As part of Thornlands surgery’s commitment to patient preventative care, our centre provides an immunisation service that includes childhood, travel, seasonal (flu) and employment vaccinations (hepatitis B, tetanus, etc).

Our centre complies with Australian Standards, and is fully accredited for the storage of immunisations and vaccinations.

Please contact our centre regarding specific immunisations available and ensure that you discuss this with the receptionist when booking an appointment.

For travel vaccination, it is advisable to see your doctor at least six weeks before travel.

Thornlands Surgery has always placed a strong emphasis on preventative medicine.

Annual check-ups after 40 years of age are recommended to assist in the early detection and prevention of common medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, diabetes and cancers.

Under 40 years of age, less frequent assessments are recommended but may be indicated in certain situations. Family History is especially relevant; a strong family history of cancer, heart disease or type 2 diabetes would increase the need for earlier assessment.

A Mental Health Care Plan is a plan made by your doctor for treating a mental health problem over time.

Your Doctor will work with you to assess your mental health, work out what help you need, set goals and choose the treatment that would be best for you. Your doctor will also discuss options for treatment and advise you about any other services that might help you. (The plan might also include what to do in a crisis or to prevent relapse.)

Once you and your doctor have agreed on your goals and what you need to do to achieve them, your doctor will write out a mental health care plan. Preparing the plan may take a number of visits.

Thornlands Surgery understands the importance of having a pathology collection service on site at our centre to assist doctors with the clinical management of their patients.

Most services are bulk-billed to our patients holding Medicare cards. There may be a fee for some specialised tests not covered by Medicare.

An appointment is required for most tests, and waiting times can vary depending on the patient demand.

Sullivan and Nicolaides is located on site. Their hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8am to 12 pm. No appointment is required. They also do 24 hour blood pressure monitoring.

The aim of the Healthy Kids Check is to ensure every four year old child in Australia has a basic health check to see if they are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school.

The Healthy Kids Check will:

• Promote early detection of lifestyle risk factors
• Promote early detection of delayed development and illness
• Introduce guidance for healthy lifestyles and early intervention strategies.

The Health Assessment includes information collection of family and environmental factors, medical and social history, and lifestyle risk factors.

Where appropriate, arrangements will be put into place for referrals and follow-ups of any problems identified.

45 to 49 (inclusive) year old health check is part of the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) announced by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in February 2006. The health check assists with the detection and prevention of chronic disease. It enables early intervention strategies.

The health check involves taking your history, noting your current health issues and risk factors as well as looking at your family history of chronic disease.

The health check will look at:

• Lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, poor nutrition or alcohol misuse
• Biomedical risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism or excess weight
• Family history of a chronic disease.
• Also other examinations considered necessary by the GP or Nurse.

Overall, this health check aims to find, prevent and lessen the effect of disease by giving our Team the opportunity to look at your lifestyle and for some health problems. Getting in early can have a big impact later on.

For peace of mind why not book in with our nurse today.

A health assessment of an older person is an in-depth assessment of a patient aged 75 years and over.

The over 75 health assessment is an annual comprehensive assessment of physical, psychological and social well-being for those aged 75 and over, and offers preventative health care and education. It is offered nationwide to all people aged 75 and over, excluding those currently in hospital or those in residential aged care facilities.

Following the visit at the clinic with our nurse, you will be required to have a follow-up appointment with your Doctor to discuss the results of your health assessment. This usually occurs within 2-3 weeks of your initial visit with the nurse. The nurse conducting your assessment will make your follow-up appointment for you before you leave the clinic.

Importantly, the health assessment is at no cost to you. This includes both the consultation with the nurse and the follow-up appointment with your doctor.

Whilst it is not compulsory to have this health assessment we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this valuable service being offered to you.

A fasting blood test is often included. Cholesterol and blood glucose regularly checked. In some cases faeces is tested for hidden (occult) bleeding as a screen for bowel cancer. Sometimes X-rays & other tests such as a stress heart test are suggested. Importantly all assessments should will be followed with a management plan tailored to your individual needs. This will include review appointments if necessary.

Adequate time needs to be arranged for such an assessment so please inform the receptionist of this when booking.

