Tranmere Village Medical Centre

10/09/2025

Thursday 11th of September is R U Ok? Day but we know that whether it’s a friend, family member, partner, or colleague, the people around us go through life’s ups and downs every day. That’s why it’s important to check in with the people around you.

This R U OK? Day challenge yourself to have a meaningful conversation with someone you feel may be struggling and in need of support. Try having a conversation using these 4 simple steps:

1. Ask R U Ok? - It’s important to be relaxed, friendly and concerned in your approach.

Help them open up by asking questions like ‘How are you going? or “What’s been happening?” mentioning specific things you have noticed that make you feel concerned for them, like “You seem less chatty than usual, how are you going?”
If they don’t want to talk to you, don’t criticise them, instead tell them you are concerned about changes in their behaviour and you care about them. Expressing your concern without being confrontational is important.

2. Listen with an open mind - Make sure you take what they are saying seriously, don’t interrupt of rush though the conversations. Do not judge their experiences or reactions but acknowledge that things seem tough for them. Allow time for them to think, sit patiently with the silence.

Encourage them to explain “How are you feeling about that?” or “How long have you felt that way?” Show that you’ve listened by repeating back what you’ve heard in your own words and ask if you have understood them properly.

3. Encourage action - Using prompting questions can encourage actions; Try asking questions like; “What have you done in the past to manage similar situations?”, “How would you like me to support you?” and “What’s something you can do for yourself right now? Something that’s enjoyable or relaxing?”

If they have been feeling really down for more than 2 weeks, encourage them to see a health professional. Be positive about the role of professionals in getting through tough times.

4. Check In - Pop a reminder in your diary to call them in a couple of weeks. If they are really struggling, follow up with them sooner. Using statements like “I’ve being thinking of you and wanted to know how you’ve been since we last chatted” allows for them to open up about how they are feeling.

For more information about R U OK? Day and how to best check in with your loved ones, visit https://www.ruok.org.au/

31/08/2025

Have you had your women’s health check?

This week is Women's Health Week! This year the focus is on ‘Say yes to you’.

Topics covered this week include;
Day 1: Every check matters - prioritise your health by staying up too date with your health checks.
Day 2: Take the lead - arm yourself with the right knowledge and tools to get more out of your health appointments.
Day 3: Heart smart - heart disease affects women in ways that are often overlooked. So, let’s talk about it.
Day 4: Pain to power - pain isn’t just ‘Part of being a woman’. You don’t need to push though it alone.
Day 5: Be kind to your mind - looking after your mind is just as important as looking after your body.

Did you know that women require specific health checks at specific times? Regular health checks help to prevent and detect diseases early, often when they can be more easily treated.

To find out more information on what checks are needed and when, and to learn more about the above topics go to

Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week (1 to 5 September 2025) is an Australia-wide event dedicated to the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and…

20/08/2025

Today, Thursday 21st August, is Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day! Daffodil Day unites Australians from all over the country to give support to people impacted by cancer and to support cancer research that can save lives.

According to the Cancer Council almost 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

Cancer Council is the only charity that works across every area of cancer, from research to prevention and support.
- Research can reduce the impact of cancer in many ways and the Cancer Council directs almost $60 million into research projects each year.
- Prevention: It is known that a third of cancers are preventable, so the Cancer Council runs education programs such as; SunSmart, Quit and LiveLighter to empower people to lead healthier lives reducing their cancer risk.
- Support: The nurses at the Cancer Council information and support line answer calls of anyone affected by cancer, and respond to over 40,000 Australians seeking emotional or practical advice each year.

The Cancer Council advises that last year Australians raised over $3.3 million towards lifesaving cancer research. If you would like to help raise funds for this year’s campaign head to https://www.daffodilday.com.au/

Sources:
https://www.daffodilday.com.au/about
https://www.daffodilday.com.au/about/about-cancer-council

08/08/2025

It's National Stroke Week!

Join us and raise awareness of the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke. Know the signs and you could save a life:

When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute so acting quickly is crucial and it starts with knowing the F.A.S.T. signs.

