NEWS & UPDATES

Free Jab June

From 1 to 30 June, the WA Department of Health is providing free influenza vaccinations for all Western Australians not otherwise eligible for government-funded vaccines.

Vaccination against influenza is important in 2022 with the Australian community potentially more vulnerable to the virus. With the easing of international and domestic public health measures arising from the global pandemic, a resurgence of influenza is expected this year.

Seasonal influenza is a common, highly-contagious, potentially serious, viral respiratory illness. Annual vaccination is the most effective means to prevent influenza.

All persons aged 6 months and above are encouraged to get vaccinated for influenza each year to optimise protection over the peak period for influenza infection in WA which is typically from July to October..

Please contact us on 9227 0170 and speak to one of our reception staff to make a booking.

CHANGES TO VIEW STREET MEDICAL’S APPOINTMENTS

There is an increasing number of Omicron COVID 19 cases in the community, with a steep escalation expected over the next few weeks. In order to keep patients and staff as safe as possible, there is a need to change the way appointments will operate at the clinic.

From 14 February 2022, Telehealth will be the default appoint type.

Of course, if anyone needs to be physically present at an appointment, based on clinical need, this will be arranged.  Both patients and clinic staff will need to have appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as well fitted surgical masks, whilst inside the clinic.  Please do not wear cloth masks as these do not offer adequate protection for you against the Omicron variant.  Surgical masks can be purchased at the practice for a nominal fee, if you do not already have one.

We will continue to ensure the community is best protected by continuing to offer vaccinations at the practice.

It is vital that anyone with any symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat and/or runny nose, tell staff when booking the appointment so that appropriate arrangements can be made. There is also the option for patients to attend a government funded (bulk-billed) respiratory clinic.

https://www.hotdoc.com.au/search?in=perth-WA-6000&purpose=respiratory&where=service:respiratory

Finally, please have patience and be kind to our staff as we all navigate this together.

WELCOME DR LUCY FITTON

We would like to welcome Dr Lucy Fitton to View Street Medical Practice.

Lucy believes in providing inclusive and non-judgemental care to all of her patients and takes a holistic approach to mental and physical health. She practices in accordance with HAES (Health at Every Size) principles.

Lucy’s interests include:

Preventative Health, Womens Health, Paediatrics, Travel Medicine, Mental Health, Minor procedures, Iron infusion, Implanon insertion/removal

Lucy will be available for appointments on Monday & Thursdays, please call our rooms and speak to one of our reception staff to arrange an appointment.

COVID SAFE

If you have flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, headache, sore throat or shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste it is important you seek medical care early as these may be COVID-19 symptoms. Please contact us via phone prior to making a booking or visiting the medical centre.

Please advise at the time of booking if you have been in an area identified as a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 2 weeks or you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

It is a requirement that all patients attending for a face to face appointment wear a mask.

Your safety and that of our community is our concern.

We are conducting both face to face consultations with patients screened for Covid-19 risk, as well as offering the convenience of telehealth consultations for all patients.

Please contact reception today on: 9227 0170

WELCOME BACK DR MATILDA OKE

We would like to welcome Dr Oke back to View Street Medical Practice.

Dr Oke will be available for appointments from 18th January 2022, please contact the practice on 9227 0170 and speak to one of our reception staff to book an appointment.

FAREWELL TO DR INDRANI SAHARAY

We bid farewell to Dr Indrani Saharay who ceased working at View Street Medical  as of 17th December.

We thank Dr Indrani for her contribution to the practice over many years, and wish her all the best in her next endeavours.

DOCTORS UPDATE

WELCOME DR SARAH WHYTE

Dr Sarah Whyte will be commencing at View Street Medical in early January. Dr Whyte graduated in medicine in 2015.

Sarah is a specialist in general practice, having attained Fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2021.

Sarah is passionate about improving people’s experience of healthcare and in particular enjoys working with youth, adolescents and young adults.

Please contact the practice on 9227 0170 and speak to one of our reception staff to organise an appointment.

FAREWELL TO DR HILAIRE DUFOUR

Sadly we bid farewell to Dr Hilaire Dufour who has left View Street Medical to pursue an area of special interest.

We understand that some patients would like to consider the choices available for their ongoing care. Our reception staff would be happy to assist and discuss what options may best suit you moving forward for our health care, and arrange an appointment with an one of our other practitioners.

WE ARE PLEASED TO ADVISE THAT WE HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED TO ADMINISTER PFIZER VACCINES AT THIS PRACTICE

If you are aged between 16 and 59 please you are now eligible for a Pfizer vaccination.

We are happy to help provide COVID-19 immunisation for our local and wider community, and are accepting new patients to our practice to have your Covid vaccination.