Thornlands Surgery specialises in Women’s Health services such as:

• Contraception
• Cervical Screening
• Breast Examination
• Pregnancy
• Midlife and Menopause
• Osteoperosis
• Anxiety and Depression
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Skin Checks

Thornlands Surgery specialises in Geriatric Care services such as:

• Acat Assessments
• Health Assessments
• Vaccinations
• Chronic Disease Management
• Nutrition
• Abi (vascular checks)
• Osteoperosis
• Mental Health Checks
• Skin Checks
• Hearing Checks

Our doctors can provide information, education and treatment for patients who suffer from asthma to help increase the patient’s quality of life.

Asthma is caused by the narrowing of the airways in the lungs, and symptoms can include wheezing, coughing (particularly at night), chest tightness, difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. Asthma is a treatable health condition. Although at present there is no cure, with good management, people with asthma may lead normal, active lives.

Please discuss with your doctor the best way to manage your asthma and ensure that you discuss any concerns. For further information, please refer the National Asthma Council Australia website.

Thornlands surgery has experienced post-graduate qualified General Practitioners to manage chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, arthritis and depression.

They are aware of the currently available management guidelines and Care Plans offered by the Government to assist in these areas. Referrals to Allied Health Practitioners can be arranged to improve health care. When booking an appointment to see any Allied Health Practitioner please ask regarding the cost of the consultation.

The availability of on-site Pathology and Allied Health Services enhances our experienced Doctors’ ability to manage any chronic disease.

The aim of the type 2 diabetes risk evaluation is to support medical practitioners to address the health needs of patients 40 to 49 years of age who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Eligible patients must be aged 40 to 49 years (inclusive) or 15 to 54 years (inclusive) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes as determined by the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool.

Patients with newly diagnosed or existing diabetes are not eligible for this evaluation.

The type 2 diabetes risk evaluation includes:

• evaluating your risk as determined by the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool, which has been completed by the patient within a period of 3 months prior to undertaking the type 2 diabetes risk evaluation
• Updating your history and undertaking physical examinations and clinical investigations in accordance with relevant guidelines;making an overall assessment of your risk factors and of the results of relevant examinations and investigations
• Initiating interventions, if appropriate, including referral to a diabetes educator, lifestyle modification program and/or follow-up relating to the management of any risk factors identified
• Providing you with advice and information (such as the Life scripts resources produced by the Department of Health and Ageing available at the Department’s Lifescripts page), including strategies to achieve lifestyle and behaviour changes if appropriate.

Risk factors include the following:

• Lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity and poor nutrition
• Biomedical risk factors, such as high blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism and excess weight
• A family history of a chronic disease.

The doctors at Thornlands Surgery provide education in diabetes prevention, diagnosis and advice in the management of diabetes.

Some forms of diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise while other forms will require medication such as Insulin. The most common types of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2.

If you are experiencing any or a combination of the following symptoms, which may relate to diabetes, please discuss with your doctor as soon as possible:

• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Unquenchable thirst
• Losing weight without trying
• Weakness and fatigue
• Tingling or numbness in your hands, legs or feet.
• Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is not producing enough insulin and the insulin is not working effectively. It represents 85 to 90 per cent of all cases of diabetes. Risk factors include family history, being overweight and ethnic background. Lifestyle factors such as unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. While it usually affects mature adults, more young people, and even children, are being diagnosed.

Risk factors you cannot change:

• Age
• Family history
• Gestational diabetes
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Risk factors you can change:

• Maintaining healthy weight
• Making lifestyle changes by following a healthy eating plan and doing a regular physical activity
• Having regular health checks.

If you like to ascertain your risk of Type 2 Diabetes we recommend you have Diabetes evaluation at our practice. The evaluations, known as an Annual Diabetic Cycle of Care Plan and a Six Monthly Review of Care Plan, will take place with the assistance of our nurse and will be finalised with a standard doctor’s consultation.

The evaluations will involve:

• Body Mass Index measurement, blood pressure and general physical exam
• Family history and dietary review
• Assessment of lifestyle risk factors

If you feel you may be at risk of diabetes and to find out more about Diabetes Treatment, please contact Thornlands Surgery.