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, think F.A.S.T. and ask these questions:

Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms Can they lift both arms?
Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

Learn the signs of stroke – it could save a life: https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/national-stroke-week

National Stroke Week encourages the community to know the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke so that they can save a life in the event of a loved one experiencing a stroke. Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke.....

06/08/2025

As we know this week represents National Stroke Week! So, what is a stroke?

Stroke occurs when blood carrying oxygen and nutrients through arteries cannot get to your brain because of a blocked or burst artery, resulting in brain cells dying due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients. There are two types of stroke; Ischaemic stroke – where an artery in the brain gets blocked by a clot, and Haemorrhagic stroke – where a wall of blood vessel in the brain breaks.

Stroke affects everyone differently and the impact of the stroke depends on the area of the brain it damages. It can affect how you think, behave, use words, swallow, see, feel, touch, and move your body.

The Stroke Foundation list the following top 10 facts about stroke:
- In 2023, there were an estimated 45,785 stroke events in Australia including 34,793 first-ever strokes, which equates to one stroke every 11 minutes.
- Stroke can happen at any age, and one in four people globally will have a stroke in their lifetime.
- It is estimated that 440,481 people with a history of stroke were living in Australia in 2023 (244,756 males and 195,725 females).
- Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers. It kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.
- In 2023, it was estimated the cost of stroke in Australia was $9 billion. The lifetime costs associated with strokes that occurred in 2023 exceed $15 billion, including $5.5 billion in healthcare costs, $6.3 billion in lost productivity costs and $3.3 billion in costs related to unpaid care.
- More than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.
- In 2023, 1 in 4 strokes occurred in people under the age of 65 years.
- Regional Australians are 17 percent more likely to suffer a stroke than those in metropolitan areas.
- When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute.
- Without action by 2050, it is predicted the number strokes experienced by Australians annually will increase to 72,000.

So, what are the common risk factors? They are different for everyone, but you can change many of the common risk factors and lower your chance of stroke by following some simple steps:
1. Make time for a health check – high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and atrial fibrillation or irregular pulse can all increase your risk of stroke
2. Take charge of your own health – staying active, eating well, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol can all reduce your risk of stroke

For more information on other risk factors go to https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/prevent-stroke

For further information and resources about strokes visit https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/national-stroke-week

Sources:
https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/what-is-a-stroke
https://strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/facts-and-figures

03/08/2025

National Stroke Week 4-10 August 2025

Strokes don’t have to be a death sentence. Something as simple as knowing the F.A.S.T. signs save lives. Share the F.A.S.T. message with your family, friends and colleagues this National Stroke Week and you could save a life.

Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms Can they lift both arms?
Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 (triple zero) straight away.

A stroke is always a medical emergency. Keep looking at your mum, dad, love and mates, it could save their life: https://strokefoundation.org.au/what-we-do/prevention-programs/national-stroke-week

24/06/2025

Following on from our post on the 1st June regarding Bowel Cancer Awareness month, we would like to continue to inform our patients on the diagnosis and risks associated with bowel cancer.

So, what happens if you present with symptoms of bowel cancer and/or receive a positive result from your home screening test? This doesn’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer; it means your GP requires further tests and/or investigations to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms or positive test result. Your GP or a specialist will conduct these further investigations, which may include:
- Colonoscopy – full examination of the entire inner lining of your bowel (colon and re**um)
- Virtual Colonoscopy – a series of advanced imaging that permits minimally invasive evaluation of the colon and re**um
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – currently proposed as a technique for pre-operative staging of re**al cancers and as a technique for re-imaging cancers following pre-operative radiotherapy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy – this procedure looks inside the re**um and sigmoid (lower) colon (the first 60cm of the bowel) for polyps, abnormal areas, or cancer
- Barium E***a – a series of x-rays of the lower gastrointestinal tract where liquid containing barium is inserted into the re**um
- Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) – tests for non-visible blood in poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer

For further information on these tests and investigations and their associated advantages and disadvantages head to https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/screening-colonoscopy/tests-and-investigations/

Bowel Cancer Australia describes the risks associated with bowel cancer as ‘modifiable’ and ‘non-modifiable’. Modifiable risk factors are things that you can change, while non-modifiable risk factors are things you can’t.

