Pitt Town Family Practice

13/11/2025

NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case from Queensland (QLD) who was infectious while visiting many locations across Sydney.

In addition, there have been 3 cases of measles in QLD associated with the Jelly Roll concert in Brisbane on 24 October.

People who visited any of the following locations at identified times should monitor for symptoms until Friday, 28 November. These locations pose no ongoing risk:
- the Oasis concert at ACCOR stadium in Sydney on Saturday 8 November
- Sydney airport, Sydney CBD, inner west locations and trains at various dates and times between Saturday 8 and Monday 10 November
- the full list of locations listed on the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/measles/Pages/public-exposure-locations.aspx

Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Executive Director Health Protection NSW, said measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes. “Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body,” Dr McAnulty said. “It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure.”

For more information on measles, visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Measles_Factsheet.aspx

09/11/2025

Our surgery has Laverty pathology here in our rooms every day that we are open. Monday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm. Dara is our wonderful cheery and bright collector.

Laverty Pathology is not always free, but it does bulk bill all tests covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). You may have to pay out-of-pocket for tests not on the MBS.

You should drink plain water before a blood test, especially if you are fasting. Water helps you stay hydrated, which can make it easier for the phlebotomist to find your veins, and it won't affect your test results like other drinks such as juice, coffee, or sugary beverages would. However, do not drink anything else, and if you are unsure about fasting or your specific medication, consult your doctor first.

02/11/2025

⚡️You may have heard in the news from the 1st November 2025, new Medicare changes to General Practices.⚡️

The new Medicare triple bulk billing incentive breakdown.
The patient rebate does not increase for your consultation. The doctor is given an incentive to bulk bill all patients within the practice. (Which does not equate to our current practice fees)
Not all consultations are covered by the new bulk billing incentive, like mental health, antenatal care and procedures.

We at Pitt Town Family Practice will not be registering with the new Medicare triple bulk billing incentive program.
We believe in the quality of care that we are currently giving to all our patients should not be comprised by becoming a fully bulk billed practice.
Becoming a fully bulk billed practice will change the dynamic, it will be about quantity rather than quality of care.

We continue to offer mixed billing in our practice, for all of our patients to choose from.

28/10/2025

World Stroke Day on October 29th provides an annual focal point for stroke awareness activity around the world. This year the campaign highlights the importance of stroke prevention and encouraging us all to take steps to be stroke.

Stroke attacks the brain, the human control centre.
The brain is divided into areas which control different things. The impact of the stroke depends on the area of the brain it damages. Damage to an area of your brain can impact how you think, behave, use words, swallow, see, feel, touch, and move your body.
Stroke affects everyone differently.

Stroke can happen to anyone of any age.
Men are at greater risk of stroke and as we get older our risk increases.
In saying that, stroke is preventable for many. Some of the causes within our control include high blood pressure, being overweight, smoking, high cholesterol, a high intake of alcohol and diabetes.

https://strokefoundation.org.au/news-and-events/events/world-stroke-day

23/10/2025

Day for Daniel – Together, we’re Keeping Kids Safe
Held annually on the last Friday of October, Day for Daniel is Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness event.

This special day honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe and reinforces the vital message that keeping kids safe is a responsibility we all share—parents, carers, educators, businesses…the entire community.

Wear Red, Educate and Donate. Day for Daniel is Australia's largest child safety awareness and education day. Register & learn more here!

22/10/2025

Tomorrow is World Kangaroo Day. 🦘🦘🦘
In 2020 Kangaroos Alive created World Kangaroo Day to be held every year on October 24th. The mission is to create an international day to celebrate our national icon. In 2021 World Kangaroo Day was endorsed by Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison of the YUIN People with the Yuin Declaration for Kangaroos. This years theme- ‘Sacred Totem, National Icon’.

“The artwork for WKD2025 is a digitised illustration form of Buru (kangaroo) - the totemic design is drawn from my stringybark painting Observing the Ancient Teachings and Literacies. This painting is about holding the memory of cultural lessons about Country, kinship, responsibility, community, and culture. Buru teaches us these lessons: family structure, being soft-footed, and the intrinsic balance of living with our water. The image also honours the ancient artists who created our engravings and the rock art of Buru in the landscape.”

19/10/2025

From the 1st of November there will be more changes taking place under the Medicare scheme. If you are a regular of our practice, we invite you to register, if you haven’t done so already with My Medicare in order to be able to continue to receive the same if not better care from our Doctors.

Head to your Medicare app or your My Gov account and look for the My Medicare tab, from there you will add our surgery name and then choose your doctor of choice. (Our Registrars will not appear, as they are 6 month term based, but don’t worry, click either Dr Choi or Dr Chan to be included into our practice. Registrars are able to give you exactly what our Principle doctors can, as long as your registered with our surgery)

13/10/2025

National Carers Week held from the 12th to the 18th, is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.

Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Anyone can become a carer, at any time.

08/10/2025

World Sight Day

On Thursday, 9 October 2025, you are invited to and help make the case for eye care that is accessible, available, and affordable for everyone, everywhere.

The noise created each year by campaigners around the world, has governments and those of influence listening like never before – recognizing that early intervention and regular eye health is critical to unlocking education opportunities and future economic potential.

06/10/2025

We hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.
We open from 8am.
Call 📞 45809888 to arrange an appointment with Dr Choi or Dr Wood.

02/10/2025

Pitt Town Family Practice will be closed for the October long weekend, from today through to Tuesday 7th October 2025.

For urgent medical attention that does not require a hospital visit call 137525 (13sick) for a after hours home visit.

Alternatively you can dial 000 for an ambulance or attend your nearest local hospital.

For an after hours chemist, head to High Street, Penrith, they are open 24 hours a day.

28/09/2025

Next week is a very short week, Monday 6th we are closed.
Do you need scripts, referrals to specialists?

Call us today 📞 45809888r