Exercise Physiologist, Hamish Gorman says online exercise classes are a great way to stay healthy whilst staying at home.

“We’re having great uptake from our community and
awesome feedback on the enjoyment and effectiveness
of these classes.”

These classes are delivered daily via ZOOM and include:
• Staying Healthy at Home (exercise class for over 65’s)
• Strength and Social (bone and muscle strength class approx age range 50-70)
• Daily dose (exercise class for everyone)
• Oncology Specific group 
• Parkinsons Specific group

If you’re interested in getting involved and to find out more – click the read more link

We are busy planning our annual flu vax clinics with the strictest COVID-19 control measures in place.

The flu vaccine has not arrived – it’s expected in around four weeks. Be sure to stay tuned to our website for the latest information – please do not phone.

Our doctors will vaccinate those most at risk as a priority and we are aiming to give the vaccine to as many people as we can – as quickly as possible.

Southern NSW Local Health District has established COVID-19 clinics at Queanbeyan, Moruya, Bega, Goulburn and Cooma. These clinics will test people, as necessary, and provide advice about symptom management and other advice about COVID-19. These walk-in clinics do not require a referral from your GP and will operate during the day on Monday to Friday. However, you are advised to call the Healthdirect hotline on 1800 022 222  or the local number provided, BEFORE attending one of these clinics. 

For clinic locations and opening hours click on Read More here…

We all need to work together to help stop the spread of Coronavirus. To protect those most at risk and to slow the rate of community transmission – non-essential organised gatherings should be kept to fewer than 500 people. 

People who have returned from anywhere overseas are required to self-isolate for 14 days. During this time, you should monitor your health closely. If you develop symptoms including a fever and cough, you should seek medical attention, remembering to call ahead.

People who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus should also monitor their health and seek medical advice.

From 18 March 2020, all Australians are advised not to travel overseas. Go to www.smartraveller.gov.au for further information

 For Department of Health information on Coronavirus (Covid-19) published 17 March 2020, click the Read more link below to find out who is most at risk, what to do if you develop symptoms, if you should wear a mask – who needs to be isolated and what home isolation means. There is also advice on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

Please note: If you feel you may have been in contact with the virus and you develop symptoms you must first call either our practice or contact the Moruya or Batemans Bay District Hospitals for professional advice on what you should do to minimise risks to yourself and others.  

New COVID-19 clinics have been established in our region by our Southern NSW Local Health District – see the news post on our Home Page.

What do you need to know about COVID-19 and coronavirus? The Conversation asked their readers for their top questions and sought answers from two of Australia’s leading virus and vaccine experts.

This podcast episode is produced by The Conversation – it features Professor Michael Wallach and Dr Lisa Sedger – both from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney – answering questions from readers. 

Also visit The Conversation https://theconversation.com/au

Join our practice dietitian Carole Richards at our free, one hour workshop on Wednesday, 19 February to celebrate Smart Eating Week.

You’ll gain the know-how to decipher food labels and solve the mystery of the “nutrition panel”,  allowing you to make smarter choices when confronted by more than 30,000 packed food items stocked by our supermarkets. 

Carol’s informative, relaxed workshop starts at 2pm at Queen Street Medical Centre’s Moruya meeting room. Please make a booking by calling our reception team.

It’s business as usual by appointment for our Moruya and Broulee practices from today –  13 January.

We are anticipating a higher than usual phone call load this week so if you are in the queue on the phone press 2 for an auto-call back – you won’t loose your place in the queue. Remember you can also book appointments and order most scripts on line so do give this a try. 

Sincere thanks to our practice team who have done their very best to keep the practice up and running whenever we could safely open during these days of crisis. 

We pay tribute to all our brave and couragious RFS firefighters – their support teams and families, our emergency services and the army of volunteers helping our community and wildlife – our heartfelt thanks to you all.

Our practice will be open tomorrow morning from 8.00 am until 12.00 pm for appointments and walk-in services.

The practice is closing at midday due to the anticipated fire threat to Moruya and region due to deteriorating weather conditions forecast. Patients with afternoon appointments on 10 Jan will be sent an SMS message to please phone the practice to re-schedule their appointment.

We plan to open for “business as usual” from Monday 13 Jan at our Moruya and Broulee practices and will issue any updates as required. Also stay tuned for Radio ABC South-East for updates about our practice.

Our practice is open for patients with appointments and we are offering walk-in medical services – our doctors will endeavour to see all who require medical attention on a priority (triage) sit and wait basis.

Our Broulee practice will remain closed until further notice and the phone is diverted to our Moruya practice. We cannot offer any immunisations due to the power outages as the vaccines cannot be stored without refrigeration. Our thoughts and wishes remain with you all – please remain alert to bushfire conditions near you. 

Message to our staff and doctors: Your safety is our utmost priority – do not attend work unless it is safe to do so.

Due to the bushfires our practice will offer limited, walk-in services only on 2 and 3 Jan 2020. The practice is without power and IT and many of our team are unable to work due to the distaster situation.

Doctors will strive to see anyone who requires attention on a WALK IN basis only. There will be NO appointments and we cannot advise on waiting times. Patients will be triaged and seen on a priority basis.

We will continue to monitor the situation during the coming days and issue advice when possible. Please understand the practice may have to close without warning due to the fires and road closures.

Queen Street Medical Centre Broulee will be closed 2 and 3 January.

Message to our staff and doctors: Please attend work only when it is safe for you to do so. The safety of you and your family is paramount and our thoughts and wishes are with you.

Dear patients, due to the bushfire emergency across our region our Moruya practice is running limited services today, 31 December. Please phone the practice before you come in as many of our doctors and staff are protecting property or evacuating. We are also experiencing power blackouts and may close the practice at any time. 

Ensure you remain alert to all fire warnings and road closures – listen to radio ABC South East and also see important links in the previous news post – above all stay safe.

Our Broulee practice is closed due to the fire emergency.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has declared a state of emergency across the state for the next seven days. Your safety and welfare is on our minds and we extend our wishes to everyone affected by these devastating bushfires.

Leaving early when threatened by fire is always your safest option and you should never wait and see what happens when a fire is threatening.  Staying alert to what’s happening in your area is essential – visit this site https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me and download the free fires near me app to receive updates and alerts.  Click Read More for more essential information links and the RFS information line.

With record hot temperatures across the state, our registered practice nurse Kate Tiller advises it’s important to be particularly aware of dehydration. Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluid than it’s been taking in. Kate, who holds qualifications and experience in paediatric nursing,  is keen for parents and carers to be aware that infants and children are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. See Kate’s article and download The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne fact sheet.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of our clinical pharmacist Ms Joanne McMahon to provide medication-related advice to patients at no charge. Jo will work closely with our doctors at our practices in Moruya and Broulee conducting our our new ‘Better Medicines’ clinics – aiming to help patients to improve their use of medicines.

According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) January 2019 report “Medicine Safety: Take Care” problems with medications can occur at anytime during their use.

If you suffer with chronic pain our second six week group programme aims to help you learn how to self-manage your pain and other symptoms. Starting Wednesday, 9 October 2019, this no-fee programme will be conducted for up to 10 patients by GP Dr Aidan Lawrence and Exercise Physiologist Hamish Gorman. You will need a referral from your usual GP for an initial consultation with Dr Lawrence.

NSW Health Director of Communicable Disease, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, says 115 children have been admitted to Children’s Hospital Westmead with flu this year, including two needing critical care. “So we are again encouraging parents and carers of children from 6 months up to five years old to take advantage of the free flu vaccine”.