What are the modifiable risks?
- Polyp Removal – removal of polyps means those polyps are unable to become precancerous and develop into bowel cancer in the future
- Alcohol – bowel cancer risk increases significantly when 2 or more alcoholic drinks are consumed per day
- Aspirin – long-term use (5+yrs) as prescribed by your GP can decrease the risk
- Red and processed meat – eating too much of these foods has been linked with an increase risk of bowel cancer
- Body Fatness – risk rises with increased body fatness. Keep your weight within the healthy range and avoid weight gain
- Smoking – smoking 40 ci******es per day increases the risk by around 40% and nearly doubles the risk of bowel cancer death
- Dairy products and calcium supplements – these are associated with a decrease risk
- Wholegrains and dietary fibre – consuming these products decreases the risk
- Physical Activity – recreational physical activity can reduce colon (not re**al) cancer by 16%

Research indicates up to 32% of bowel cancer cases may be prevented by endoscopic screening alone and, when combined with some of the healthy lifestyle factors above, increases to 61%.

What are the non-modifiable risks?
- Age – bowel cancer risk increases with age
- A family history of bowel cancer
- A personal history of cancer of the colon, re**um, o***y, endometrium, or breast
- A history of polyps in the colon
- A history of ulcerative colitis (ulcers inn the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn’s disease
- Hereditary conditions, such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC; Lynch Syndrome)

Around 30% of all bowel cancer cases diagnosed are due to a hereditary contribution, family history, or a combination of both. The other 70% of people have none of these factors.

For additional information on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors follow the links below:
https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer/modifable-risk-factors/
https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer/non-modifiable-risk-factors/

20/06/2025

Today marks Global Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Day. Around the world this day is to honour everyone who is impacted by MND. It is a chance to come together to address the real challenges of the disease and creates a space to push for better care, raise visibility, and share the stories of those living with MND.

MND is the term used to describe a group of diseases that affect nerve cells called 'motor neurons'. These neurons carry messages from the brain to the muscles via the spinal cord which control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow. In MND these neurones fail to work normally as the nerves become damaged, which leads to loss of movement, weakness, and weight loss. Muscles then gradually weaken and waste, as neurones degenerate and die.

MND can rob an individual of their ability to walk, talk, and even breathe on their own. Survival time also varies, and in many cases, it progresses rapidly with the average life expectancy being 2 to 5 years from diagnosis. Currently there is no cure for MND, it is life-shortening. Two people are diagnosed with MND and two people die from the disease every day in Australia, with around 2,688 Australians thought to be living with MND at any one time. The lifetime risk of MND is about 1 in 300 by the age of 85, with the risk growing as people get older. Research has shown that MND is more common in people over 50. However, around half of people with MND are diagnosed under the age of 60.

Early signs of MND might include mild weakness, clumsiness, tripping over or slurred speech. Symptoms get worse over time; gripping, walking, speaking, and swallowing can become increasingly difficult and breathing can also be affected.

The speed at which MND progresses varies for each person and each person’s experience is unique. This means MND is difficult to diagnose and there are no definitive tests. In the majority of cases the cause of MND is unknown and it’s not clear what causes motor neurones to stop working properly, but understanding of MND is constantly advancing.

For more information about MND, see links below:
https://www.mndaustralia.org.au/
https://www.mndsa.org.au/
https://my.mndsa.org.au/events/158/global-mnd-awareness-day-2025 #.
https://my.mndsa.org.au/news/29/mnd-changes-everything-but-together-we-can-change-the-future
https://www.mndsa.org.au/understanding-mnd/what-is-motor-neurone-disease-mnd/

08/06/2025

This week we focus on men’s health in support of International Men’s Health Week which takes place from 9th – 15th June.

