This practice recommends that persons who have travelled over the past month or who may have come into contact with others who have been investigated or confirmed with 2019-nCoV, to contact the practice by telephone in the first instance.

Known symptoms are lower respiratory illness (cough and difficulty breathing), and fevers. A person can be infectious for a period of two weeks and it is vital that those at risk self isolate in the interest of others and the spread of the illness.

We request that you do not present in person to the practice before calling in advance so we may make preparations for your arrival.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Australian Hearing and My Tooth Doctor attend this practice.

Please contact the practice directly for more information on 47707244.

 

Are you under 20 and unsure if you are up to date with your childhood vaccinations?

The Australian government Department of Health will now provide FREE catch up vaccines to under 20 year olds. Make an appointment to speak to your G.P., you may need vaccinations to travel overseas, work as a health professional or attend some tertiary level courses.

Shingles can be very painful and lead to serious, long term complications for older people. There is now a FREE vaccine available for people aged 70-79 years old. Talk to your doctor or one of our nurses if you are eligible and interested in this vaccination.

We are pleased to introduce the procedure of Transcranial  Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), now being performed at the Bluewater Medical Practice. It is a safe, non-invasive procedure which provides relief for many treatment-resistant conditions.

tDCS utilizes weak, direct electric current to modulate the activity and excitability of neurons which enhance brain plasticity, and the ability of the brain to reorganize and transform itself.

The study done on this treatment has proven to be effective in the treatment of:

• Depression
• Chronic Pain
• Migraine Pain
• Cigarette / Food / Alcohol cravings
• Poor Concentration / Attention span
• ADHD and OCD
• Mood swings
• Fibromyalga
• Poor Social skills
• Comprehension / learning abilities
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pelvic abdominal pain
• Repetitive risk taking
• Post stroke rehabilitation
• Poor Sleep patterns

tDCS can improve concentration, attention, memory and learning for both healthy individuals and patients with disabilities.

tDCS: Procedure

The tDCS procedure is safe and easy to do. We use a German made stimulator which is certified for use in Australia.  Electrodes are soaked with sterile salty water 0.9% to improve conductivity. The sponge electrodes are positioned over targeted areas of the brain, to deliver low-intensity, direct electric current to the scalp and underlying brain. The stimulator provides a tiny, imperceptible direct current which modulates nerve impulses. The use of the positive electrode/anode will enhance and excite targeted cortical neurons while negative electrode/cathode will inhibit and diminish, each promoting neural plasticity, resulting in clinical improvement that will continue for months.

tDCS: Safety

Side effects of tDCS are uncommon and if any they are mild. There may be reddening of the skin under the electrodes. Rarely, a slight, temporary headache can occur during the treatment. There is no injury or harm to the brain with tDCS and there is an extremely wide margin of safety based on laboratory, clinical and computational modeling studies. Currently the Canadian government is undertaking the study of tDCS as a treatment of depression in pregnant women.

tDCS is not ECT

tDCS should not be confused with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or "shock therapy." With ECT, a much larger current of 600-1000 milliamps (mA) is applied to the entire brain, compared to the 1-2 mA used in tDCS. ECT results in a grand mal seizure and must be done  under general anaesthesia. Multiple ECT treatments are required to relieve severe depression (6-20 treatments). ECT produces significant side-effects, including memory loss and confusion, it is only used for patients with severe, treatment-resistant depression.