Welcome Back Dr Rebecca Hunt-Davies

We are excited to announce that Dr Rebecca Hunt-Davies will be re-joining Mead Medical as of Monday 3rd July. Rebecca is interested in all areas of general medicine but has particular interests in women’s and children’s health.

Dr Hunt-Davies will practice in both of our surgeries and appointments are now open in preparation for her return. Rebecca looks forward to reconnecting with all of the patients she saw prior to her time in Queensland.

National Palliative Care Week (21-28 May 2017)

No one likes to talk about death (especially their own) but it is one of the most important conversations that you and your loved ones can ever have.

That is why Palliative Care Australia (@palliativecareaustralia) launched National Palliative Care Week to help raise awareness and understanding about palliative care in the Australian Community.

Studies have shown that up to 82% of Australians think it is important to talk to family members about their wishes but unfortunately only 28% have done so.

The Dying to Talk Discussion starter is a great resource to guide you through this difficult but very rewarding of conversations, and to make sure that when the time comes, your wishes are met.

If you do not feel that you have anyone to talk to about this, your GP would be happy to help.

Mead GPs have a passion for quality care throughout all stages of life. To explore Palliative Care in more detail we conducted a short interview with our of GPs who has a special interest in palliative care; Dr Greg Caddy:

How long have you been involved in palliative care?

I have provided palliative care to patients since I commenced training for general practice. At that time, I was doing a 6 month training position in the palliative care unit at the Repatriation Hospital Hollywood.

I have also been covering the Silver Chain Home Palliative Care service for well over 35 years.

I have spent a number of years covering the hospice unit at Kalamunda Hospital, although regrettably I have recently had to stop providing this service.

What are the some of the most rewarding aspects of palliative care for you?

I have always believed that general practice medicine should be from “the birth to the grave” . We should strive to give the best possible entry into the world but should also be able to help our patients to have a comfortable death when their time has come. This is a time when patients need to be with a medical practitioner that they know and trust . Sometimes this is more important for the family and you are never closer to family or patients than when death is being confronted.

What are some of the more challenging aspects?

It is difficult for Doctors to let go sometimes, and to confront the reality that medicine can’t keep us alive indefinitely. The reality of palliative care needs to be communicated to patients in an honest but sensitive way , often at a time when patients and their families are in the worst possible emotional place . This is difficult, but ultimately rewarding, if a good death is experienced.

There are developments over time in medicine and in the area of symptom control , and the palliative care Doctor also needs to keep up to date. They need to be prepared to involve others in the journey, dependent on patients cultural, religious and social beliefs. Patients who are dying often focus on a large number of minor issues, compared with the real problem . It is difficult at times to deal with these issues when Doctors are aware that ultimately these are irrelevant in the greater scheme of things . However, these are important to the patient and need to be dealt with so it is not perceived that Doctors have “given up ” on caring .

How important is communication in providing good palliative care?

There isn’t t a more important time for good communication than when talking with patients and their families about death. Information has to be provided at a pace that matches the station of the journey that the patient has reached. Too much information can be soul destroying. We are always judging how much information is to be given at every stage. Reassurance that things will end “OK” is paramount but this can’t occur too early . Time, gentleness and patience are needed. Honesty is required but only matched to the need for the patient and the family. Sometimes the two are at different stages .

Do you have any final comments?

Palliative care is a very rewarding, but emotionally challenging area of medicine. The reality, however, is that it is just another time of life when medical compassion and knowledge are needed and most Doctors are or should be able to give help in this area.

Top 5 Reasons to Breastfeed

Given current media attention to the subject of breastfeeding, now is an ideal time to reflect on why breastfeeding is so important and why we as a society should encourage this practice. Here is a slightly more light-hearted approach to a serious matter, written by former Mead Medical GP Dr Rebecca Hunt-Davies…..

Top 5 reasons to Breastfeed

Written by Dr Rebecca Hunt-Davies(MBBS (UWA), FRACGP, DCH)

1. Breast milk is the most amazing super food EVER!!!!

Forget your Kale and Goji berries, this stuff is the real deal!! It balances nutrition with immune fighting chemicals which adjust according to whether your baby needs more or less of them, it supplies the perfect balance of nutrients for a growing baby and it contains special hormones which help influence the baby’s metabolism, neurobiology and behaviour. Countless numbers of studies have shown that it helps reduce risks of breast cancers. And to top it all off Breast milk is the greenest food in the world. Can you imagine if some one told you about a food you could consume now that would do all those amazing things that you wouldn’t think – gee I want me some of that!!!!

2. Breast milk is the perfect balanced meal that is great for at home or on the go.

Breast milk is perfectly balanced for your baby for the first six months of a baby’s life. It has just the right amount of protein, fats, salts, sugars and other nutrients. The nutrients contained within in it are produced in the most easily to utilise form for your baby so they can easily absorb their required calcium and iron. It comes out at the perfect temperature, required no measuring/heating or cleaning of equipment. Breast milk and breast feeding is convenient and made just for your baby – no one else’s – specially for your baby

3. Breast milk is FREE!!

That’s right folks – there is such a thing as a free lunch. There is no special equipment required to breastfeed (ok yes yes your boobs are special but I mean different than what majority of women already have when they give birth to their babies). I will not lie to you- it is not entirely without the occasional mess but nothing a simple wipe with a wet clot won’t fix. There is no need to purchase formula, bottles, teats, sterilisers, special bottle warmers….. Do you see the list goes on? Sometimes a little assistance is required but on majority, once it is going and you have the hang of it then it is a great way to save money – let’s face it babies are expensive so every dollar counts.