So, what is Men’s Health Week all about? It is celebrated all around the world to highlight the importance of men’s health and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys. The focus is not just on physical health, but also mental health and wellbeing and highlights the health challenges faced by the men and boys in our communities. The theme for 2025 in Australia is ‘See a GP’ – this is to highlight the importance of seeing a doctor if something seems wrong with your physical, mental or emotional wellbeing.

Research consistently shows that men are at higher risk for many serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. In addition to this, mental health concerns – depression, anxiety, and su***de disproportionately affect men. The concern here is that many men struggle to seek help due to stigma and societal pressures. Therefore, the key goal for Men’s Health Week is to break down these barriers and encourage regular check-ups, open conversations, and lifestyle changes to lead to earlier detection of health issues and improve overall well-being.

The Australian Men’s Health Forum is the peak body for men’s health in Australia and is responsible for the Know Your Man Facts (KYMF) campaign which provides information and resources for people to help them take action in improving men’s health.

KYMF advises that 50 men a day die in Australia from preventable causes, with 1 in 5 men dying before the age of 65 – regular health checks can reduce your risk of dying too young! 7 men’s health checks to get:
1. Check your numbers
2. Get a sense check
3. Check down under
4. Check for cancer
5. Check your heart
6. Check your head
7. Check your habits

Know Your Risks:
- Watch your habits – diet, exercise, smoking and drinking
- Know your numbers – body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels
- Check your environment – air pollution, UV sun exposure, occupational hazards

Take Action:
- Mind your body – staying mentally healthy improves your physical health
- Get checked – know what health checks are right for you
- Choose one thing – make one change for the good of your health

https://www.amhf.org.au/men_s_health_week_australia
https://www.knowyourmanfacts.com/toolkit
https://www.menshealthweekevents.com/about

31/05/2025

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel Cancer Australia informs that bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and the second deadliest in Australia, with it also being the deadliest cancer for people aged 25-44.

Over 14,500 Australians are told they have bowel cancer each year, with more than 5,000 of those lives being lost yearly. 99% of cases can be treated successfully when detected in the earliest stage, however, fewer than 50% are detected early.
For more facts and statistics on bowel cancer head to https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer/bowel-cancer-facts/

Bowel cancer, also known as colore**al cancer, can affect any part of the colon or re**um which are parts of the large intestine. Most bowel cancers start as benign, non-threatening growths called polyps. Polyps are fairly common and are usually harmless; however, adenomatous polyps can become malignant and if left undetected, can develop over time into a cancerous tumour.
Common symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
- Blood in your poo or re**al bleeding – bright red or very dark blood should never be ignored
- A recent, persistent change in bowel habit
- A change in shape or appearance of your poo
- Frequent gas pain, cramps
- Unexplained anaemia
- A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely
- Pain or a lump in the a**s or re**um
- Abdominal pain or swelling

The Australian Government implemented the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program which eligible people aged 50-74 receive a bowel cancer screening test in the post every 2 years. People aged 45-49 can request their first test and all eligible people aged 45-74 can also ask their GP about obtaining a screening test.

For further information about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program go to https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program

Source https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer/

10/04/2025

Today, 11th April represents World Parkinson’s Day. According to the Shake It Up Australia Foundation over 200,000 Australians live with Parkinson’s. The most common age of diagnosis is 65, however, Parkinson’s can affect people of all ages. The reality is 38 Australians are diagnosed every day with 10% of those being under 40yrs.

Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system. It is understood that the neurones in a particular area of the brain are damaged or lost resulting in a reduction in dopamine. Dopamine is used by many areas of the brain, but the lack of dopamine means people can have difficulty controlling their movement (motor symptoms). It can also impact other body systems which are characterised as non-motor symptoms.

