Many patients with Type 2 Diabetes attending this weekly exercise/diet group are reporting the group has given them the kick start they needed to feel more motivated to improve their health. Our QSMC Dietitian Carole Richards leads the group – launched in October 2018, in conjunction with Jessie Williams from Eurobodalla Health & Fitness. You can join this group at any time – it runs on Fridays at the QSMC Moruya meeting room, starting at 2 pm and is Medicare funded.

On Thursday, September 8 2022, a traditional smoking ceremony and cultural burn, along with ceremonial dances took place at the site of the new $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital in Moruya. It was a historic moment, as it was the first time that a ceremony of this nature has taken place on a NSW hospital project site.

ATAGI has recommended the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to under 5 years who are severely immunocompromised or have a disability, as well as those with complex and/or multiple health conditions, increase their risk of severe COVID-19.

We’re extending a warm welcome to our new registrar GPs – Dr Samantha Thomas and Dr Neeta Pramanik who’ve joined our practice to complete their general practice training. You can read more about Sam and Neeta here on our site at Meet your doctors. Our practice sits at the forefront of vocational training – a commitment to training and support for doctors which continues to attract GPs and their families to our region. A new taskforce will advise the minister on how to spend A$750 million to improve access, chronic disease management, and affordability. One issue the taskforce must consider is how GP clinics are funded.

Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of South Australia writes in The Conversation that Australia is heading for its third Omicron wave in the coming weeks, as BA.4 and BA.5 become the dominant COVID strains. So what are BA.4 and BA.5? And what can we expect in this next phase of the pandemic?

An additional booster dose, known as the fourth dose, is now available to people 30 years and older. This may be a fifth dose for some people. If you have had COVID-19, wait at least 3 months before getting your next dose. Book your COVID-19 booster shot online using the “book an appointment” tabs above.

Paige Cockburn, ABC News reporter investigates when you should resume exercise post COVID-19 – she asks experts what to expect and will it be good for you? Getting moving again after recovering from COVID-19 is no walk in the park for some people and experts warn that pushing yourself too hard, too soon, can be detrimental to your recovery. Even those with peak levels of fitness who only suffer mild COVID-19 symptoms can be overcome with exhaustion and struggle to get moving after their infection.

At this federal election, change that tinkers at the edges is not good enough say The Lowitja Institute’s Janine Mohamed and Rosemary Smith.The full implementation of the Uluru Statement, and its call for Voice, Treaty and Truth would be a huge step forward. This would be an opportunity to address the health inequity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.

Why are political parties and voters so apathetic to the health-care debate? Writing in The Conversation this month, Macquarie University’s Henry Cutler and Jeffrey Braithwaite ask why there isn’t more healthcare debate and what are the major parties offering?

According to The Medical Journal of Australia research published in April 2020 – Primary care is the single most significant contributor to positive health outcomes, but the number of general practitioners in Australia has been falling, a situation previously described for nations with poorer health outcomes. In this feature appearing in The Medical Republic 27 April, Dr Louise Karran sums up the reality of general practice in Australia and why bulk-billing has become unsustainable.

Our apologies if you’re having trouble booking an appointment with your usual doctor, or if you’ve had one or two changes to your appointment with your doctor we apologise. Some of our doctors have been unable to attend due to personal illness or members of their family have been unwell – as you can appreciate, sometimes this happens on the day and we have to contact you at short notice. Thank you for your polite understanding – our reception team are doing their very best to re-schedule your appointment as soon as possible for you. Unfortunately we are all feeling the effects of this COVID pandemic – please rest assured our practice team is observing all COVID quarantine and testing protocols. Please remember to wear your mask when attending our practices – this is a mandatory NSW Health requirement.

New from our ABC – THE VIRUS – is your “one-stop weekly program keeping you up to date with everything you need to know about COVID-19. From healthcare, the economy, staff shortages, schools, vaccines, testing and isolation”. Follow this link to THE VIRUS program on the ABC site to see all “must watch” episodes – with COVID cases at over 63,000 cases per day and rising and a new variant, it’s no time to be complacent, but NSW is starting to lag behind in third does of the COVID-19 vaccine – if you’re eligible, but haven’t yet had your booster shot, book your booster online now.

From April, a 4^th winter COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people in the following groups who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, 4 months since their first booster dose:

• 65 years and over 
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and over
• Residents of aged care and disabilities care facilities
• People aged 16 years and older with severe immunocompromise (if you are unsure please ask your doctor)

Congratulations and our collective thanks to the hard working volunteers and organisers of Moruya Celebrates – the Moruya Business Chamber, with Rotary, sponsors and our community groups and individuals. And what a fine celebration of our community it was, with over 60 community groups flying their flags and banners in the Church Street parade which edged its way on 1pm on Saturday, to Riverside Park for an afternoon of music, food, and festivities. Then River Lights after dark, a flotilla of illuminated lanterns and lights on kayaks and boats drifting along the river. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and water, the people of the Yuin Nation.

“The devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales highlight, yet again, Australia’s failure to plan for natural disasters. As we’re seeing now in heartbreaking detail, everyday Australians bear the enormous cost of this inaction.” writes Professor Barbara Norman – Chair of the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Research Network, University of Canberra in The Conversation. “In just a few years, many Australian communities have weathered a series of natural disasters overlaid by the COVID pandemic. They are exhausted, and deserve better. So what must Australia do to get ready for the harsher future that awaits?”

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is reminding people that face masks still need to be worn in general practice as rules are relaxed across Australia. The RACGP President also called for more support for general practice which is under unprecedented pressure after two years of pandemic. The RACGP is calling on the federal government to invest in a series of initiatives to improve patient care and health outcomes.  

2022 influenza vaccines for the National Immunisation Program will be available from April. We will post updates on our site. Flu vaccination clinics will go live for online booking when the vaccines have been received. Please do not call us – continue to visit this site for updates. Continue reading for more early advice about the influenza program.

We have these COVID-19 vaccines ready for you and your family. Please book your vaccination online or ask your doctor at your next consultation.

Astrazeneca (18 years plus), Pfizer (12 years plus), Moderna (6 years plus), Paediatric Pfizer (5-11 yr olds)

The Novavax vaccine is expected to arrive soon. Reminder: Have you had your booster shot? Continue reading for more booster info.

We are delighted to welcome home our “very own” Dr Phil – many will remember him well from the early days of this practice in Vulcan Street. Here is an interesting snapshot of Dr Phil Crawford’s medical journey to all corners of the globe since his post graduate years practicing in Moruya. Dr Crawford’s focus is seeing patients who have urgent or on the day health needs…

Watch this short video for the right way to do your RAT Test. For learning  about how to manage COVID-19 at home click on the read more link below.

Jim Stanford in The Conversation writes today: That some political and business leaders have, from the outset of COVID-19, consistently downplayed the economic costs of mass illness, reflects a narrow, distorted economic lens. We’re now seeing the result – one of the worst public policy failures in Australia’s history. The Omicron variant is tearing through Australia’s workforce, from health care and child care, to agriculture and manufacturing, to transportation and logistics, to emergency services. The result is an unprecedented, and preventable, economic catastrophe. This catastrophe was visited upon us by leaders – NSW Premier Dom Perrotet and Prime Minister Scott Morrison in particular – on the grounds they were protecting the economy…