Pitt Town Family Practice

30/08/2025

NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while visiting several locations in Sydney.

The case recently returned from South-East Asia, where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

People who attended the following locations should watch for the development of symptoms. These locations do not pose an ongoing risk.

Wednesday 20 August:
- Coles, East Village Shopping Mall, Zetland from 6.45pm to 7.35pm
- The University of New South Wales Main Library from 11.30am to 2.30pm

Thursday 21 August:
- Bus Route 320 Zetland to Surry Hills from 11am to 12:00pm
- Noffs Op Shop, 332 Crown Street Surry Hills from 11.30am to 1:30 pm
- Storerooms Vintage, 294-296 Crown Street Surry Hills from 11.30am to 1:30pm
- C’s Flashback Recycled Clothing store, 314 Crown Street Surry Hills from 11.30am to 1:30pm
- KFC, 30-34 Chalmers St Surry Hills from 1.00pm to 2.10pm
- Savers, Surry Hills from 1.40pm to 3.10pm

Friday 22 August:
- Coles, East Village Shopping Mall, Zetland from 7.50pm to 8.35pm

Sunday 24 August:
- Bowan Bakery, Zetland from 9.20am to 11.30am
- East Village Shopping Mall Vodafone Store from 11.00am to 11.35am
- East Village Shopping Mall Optus Store from 11.00am to 11.40am
- Green Square Train Station, train from Green Square to Circular Quay from 11.45am to 12.40pm
- Gateway Sydney Foodcourt including Mad Mex and Sammi’s, Circular Quay from 1.00pm to 2.15pm
- Circular Quay Station, train from Circular Quay to Green Square from 3.45pm to 4.30pm

Monday 25 August:
- Maroubra Urgent Care Centre from 1.30pm to 5.00pm
- Maroubra Medical and Dental Centre and Laverty Pathology waiting room, 806/812 Anzac Parade Maroubra between 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- ALDI Supermarket, Pacific Square Maroubra from 4.40pm to 5.35pm
- Bus Route 396 Maroubra to Kensington from 5.15pm to 6.05pm
- Lucky Supermarket, 132 Anzac Parade Kensington from 5.35pm to 6.10pm

Wednesday 27 August:
- Prince of Wales Hospital Emergency Department, Randwick from 6.00am to 12.30pm

Sydney Local Health District Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Isabel Hess, said anyone who visited the above locations at those times should monitor for symptoms.

“Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes,” Dr Hess said.

“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it's important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until 15 September.

“If they develop symptoms, they should call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.

“We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough.

“Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment."

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn't already had two doses.

Children under the age of 12 months can have a dose of MMR from six months of age if they are travelling overseas. Parents should consult their GP.

People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel. MMR vaccine is available from GPs (all ages) and pharmacies (people over 5 years of age).

For more information on measles, view the measles factsheet: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Measles_Factsheet.aspx

If you, or a loved one, is experiencing measles symptoms, or have questions about measles, please call your GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

28/08/2025

Wear it Purple Day.

Co founded by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams. In 2010 several rainbow young people took their own lives following bullying and harassment resulting from the lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity.

Wear it purple strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

24/08/2025

Today is the 237th day in the Gregorian calendar, 128 days until the end of the year.

The Gregorian calendar, solar dating system now in use. It was proclaimed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a reform of the Julian calendar.

The only real difference between the two is the leap year. Which allows for the seasons to not regress one day per century.

20/08/2025

📣There are important changes from today. If you require an allied health care plan for your 5 visits to a podiatrist, physiotherapist, chiropractor etc you will need to register with your Doctor in order to be able to have a care plan tailored to your needs.

We invite you to register with My Medicare to give you more benefits.
- Longer access to telehealth consultations.
- More access and better sharing of your health information.

All you require to register is your My Gov or Medicare app. Go to Medicare, locate My Medicare and type in Dr Alice Choi and register. It’s as simple as can be.
Choosing Dr Alice Choi does not mean you are required to see her, it just means you are registered to our surgery and you will be able to receive more benefits when seeing any of our doctors or registrars.
You can at any time remove your registration and transfer it to another provider to continue to receive the extra benefits that My Medicare offers.

17/08/2025

Are you aged 75 years and older?
You may receive a telephone call from one of our lovely receptionists regarding booking you in to see our Registrar Dr Alexander Wood. A health assessment of an older person is an in-depth assessment of a patient aged 75 years and over. It provides a structured way of identifying health issues and conditions that are potentially preventable or amenable to interventions in order to improve health and/or quality of life.

These assessments are different to your drivers licence assessments. We go more in-depth, our aim is to identify areas of need or missing information. Our surgery’s aim is to keep you healthy, mobile and independent in your retirement years. This health assessment is fully bulk billed.

12/08/2025

Bullying No Way Week

It takes courage to spark change.

Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.

For more information head to ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Bullying No Way: National week of action is an opportunity for schools to help deliver a powerful message that bullying and violence are never ok.

03/08/2025

Usually this is the week we would normally welcome a new Registrar to our team. Instead we are extremely happy to have Dr Alexander Wood continuing his placement for a further 6 months.

Dr Wood continues to offer bulk billing as long as you hold a valid Medicare card, otherwise a private fee will be incurred.

Call the surgery to make an appointment on 45809888.

27/07/2025

Donate Life Week is our national awareness week that takes place in July each year to encourage more Australians to get behind organ and tissue donation. This year DonateLife Week is taking place from Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August 2025.

We know that 4 in 5 Australians say they support donation, but only 1 in 3 are registered to be a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).

24/07/2025

Anyone can drown, no one should.

World Drowning Prevention Day by highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and multi-sectoral action on proven measures such as:
– installing barriers controlling access to water;
– providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare;
– teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills;
– training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation;
– setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations;
– improving flood risk management.

21/07/2025

Today the world highlights Fragile X Syndrome.

As the most common inherited single gene cause of autism, Fragile X is the best key we have to solving autism. Treatments for Fragile X are also likely to help people who have Alzheimer’s or other brain disorders.

Fragile X syndrome is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disabilities. There are behavioral, physical, intellectual and mental health symptoms. Although there isn’t a cure, medication and therapy can help manage symptoms.

08/07/2025

Shingles (also called herpes zoster) is the disease caused when the chickenpox virus reactivates. Shingles can cause severe pain that can last for months.
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from serious disease caused by shingles.

Free shingles vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) is available for eligible people at moderate to high risk of severe illness and complications from shingles.
- A 2-dose course of Shingrix® is available for free for:
- People aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
- 18 years and over considered at increased risk of herpes zoster due to an underlying condition and/or immunomodulatory/ immunosuppressive treatments..