Please do not come to your vaccination appointment

• If you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
• If you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
• If you are in quarantine.

If you cannot make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact us to arrange an alternative appointment.

WELCOME DR ASHLEIGH CLARK

We would like to welcome Dr Ashleigh Clark to our practice.

Ashleigh grew up in Perth and studied a Bachelor of Science at UWA before moving east to study medicine at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney.

Since completing her studies in 2015, she has worked in various hospitals in Sydney before returning to WA where she has undergone her training in Kalgoorlie and metropolitan general practices.

During this time, she also completed the Sydney Child Health Program (University of Sydney).

Ashleigh has a special interest in preventative health and geriatric medicine, however, she enjoys all aspects of general practice.

She has experience in: minor skin lesion excision, implanon insertion/removal, cervical screening, IUD removal, iron infusion and knee joint injections

When she is not working, Ashleigh enjoys swimming, playing the ukulele and trying out the local North Perth restaurants!

FAREWELL TO DR KATHERINE STEAD

Dr Katherine Stead has temporarily left View Street Medical, but will be returning in the New Year.

    CAR PARK CLINICS AT VIEW STREET MEDICAL

DONT FORGET TO BOOK YOUR FLU VACCINATION

Our car park clinic has proven to be very popular and once again this year we are holding these clinics on a Saturday morning.

Please call the rooms on 9227 0170 and speak to one of our reception staff to make a booking.

COVID VACCINATION CLINICS

We are currently working our way through our waiting list and taking appointment bookings for our COVID vaccination clinics.

As of this week the health minister has advised that all patients over 50 years of age will be eligible to receive a COVID vaccination, we are currently prioritising patients over 70 years of age or with an underlying medical condition.

Please contact our rooms to place your name on our waiting list.

View Street Medical Practice is pleased to advise that we are an approved vaccination provider for COVID-19 vaccines. We are happy to help provide COVID-19 immunisation for our local and wider community.

COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out in phases, with those most vulnerable and at risk to receive the vaccine in the next phase 1b.

CHECKING WHEN YOU CAN RECEIVE YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE

To find out when you are eligible to receive the vaccine, visit https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility and complete the Vaccine Eligibility Checker. This will tell you which phase of the rollout you are in.

In the initial weeks of the roll-out, our supply of vaccines is very limited, in order for us to get all patients vaccinated it may take some weeks before an appointment will become available.

In the meantime there are things you can do ahead of your COVID-19 vaccination to get ready and stay safe.

• Make sure your Medicare details are correct.
• Continue to practice good hygiene, physical distancing and adhere to local restrictions.
• Understand how to isolate if you need to.
• Check your current eligibility.

For more information, visit:

http://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/learn-about-covid-19-vaccines/what-should-i-do-before-i-get-vaccinated-for-covid-19

BOOKING YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENT

When it is your turn to get vaccinated, you can call on 9227 0170 to discuss when appointments will be available.

Please do not come to your vaccination appointment

• If you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
• If you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
• If you are in quarantine.

If you have had another vaccine, for example the influenza vaccination, in the last 14 days before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please let us know as we may need to reschedule your appointment.

If you cannot make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact us to arrange a new appointment.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit health.gov.au

RE-COMMENCEMENT OF IUD CLINIC

We are delighted to advise the re-commencement of our Intrauterine Device (IUD) Clinic at View Street Medical. The Clinic will operate every fortnight, on Tuesday morning, with Dr Hilaire Dufour.

Dr Dufour inserts both Mirena IUDs and Copper IUDs. Mirena can be used for contraception and management of heavy menstrual bleeding.

If you would like to know more information or to book in with Dr Dufour, please call the practice on 08 9227 0170.

COVID-19 VACCINE

“View Street Medical has been selected as a General Practice site for the administration of the COVID vaccination. At this stage we know that this will be the Astra Zeneca COVID Vaccine.  We are awaiting further information from the Health department as to when these vaccinations will arrive, and the amount that will be allocated to the practice. When this detail is available we will provide more advice on when patients are eligible for the vaccine and how to book these appointments. Please continue to watch the news section of our website for updates”

New Doctors at View Street Medical

View Street Medical is delighted to advise that 5 new Doctors have joined the practice team. There are now 10 Doctors working a combination of full and part time. Each of the Doctors have special areas of interest in their clinical practice. Please have a look at the profile for each doctor in the “Practice Team” section of the website. This additional capacity means that appointments are more readily available, with several bookings held for patients to be able to book on the day.

