Merewether Ridge Street Surgery

30/06/2022

We still have flu shots in stock for existing patients! 🩺🩹

Free flu shots for NSW residents will be extended until 17 July amid concerns vaccination rates are still not where they should be.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the latest data shows only one in four children aged under five has had a flu shot, while the figures are even lower for kids aged five to 15.

“It’s really worrying that just over 18 per cent of children and teenagers have had a flu jab and for kids aged six months to five years, the figure is 25 per cent,” Mr Hazzard said.

“These numbers are particularly concerning given in the last month, four times as many kids have been admitted to Sydney’s two children’s hospitals with flu than with COVID.”

Mr Hazzard urged families to use the school holidays to book in for a free flu shot.

“It only takes a few minutes to get a flu jab but that time could mean the difference between you or one of your loved ones ending up in ICU so please, book in today,” Mr Hazzard said.

The uptake of the influenza vaccine in adults is equally worrying, with less than 40 per cent of 50 to 65 year olds and only 64 per cent of those aged over 65 having a flu jab.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged more people to come forward for their influenza vaccination to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations.

“More than 1,000 people presented to our EDs with flu-like illness last week and almost 165 were so unwell they were admitted, including very young children,” Dr Chant said.

“Please take advantage of the offer of the free vaccination to protect yourself against the flu this winter. There is plenty of supply and appointments available at GPs and pharmacies.”

The low uptake in Sydney’s west and south-west continues to be of concern, so too in parts of far northern NSW and the State’s central west.

For flu vaccine uptake figures by age group and local government area, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/flu-vaccination-rate.aspx

15/06/2022

Major life events such as finishing school, starting a new job, becoming a parent, going through a breakup or retiring can impact your mental health.

Healthy ways to cope with negative feelings associated with times of change include:
• Talking to a trusted friend or family member
• Exercising, especially as part of a local team or group
• Starting a new hobby or rediscovering an old one
It’s important to ask for support when you need it. If you’ve been feeling down, depressed, angry or not yourself for more than 2 weeks, it’s a good idea to talk to your GP.

You can call MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 for 24/7 free telephone counselling or visit their website for online counselling options: mensline.org.au/phone-and-online-counselling

12/04/2022

09/07/2021

01/04/2021

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, when the world takes part in the puzzle pattern of blue, red, yellow and purple pieces that reflect the complexities and uniqueness of the autism spectrum. There is no better way to celebrate this day than by becoming aware of the characteristics of people with this condition and how all of us can do better to increase our own understanding and promote kindness.

20/03/2021

Did you know that Down Syndrome—a disorder that occurs when there is a duplication of the twenty-first chromosome—affects approximately 6,000 babies at birth every year? So on March 21—a date chosen to represent the chromosomal defection found in Down Syndrome (the twenty-first day of the third month)—celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, an event created to raise public awareness, promote inclusivity, encourage advocacy, and support the wellbeing of those living with Down Syndrome!

27/02/2021

This February 28 is Rare Disease Day. With so many things going on in the world around us, it’s very easy to put off important things like health. That’s why the last day of February each year we mark our calendars to bring awareness to rare diseases. An average of 1 in 20 people live with a rare disease at least once in their lifetime, few of which see any sign of a cure. The goal of Rare Disease Day is to improve knowledge amongst the general public of rare diseases while encouraging researchers and decision makers to address the needs of those living with rare diseases!

08/02/2021

National Toothache Day, which falls on February 9, serves as a kind reminder of the benefits and overall importance of dental hygiene. Toothaches, scientifically known as odontalgia, are exactly what they sound like, the pain generated from either one or multiple teeth. A toothache can make it difficult to eat, sleep, or sometimes even talk. While they are not worth celebrating, we can all celebrate the ways to stop them for good!

24/01/2021

🦠 1 YEAR ON 🦠

It's not an anniversary anyone wants to celebrate, but today marks 1 year since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Australia.

Th case was confirmed in Victoria in an international traveller and back then the virus didn’t even have an official name.

One year on and there have been almost 30,000 cases in Australia and just over 900 deaths.

Many things have changed in our lives, some for good and some for the worse.

Since then, NSW Health have provided regular updates and information to the community which has been wonderful.

We have seen so many selfless acts by people within our community.

What has been your lasting memory from the last 12 months?

21/12/2020

NSW recorded 15 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, and an additional eight cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

All 15 locally acquired cases are linked to the Avalon cluster. Investigations continue into the source of this cluster, which now numbers 83.

The total number of cases in NSW is 4,582 since the beginning of the pandemic.

There were a record 38,578 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 28,210 in the previous 24 hours. This has been the highest amount of COVID-19 testing ever done in a single day.

NSW Health thanks the community for their excellent response in coming forward for testing and following public health advice. This is vital to helping us to contain the virus by stopping community transmission.

Of the 23 new cases to 8pm last night:
• 15 cases are locally acquired and linked to the Avalon cluster
• Eight were acquired overseas and are in hotel quarantine.

COVID-19 cases linked to the Avalon cluster have visited many locations throughout Sydney’s northern beaches, lower north shore, eastern and southern suburbs. A full list of locations and public transport routes, and the associated public health advice, is available from the NSW Government website at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates.

