

But no! Let's do a week in New Zealand we decided. “You book flights and accomodation” said David, “and leave the activities to me”.. was that a crack of ominous thunder I heard?

We get here and there's nothing sorted! In fact, he's led me on a bit of a bum steer in wanting to head across to Taurunga. “I've heard it's amazing scenery” he says. Well, that should have been the first warning because all of New Zealand is amazing scenery! And where did you actually hear this from, oh husband of mine?

The first four days were fine.. Auckland.. can't go wrong there, always something to do. And I will give him brownie points for finding me a perfume workshop which was a fun relaxing afternoon like playing with a chemistry set (and yes I'm serious it was fun.. I am a bit of a nerd though).

But then we head off across to Tauranga. “What's on the plans for the next few days?” I ask.

“Oh, I don't know” he says, “I thought we could check out some stuff when we got here”. And off went the alarm bells in my OCD brain!!

He quickly realised he may have made a mistake and started sending me links to activities.. but unfortunately just kept digging the hole deeper!

Now if your geography isn't perfect, you may not realise that Taurunga is about 7km from Mount Maunganui. And in the week before we arrived the area had record rainfall - and some pretty horrific landslides. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those lost in the land slides. It was a pretty awful time for us to come visiting.

So I can't really blame the Husband when we found out the premier hot springs facility in the area was closed. (Nor can I blame anyone else.. please don’t think I'm being facetious.. we fully understand why the springs were closed 💔)

Okay, well what about a harbour cruise? Only happen on Sunday evening and we're leaving Sunday morning..

Are you getting the picture. It appeared that we couldn't win! Well, at this point I'm starting to get a little cranky - you know the stuff.. whole holidays ruined, nothings going right.. and suddenly I thought

“It's actually all about your perception.”

I realised I could continue to spiral down and get more and more cranky, give up and let the negatives win.. or I could stop and look for the positives..

No matter what happened or didn't happen, it's a break and a relaxing one.
And
Why did I even agree to the Husband being the tour guide?.. what planet was I on? That's my job!

So, onto Google I go.. across to trip advisor and Viator.. an hour later I've got a pretty good list of activities for us to consider.

And so as our holiday comes to a close we've done a drive through the hills to Rotarua which felt like being on Bathurst.. numerous other hot spring soaks.. a rail cruise in a little self drive rail car on an old railway track.. found ideas for our dream weekend retreat.. more ideas for expansion of Boston Bay Collective (even outshining Sal and JRs myriad of ideas they brought back from WA - watch this space!!).. fish and chips that (nearly) rivals Fresh fish place.. dinner at a Harbourside restaurant under a train bridge.. an historic house.. a bird garden.. an old quarry that's been turned into a park/garden.. and a Cider factory..

Whew!! I'm gonna need to come home for a holiday now!! And all because I changed my perception. Didn't wallow in the negative. Stopped spiralling down and started spiralling up.

What have you got you can change the way you're looking at?
Have a great week people
Dr Kris xx

Photo: Mt Maunganui, in tribute to the mudslide tragedy.

13/01/2026

✨ New Year Specials at The Laser Room ✨

We’re treating our skin lovers with some limited offers!

💎 Pico Packages
First 10 customers to purchase a 3-session Pico package
($1,350 — normally $1,650)
will also receive $200 worth of skincare products on us ✨

🌸 Pico Facial Bonus
Add a Pico Facial to your routine and enjoy 30% off La Clinica skincare at checkout

🧴 Skincare Lovers
Purchase any 3 La Clinica products and receive 25% off

These offers are limited — once they’re gone, they’re gone.

📍 Available at The Laser Room – inside Boston Bay Family Health Practice

📅 Bookings essential

10/12/2025

A time slot of 3.30-5pm has become available today at The Laser Room | Call the Clinic on 08 8683 1800 to book your appointment with our lovely nurse Rhee.

01/12/2025

The Laser Room, located within Boston Bay Family Health Practice, offers a range of treatments using medical-grade technology — including laser hair removal, tattoo removal, rejuvenating facials and more.

01/12/2025

Glow more, spend less ✨

20% off La Clinica skincare kits until Christmas.
Perfect for gifting, or… gifting to yourself. 😉
Your summer skin, sorted — minus the splurge.

21/11/2025

We approve this message!

An independent candidate has announced she will run for the seat of Flinders at the 2026 state election. FULL STORY IN COMMENTS

30/10/2025

BULK BILLING BUT…

The Checklist..

So just to summarize everything we’ve been chatting about over the last couple weeks.. You need to..

1. Be registered as a Primary Patient under Boston Bay Family Health Practice with My Medicare ✅

2. Have all previous account paid and up to date ✅

3. Keep your appointments to 12 minutes or you may incur a fee ✅

4. Engage with us fully with Chronic Care management and rebook at each appointment to maintain this continuity of care ✅

5. Remember we can be your first point of contact for the semi urgent stuff.. let’s keep the hospital for emergencies!

6. Oh.. and be nice to us.. this is going to be an uphill climb for us too.. ✅

It's a 3 to 6 month trial.. if its going to work we need to pull together to make it a success. See you on the other side of 1 November!