Retirement from General Practice for Dr Ric Chaney

Dr Ric Chaney has retired from general practice.  Thank you to Ric for his care of our patients over the last three years and sharing his expertise with his colleagues.  He continues to work as a sessional consultant in the Sexual Health Service at Royal Perth Hospital and at Hepatitis WA.

 Our practice staff will be pleased to advise on choices available for your ongoing clinical care.

Retirement of Dr Helen Anstey

Dr Helen Anstey has retired from View Street Medical as of December 2020. As the founding practice principal Dr Anstey provided health care to patients in North Perth for over 25 years. We wish Dr Anstey a long and happy retirement.

We understand that many of Dr Anstey’s patients have seen her for many years and would like to consider the choices available for their ongoing clinical care. Our practice staff would be pleased to discuss with you what options may best suit you moving forward.

Practice changes for Dr Matilda Oke

Dr Matilda will be away from View Street Medical for 2021 to pursue further studies. Matilda will be returning to the practice again in 2022.

We wish her all the best for the next year and along with her patients look forward to her return.

Changes to telephone consultation practice fee’s

As of the 1^st November private fees may apply for phone consultations. The new fee will be $65, for a standard length phone consultation, with a Medicare rebate of $38.75. The out of pocket cost to patients will $26.25. The Medicare rebate for phone consultations is only available to patients who have seen a doctor at the practice within the last 12 months, however phone consultations are also available for $65 without a rebate for those patients who do not meet this Medicare criterion.

The practice will not be implementing annual fee increases for general consultations this year, due to the uncertain circumstances many people have experienced during the pandemic.

R U Ok? Day  10th September 2020

This week we recognised the importance of checking how everyone is handling the challenges of living, particularly in these very unusual circumstances around us.

There was an important message for us all whilst we enjoyed some special cupcakes and asked…“R U Ok?”

WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK

Women’s Health Week is being celebrated between 7th to the 11th September. Visit http://www.womenshealthweek.com.au to get some excellent information on Women’s health issues. Each day has a different focus and information to assist you in managing your health.

There are also many resources available on women’s health issues, through all stages of life at http://www.jeanhailes.org.au.

Celebrating World Hepatitis Day

On the 28th July, Hepatitis WA dropped into the practice to celebrate and promote World Hepatitis Day and their awareness campaign of ‘Strong Liver Strong You’ with the  practice.

Visit Hep WA’s website for more information on Hepatitis; who is at risk, what are the symptoms and how treatment can be offered. https://www.hepatitiswa.com.au/

Scheduled Appointments & COVID-19                                                                                                                  

Whilst we have been very fortunate in WA and Perth with low numbers of people affected by COVID-19 virus, we should still demonstrate personal responsibility and maintain our attention to hygiene, infection control and have awareness for the social distancing rules.

View Street Medical would like to remind patient that we are still being vigilant in how we interact with any symptoms associated with respiratory or flu-like illnesses. This includes coughs, colds, shortness of breath, sore throat or any signs fever or recent fever.

To ensure we are providing the best services to patients within our capability, we have established sessions dedicated to addressing the above symptoms.

APPOINTMENT MANAGEMENT

If you are displaying any respiratory symptoms or are currently in self-isolation (due to recent travel or know close contact of a positive case) please advise the reception staff when requesting an appointment. You will be offered an telephone appointment in the first instance.

On arrival to the practice, please call reception to advise you have arrived and remain waiting in your car. Do not come into the wait room.

The reception team will advise when the doctor is ready to see you, you will be provided a mask and some hand sanitiser before entering the practice.

Your appointment will be held at 14 Views St. (just around the corner from the main practice, at the Clinipath rooms)

COVID-19 Testing

If you are referred for a COVID-19 test, you will be advised to self-isolate until your results have returned. The practice will advise you of both positive and negative results once received.

If you have received a negative COVID-19 test result, it is still advisable to remain home until your symptoms have resolved.

14.7.2020

Minister Launches #SeeYourGP Campaign at View Street Medical

On Friday the 1^st May the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) launched their new campaign #SeeYourGP at View Street Medical.   The WA Minister for Health The Hon Roger Cook and the Chair of WAPHA, Dr Richard Choong, along with invited guests, spoke to the media at the front of the practice, about the #SeeYourGP campaign which is focused on reminding patients to attend medical appointments in person, when appropriate, for their ongoing healthcare. In light of the COVID-19 restrictions, there has been concern that people may be neglecting their medical care. View Street Medical has been facilitating both Telehealth and in-person appointments throughout these extraordinary times, during the COVID 19 pandemic. The practice has made many adjustments in our operations and physical features of the practice to ensure we can operate with the highest standards of safety as we care for our patients.

https://www.facebook.com/RogerCookMLA/