Due to the growing risk from the Avalon outbreak, new restrictions were introduced for Greater Sydney from midnight last night to reduce the risk of further community transmission. These include:

• Household gatherings are limited to 10 visitors (until 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December).
• The one person per four square metre rule is being re-introduced for all indoor settings, including hospitality venues and places of worship.
• A cap of 300 people will apply for hospitality venues and places of worship.
• Singing in indoor venues will now be restricted, returning to a maximum of five performers indoors, provided they are 1.5m from one another and at least 5m from the audience who are not allowed to sing along.
• Dancefloors will not be permitted, except for weddings, when a maximum of 20 from the wedding party will be permitted.

For the purposes of the Order, ‘Greater Sydney’ comprises the following local government areas: Bayside, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Liverpool, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland Shire, Sydney, The Hills Shire, Waverley, Willoughby, Wollondilly, Wollongong and Woollahra.

People in Greater Sydney are also urged not to visit residential aged care facilities, disability services or vulnerable people unless it is critical. This advice will be re-assessed on Wednesday 23 December.

People across Greater Sydney are also advised to wear masks in indoor settings such as shops and hospitality venues, in line with advice already issued to those in the Northern Beaches.

‘Stay at home’ orders in place for residents of the Northern Beaches local government area (LGA) will also continue until 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December to control the spread of COVID-19. Further clear advice will be provided to the community before Christmas.

All residents of the Northern Beaches LGA are required to stay at home, unless permitted to leave for certain reasons, under the Public Health Order issued on Saturday 19 December.

Acceptable reasons for leaving home include shopping for food and other essential goods and services; travelling to work or an educational institution if working or studying from home is not possible; exercising; seeking medical care; providing carer’s responsibilities and meeting compassionate needs. It is strongly recommended masks are worn when leaving isolation for these permitted reasons.

Any residents of the Northern Beaches LGA who left the area on or since Thursday 10 December 2020 must comply with the same restrictions that apply to the Northern Beaches, regardless of their current location.

Non-residents who have visited the Northern Beaches on or after Thursday 10 December should monitor closely for symptoms and get tested if any appear, no matter how mild. Anyone who visited the Northern Beaches since 10 December is also urged to check the NSW Government website for locations visited by confirmed cases and follow the associated health advice for the relevant venues if they have visited any of them: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates.

This Public Health Order also requires the closing of hospitality venues and function centres in the Northern Beaches LGA, with the exception of businesses offering takeaway food. Gyms and places of worship will also close. Further information on the Public Health Order is available from the NSW Government website at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/northern-beaches

Anyone in NSW with even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, is asked to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until they receive a negative result.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.

NSW Health is treating 80 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases (95 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.

07/12/2020

This year we are opening up between Christmas and New Years to any pre-existing patients who will need to be seen urgently. For appointments on these days, you will need to call on the morning at 9am.
We hope you have a safe holiday season and look forward to continuing to provide quality & family friendly healthcare into the new year!

- The Merewether Ridge Street Surgery Team

18/11/2020

NSW recorded no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Seven cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine. This brings the total number of cases in NSW to 4,320 since the start of the pandemic.

There were 17,047 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 8,588 in the previous 24 hours.

NSW Health is treating 64 COVID-19 cases, none of whom are in intensive care. Most cases – 97 per cent – are being treated by NSW Health in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.

Following the recent case notifications in South Australia, health and travel advice has been upgraded. NSW residents are now advised to defer non-essential travel to Adelaide, while people from Adelaide should defer non-essential travel to NSW.

If you have recently returned from Adelaide and have been to any of the sites of concern listed on the SA Health website, whether listed as “People who must quarantine” or “Monitor your symptoms”, please get tested immediately, regardless of symptoms: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/testing+and+tracing/contact+tracing/contact+tracing

“People who must quarantine” must isolate for a full 14 days from the time they were at the venue, regardless of whether the test result is positive or negative. People who visited the “Monitor your symptoms” locations should isolate until a negative result has been received, and get tested and isolate again should any symptoms develop.

If you have visited Adelaide on or since 7 November, even if you did not visit the listed venues, please minimise contact with other people until 14 days after you were last in Adelaide. That means avoiding contact with other households, and minimising contact at work and socially as much as possible. Please monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate immediately if they appear.

NSW Health is continuing to contact people who have recently arrived on flights from South Australia, and is screening all new arrivals via plane and bus. This includes asking whether they have visited any of the venues of concern, and testing those who have symptoms.

Please contact NSW Health on 1300 066 055 if you have any queries about recent travel to Adelaide, or would like assistance in accessing testing if you have been at any of the venues of concern identified by SA Health.

Though there have been no new locally acquired cases in NSW for the past 11 days, in the past cases have appeared following several days without cases because of transmission among people with mild or no symptoms. If people don’t come forward for testing, outbreaks can easily be missed early on when they can be more readily controlled.

Now is not the time to drop our guard. Everyone needs to continue to be alert to the ongoing risk of transmission of COVID-19, to keep practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and most importantly to get tested and isolate if they feel unwell. Symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be COVID-19.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP. Most people receive their test results within 24 hours.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:
• If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away – don’t delay.
• Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
• Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
• Wear a mask when using public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in shops, places of worship and other places where you can’t physically distance. When taking taxis or rideshares, commuters should also sit in the back.