With close to 50 symptoms, the complexity of Parkinson’s is severely underestimated. The recognisable symptoms of Parkinson’s are just the tip of the iceberg. The non-motor symptoms are often misunderstood and can have a greater effect on relationships, social life and overall quality of life than the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Here is a list of some of the symptoms:

Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s:
- Slowed Movement – reduction in the ability to move and slow movement.
- Rigid Muscles - can limit the range of motion and cause pain.
- Resting Tremor - or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often hand or fingers.
- Posture & Balance - posture may become stooped, or there may be balance problems.
- Gait Problems - such as freezing, shuffling, drooped shoulders and lack of arm swing.
- Facial Expressions - reduced facial expression referred to as masking.

Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s:
- Cognitive Impairment - ranging from mild memory difficulties such as thinking quickly, manage multiple tasks to dementia.
- Depression & Anxiety - not a reaction to the diagnosis, but is instead a part of the disease itself, caused by changes in the chemistry of the brain.
- Sleep Difficulties - such as REM Sleep Disorder, Restless Legs Syndrome.
-Smell - loss of sense of smell generally presents prior to any other symptoms appear.
- Vision - some vision difficulties are related to changes in the movement of the eyeball caused by loss of dopamine neurons.
- Speech - most commonly, the voice becomes quieter. It can also develop a breathy or hoarse quality.
- Swallowing Problems - the slowness of movement may affect chewing, biting, the ability to work the tongue and the ability to get food or liquid down in one bite.
- Writing problems - writing may appear small.
- Apathy & Fatigue - apathy causes a general lack of motivation and interest, as well as a dampening of emotional expression.
- Hallucinations & Delusions - hallucinations are seeing, feeling or hearing things that aren’t there. Delusions lead a person to firmly believe in scenarios or situations that never happened or are not true.

Parkinson’s symptoms affect everyone differently, many people will experience some symptoms and not others, and the nature, severity and impact of symptoms can markedly vary. No two people will experience the disease exactly the same and the progression of Parkinson’s also varies between individuals.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are effective treatment and therapy options that can help manage symptoms, so people with Parkinson’s disease can continue to enjoy many years of independent and productive lives.

For more information see the following links: https://fightingparkinsons.org.au/what-is-parkinsons/, https://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/what-is-parkinsons/, https://shakeitup.org.au/understanding-parkinsons/

Sources: https://shakeitup.org.au/about-us/symptoms-of-parkinsons/, https://fightingparkinsons.org.au/what-is-parkinsons/, https://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/parkinsons-awareness/

01/04/2025

Today 2nd April represents World Autism Awareness Day, or as stated by Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), World Autism Understanding Day (WAUD).

Autism is a neurological developmental difference that affects the way a person sees, experiences and understands the world around them. The effects of Autism differ from person to person, which is why the term ‘spectrum’ is used. Individuals on the spectrum may have skills in particular areas, while finding other aspects of life particularly challenging.

According to Autism SA, there are more than 205,000 Australians, or 1 in 100 people who are autistic, which includes individuals across all ages, genders and demographics.

Some of the characteristics of autism can be that autistic people have a desire for routine and predictability, find enjoyment and pleasure in a particular area or item, have their own communication style and social interaction, and for many, the way in which sensory information is processed can differ from those who aren’t autistic. However, it is important to note that how characteristics present for an autistic person will vary from individual to individual.

A few common misconceptions about autism:
- Autism only affects boys
- Everybody on the autism spectrum has superpowers
- Everyone is ‘a little bit Autistic’
- Autistic people lack empathy
- Parents are to blame for autism
- Autism is caused by vaccines
- Autism can be cured
- All people on the autism spectrum are non-verbal
- Autistic people are anti-social
- Autistic people cannot form relationships
- Autism is something you ‘grow out of’

Aspect advises that while awareness has grown, genuine understanding and meaningful support are still lacking. Over the years, pop culture has shaped how we view neurodiversity and autism. But awareness doesn’t always mean understanding. Many Autistic people still face barriers—including an unemployment rate of around 30%! This World Autism Understanding Day, let's go beyond awareness and commit to real understanding. Head to https://www.aspect.org.au/waud to hear directly from the Autistic community about what true inclusion looks like.

Sources: Aspect and AutismSA