Category: Must Read!

As from May 1st, anyone aged 50+ becomes eligible for the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Although the vaccine has its problems, given the severity of what it guards against, that’s good news. This may be obtained from Commonwealth Government Respiratory Clinics or at Victorian Government vaccination centres. Participating GP clinics will offer increased eligibility later in May and please see below regarding Pfizer clinics for those under 50 who are eligible. These all bulk bill to Medicare or are free to Australian citizens. The closest Respiratory Clinics to Hampton are at Port Melbourne, Prahran Town Hall and in Rowville. Doctors in...

The coronavirus vaccine is now available for eligible patients from: MyHealth Hampton in Service St New Street Medical Centre in Brighton Sandringham Medical Clinic in Bay Rd Bluff Rd Medical Centre in Sandringham Beaumaris Medical Centre in the Concourse Refer to HealthDirect for the full list of  vaccination centre locations Hampton and South Medical Clinic does not have Covid vaccines in this initial vaccination phase. The vaccine itself is free and the service bulk billed from all vaccinating clinics. Eligibility during this phase – phase 1b – includes adults aged 70 and over,  health care workers including non-clinical staff, aboriginal...

Covid-19 vaccines will be available from designated Vaccination Centres, the contact details of which should soon be available from the Healthdirect.gov.au website  or possibly from the Victorian Government Coronavirus website. Hampton and South Medical Clinic will not have Covid vaccines in the initial vaccination phases. Booking processes and waiting times at the Vaccination Centres are yet to be clarified, but the vaccine itself is free and the service bulk billed. Note there are scams operating, so please do not respond to callers offering to sell the vaccine or vaccinate you ahead of schedule. As indicated on the HealthDirect.gov.au website, vaccination...

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, Medicare has for the time being, suspended the requirement for patients to be physically present before bulk billing is allowed. Consultations can take place via telephone (voice only) or on a multimedia basis (via Apps such as WhatsApp).  This is obviously a great initiative from Medicare, but there are certain requirements. These include a documented consultation at this clinic within the previous 12 months, the diagnosis of Coronavirus infection / contact with a confirmed case (& therefore self isolating) or simply being at risk of Coronavirus due to one or more risk factors e.g.:...

If you have the following, please seek prompt medical attention: Symptoms: Fever OR Acute respiratory infection (for example, shortness of breath or cough) with or without fever AND Epidemiological criteria: International Travel in the 14 days before onset of illness OR Close contact in the 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Testing centres for coronavirus-19 have been established at the following public hospitals. Please note that testing is currently only available for patients who fit the testing criteria, namely fever OR respiratory symptoms, PLUS you must have either arrived from an overseas destination or been in contact with someone with a confirmed coronavirus infection. These criteria are detailed in another post. I am currently unable to test for coronavirus either at the clinic or on a home visit basis. Locations of testing clinics: The Alfred Hospital 03 9076 2000 or 1800 675 398 (DHHS COVID-19 hotline) Monash Medical Centre, Clayton 1800...

*Attention all patients* If you are suffering from cold symptoms, have a temperature in excess of normal ie greater than 37.0 degrees or have been in contact with someone from nominated Countries such as China, Italy or South Korea, please telephone the clinic before attending. The condition is highly infectious and a home based assessment is preferred to attendance at the clinic. Unfortunately being a solo clinic, resources are not currently available to see *new patients* with Coronavirus concerns. Please be fastidious with handwashing procedures and cough etiquette. Face masks (standard surgical masks or the N95 masks) mitigate transmission to...