Medical Check-ups
The team at Hello Health Family Practice are available to discuss and advise on any issues relating to improving your health. We want to help you to maintain good health for the long term.
Our general practice services include:
- Immunisations
- Minor surgical procedures
- Skin cancer checks
- Counselling
- Weight control
- Nutrition advice
- Smoking cessation
Women’s Health
Our practice has a team of experienced doctors and nurses who have a special interest in Women’s health. From helping to manage heavy periods right through to menopause, we are here to help. Our GPs are experienced in the following areas of women’s health:
- Period management
- Contraception
- Fertility
- Family planning
- Pregnancy
- Cervical Screening Tests (Pap Smears)
- Menopause
- Gynaecology services
Antenatal Care
All of our doctors are experienced in looking after mums to be throughout their pregnancy and the post-natal journey. Our doctors offer shared antenatal care with the John Hunter, Maitland and Belmont Hospitals and can also provide referrals for private obstetric care. We are also able to offer advice and support for:
- Mental health during pregnancy
- Unplanned pregnancies
- Miscarriage management
- Subfertility
Children’s Health
The doctors at Hello Health Family Practice have extensive experience in paediatrics and can provide comprehensive care for all your child’s health and medical needs as they grow and develop. This includes:
- New-born baby checks
- Childhood Immunisations from infancy to adolescence
- Monitoring of growth and development,
- Management of minor injuries and general medical problems.
Health Assessments
For patients aged 45-49
In line with a government initiative, we provide preventative health check-ups for patients aged between 45 and 49 where there is a risk factor for significant disease. Risk factors may include:
- History of smoking
- Excessive weight
- High cholesterol
- Family history of heart disease or diabetes
For patients aged 75 and over
Hello Health Family Practice have a team of doctors who have a special interest in aged care, and we want our patients to feel safe and have confidence to live life to the fullest. We encourage our patients aged 75 and over to have an annual health check-up so we can help them do this. We provide this service as part of our routine care for this age group with a focus on:
- Early detection of problems
- Prevention of avoidable health issues
- Access services to help patients to live independently and safely
GP Management Care Plans
For patients with chronic medical conditions, your GP can put in place an individual management plan for you. This plan allows for:
- All members of the health team caring for a patient to be aware of all issues and needs that a patient may have
- All members of the health team caring for a patient to be aware of all issues and needs that a patient may have
- Encouraging a consistent, team centred approach to management of chronic conditions
- This team may involve specialists, your pharmacist and allied health practitioners, eg. physiotherapists, podiatrists.
Those patients who have a current GP Management plan are then able to receive rebates from Medicare when they see an allied health practitioner.
Men’s Health
Men’s health is an important part of the care we provide for our patients at Hello Health Family Practice. It is not uncommon for men to neglect their own health due to work, social or family pressures and so we would encourage men to periodically have a health review. Our doctors are all experienced in the area of men’s health and are available to discuss:
- General health issues including weight loss and smoking cessation
- Prostate screening
- Preventative screening including blood tests and immunisations
- Mental health consultations
- Cardiac assessments
- Sexual health issues or concerns.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and have a Medicare card, you can get a free health check every year. This health check is important. It can help identify whether you’re at risk of illnesses or chronic conditions. It’s much easier to prevent these than to treat them, so catching them early can make a big difference. If you have a chronic condition, your health check can help make sure you are getting the medication and care you need. You can also ask your doctor about anything you’re worried about or need help with.
Minor Surgery
Hello Health Family Practice has provision of two treatment rooms where our experienced doctors and nurses perform minor procedures daily. Our practice nurses have experience in assisting in surgical procedures, wound care and dressings. Some of the minor surgery services we provide are:
- Laceration repair
- Removing suspicious skin lesions
- Draining abscesses
- Excision of cysts
- Iron Infusions
- Hormonal implants such as Implanon.
GP Mental Health Plans
For patients with mental health disorders, your GP can create an individual management plan to help provide easier and more cost-effective access to the care and support you need. This plan allows access to a range of Medicare-rebatable, Psychology services.
Vaccinations
Hello Health Family Practice is a registered immunisation practice providing all scheduled childhood and adult immunisations. Some of the vaccines we provide to our patients are:
Flu Vaccinations – Under the National Immunisation Program, free flu vaccines are provided to the following groups who are at higher risk of complications from flu:
- children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- people aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications
- pregnant women (at any stage during pregnancy)
- people aged 65 years and over.
We also have private stock of flu vaccines for those not eligible for free vaccines. See reception for costs.
Pneumococcal Vaccinations – This vaccine is stocked at our practice and provided free of cost to patients aged 65 and over – these are given twice, five years apart.
Whooping Cough Vaccinations – We provide this vaccination to mums to be at their routine antenatal appointment – the vaccine is free. Other patients will need to book an appointment with our doctor to get a script for this vaccine, and to have it administered by our nurses.
Childhood Vaccinations – All government funded childhood vaccines for the standard 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 months and 4 years are stocked at our surgery. Adolescents who have missed their vaccinations at school can receive them at the surgery – this must be organised with our nursing staff.
Meningococcal B Vaccination – This can be organised with your doctor by script and administered by our nursing staff.
Meningococcal B Vaccination – Anyone aged 60 years and over who wants to protect themselves against shingles can talk to their doctor about getting immunised. Shingles immunisation is recommended for:
- Patients 60 years and over who have not previously received zoster vaccine
- Patients 70 years to 79 years, for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- Patients 50 or over who live in the same household as someone who has a weakened immune system.