Dr Kris and “The Family”
Boston Bay Family Health Practice

29/10/2025

Santa called — he’s officially adding good skin to the nice list 🎅🏼

Enjoy 20% off all skincare kits until Christmas.

Shop at The Laser Room | Boston Bay Family Health

23/10/2025

BULK BILLING BUT…

Mental Health.. the Biggest loser!

Did you know that 60% of the work an RG/GP does is about Mental Health or Mental Wellbeing. It underpins everything else we know about health care and improvements. And yet, the Government in their “wisdom” are threatening our ability to provide services. And this stuff just can’t be done in 12 minutes!!

Yes they’ve established Medicare Mental Health - which is a great idea. It acts as an initial contact service to allow people to identify and access a range of services - and work out which ones are best for them. But we dont have an exhaustive range of services to begin with.. this is Eyre Peninsula for heaven sake.. 7 hours away from suburbia!

And it should be IN ADDITION to mental health care accessible at your local GP Clinic.. not instead of! The first point of contact for mental health care is usually and traditionally the GP - and it takes a lot of care and support to work out if someone will benefit from counselling or medication, formal psychology or social support.

But we are still in limbo about what’s going to happen with the provision of GP Mental Health Services come 1 November.. we’ll provide you with more information as it comes to us.

Hopefully, whatever happens we can continue to provide some mental health care but two weeks out and we still haven't been given all the information we need to establish a plan - The cynic in me thinks we’re gonna have some bullsh*t dumped on us 1 November and we wont have time to react.

Poor Tom.. he’s really copping it this month!! Here’s his email again.. tell him to take it to Canberra.. we need more Mental health services in the Bush.. Add in that we need more Doctors.. Nurses.. Health Professionals.. Psychologists.. Physiotherapists.. Ask him to find solutions to recruitment.. anything else you can think of!! Tom.Venning.MP@aph.gov.au

Dr Kris and “The Family”
Boston Bay Family Health Practice

(Share far and wide people.. lets make sure everyone knows what’s happening come 1 November.. most of what we’re talking about applies to all of Australia not just BBFHP and Port Lincoln)

21/10/2025

BULK BILLING BUT…

What’s not included in Bulk Billing…

We are Rural Generalists - previously known as Rural GPs but more recently we’ve had our proper title and extended skill set recognised. Finally! Its only taken 20 plus years!!

Providing Pre Anaesthetic Checks for Port Lincoln Hospital is an extended skill provided by our RG/GP Anaesthetists.

Skin checks and Skin Cancer management is an extended skill provided by our Nurse Practitioner and RG/GPs with additional training and certification in Skin Cancer Management.

Antenatal and Postnatal care are extended skills provided by our RG/GP Obstetrician and our Independant Midwives (an additional 2000 hours of training)

And anything to do with our Lasers, PRP, IV Nutrients and Aesthetic Medicine is extended skills.

The Government has only focused on General Practice care - the areas of care that you would get in any normal General Practice - not rural ones like we are with multiple extended services. These extended services don't attract the incentives the Government has offered to allow us to revert to bulk billing and so there will continue to be a charge associated with them. Our Admin staff can step you through these costs and they will usually be detailed for you when you book online

Any questions please dont hesitate to ask us. There’s going to be a few unknowns in the first few months so bear with us and lets just keep an open conversation about what the Government is willing to fund.. and what they’re not.

Oh.. and if you think more of the above come under our right to free Health Care.. then here’s Tom’s email again.. Tom.Venning.MP@aph.gov.au

Dr Kris and “The Family”
Boston Bay Family Health Care

(Share far and wide people.. lets make sure everyone knows what’s happening come 1 November.. most of what we’re talking about applies to all of Australia not just BBFHP and Port Lincoln)

19/10/2025

BULK BILLING BUT…

Remember…

To access appointments at Boston Bay Family Health Practice from 1 November 2025 you will need to be registered with us under My Medicare. You will need to have nominated us as your primary practice.

The Admin team are well able to explain how to do this - and they have a bucket of lollipops for everyone who shows them you’ve done your “My Medicare” due diligence (unless Dr Kris eats them all first!)

The system has changed a bit so if your confused (so am I!) come ask the Staff to help you work out how to get registered.

Unfortunately, there will be no exceptions. If you’re not registered to Boston Bay Family Health Practice under My Medicare we will assume you have chosen a different practice as your care provider and we will be unable to offer you appointments.

Dr Kris and “The Family”
Boston Bay Family Health Practice

(Share far and wide people.. lets make sure everyone knows what’s happening come 1 November.. most of what we’re talking about applies to all of Australia not just BBFHP and Port Lincoln)