4. Your body is designed to do it and it promotes bonding with your baby

A baby has spent close to 40 weeks being intimately close with their mother and when they come out they still seek that closeness. Breastfeeding is so natural that babies have a reflex that shortly after birth allows them to crawl up their mother’s abdomen and find the breast. Mother’s breasts change during pregnancy to help promote breastfeeding – the nipples become larger, flatter, darker and the breasts themselves change from very early in pregnancy (sometimes the first symptom a woman may notice that lets her know she is pregnant). A woman’s body undergoes a great many changes in preparation for the birth of their baby but the changes in the breasts are one of the most obvious changes that is preparing a woman’s body for what is required after delivery of the baby. Breasts are close to your heart and they are warm. A baby knows their mother’s smell when they are born and a mother’s body can actually regulate their baby’s temperature when they are skin to skin. A baby knows the smell of their mother’s milk and finds great comfort in it. A baby when born can see only about 20-30cm in distance- the perfect amount of vision required to see their mother’s face when they are breast feeding. Sometimes there is no amount of cuddling, wrapping and soothing that can get a crying and distressed baby to settle but often a simple breast feed will do the job – now that is a handy thing to have!!

5. It is good for the mother!!!!

That’s right ladies. This breast feeding business is not all about the baby. There are several excellent benefits for women who breast feed. In your long term health, it helps reduce your risk of osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancer. Whilst breast feeding it promotes hormones to calm both mother and baby which means night times feeds are more likely to allow you to return to sleep and put your little baby back to sleep. It helps your body return to shape post delivery of your baby by aiding in contracting the uterus (reducing blood loss) but also helps you burn extra calories as you feed your precious bundle some of that food you just ate. It will often delay the return of menstrual cycle and delay fertility – woo hoo bonus – no tampons or pads for a few extra months!!

So now having said all of the above I do want to say one thing. Just because it is “natural” does not necessarily mean it is always easy or always perfect. Like anything in life it is a skill and it needs to be learnt. If you can breastfeed – that is awesome!!! If you can’t or you cannot fully breast feed – that is also perfectly fine – it is better that you are able to care for your baby and be the best mum you can be than stress out about one small area.

There are a few important things to keep in mind when breastfeeding. If your baby is failing to gain enough weight, seems very unsettled or you are worried that there is an issue with your supply/technique then please seek some assistance from either your GP, Child health nurse or lactation consultant. If you are experiencing pain, nipple trauma, feel unwell, are suffering mental distress or have any other worries regarding your breast feeding or just in general after delivering your baby then please do not hesitate to follow up with your health provider.

Resources:

1. Breastfeeding…Naturally, second Edition, Edited by Jill Day, Australian Breastfeeding Association 2009
2. “Getting the message via milk” from www.mammalssuck.blogspot.com.au posted 2nd May 2015 by Katie Hinde
3. The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making more Milk, Diana West, IBCLC, and Lisa Marasco, M.A., IBCLC 2009 McGraw Hill

Easter and Anzac Day Opening Hours

Please see below our opening hours for the Easter and Anzac Day holidays. 

I’ve caught a cold! It must be a virus! You must have man flu! Oh no, it must be the FLU!!

There are a lot of names for the same group of symptoms and it can be very confusing to know what you have, how to treat it, whether time off work is needed and, importantly, if you need to see a doctor.

Below is a simple way to break down the similarities and differences between a cold and the flu:

It is important to remember that colds and the flu are both caused by viruses and therefore will not respond to antibiotic treatment. 

Treatment of symptoms is very important and can include Paracetamol, anti inflammatories, fluids and plenty of REST.  Make sure you are reviewed by a doctor if your symptoms are severe, not improving with time or if you are worried in any way.

Lastly, the flu vaccine is the best available way to prevent the flu and is available from your GP.  If you are in a high risk category, it will be free.  Consult your GP to see if you qualify.

Flu Vaccine 2017

We are pleased to advise that we currently have private stocks of flu vaccine which are available for $12. Please note that these stocks have been privately sourced and as such, are not part of the Government’s flu vaccine programme.

If you have previously received a free flu vaccination under the Government programme and wish to do so again this year, we recommend that you wait until Government supply is received in the second half of April.

If you would like to receive a private flu vaccine, please call either our Kalamunda or Forrestfield surgery to make an appointment with our nurse; these appointments are bulk-billed.

World Hearing Day 2017

Did you know that 3^rd March was World Hearing Day? In 2017 the World Health Organisation (WHO) focussed on raising awareness of the economic impact of unaddressed hearing loss. WHO estimate that unaddressed hearing loss costs the international economy $750 billion annually (which is the same as the combined annual health expenditure of Brazil and China, or the annual GDP of the Netherlands).

On an individual basis, it has been found that Europeans with significant hearing loss are twice as likely to be unemployed those without hearing loss. In the US, people with untreated hearing loss earn 50-70% less.

Action to protect against hearing loss is cost-effective however. You can prevent hearing loss by protecting against loud sounds and identifying and treating otitis media (ear infections). Hearing loss can be identified early through screening of newborns, school children and adults over 50. Hearing can be rehabilitated via the continuous use of hearing aids. Access to cochlear implants, an Australian invention, is also improving globally. In addition to this, captioning and sign language interpretation are effective in making information accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Interventions to address hearing loss result in:

• Financial savings and significant return on investment
• Increased access to education
• Greater employability and earnings which benefits the economy
• Lower costs related to depression and cognitive decline
• An integrated society

Please see your GP if you are concerned about your hearing, or that of your family.

Welcome Dr Chieh Cheng

We are pleased to announce that Dr Chieh Cheng will be joining our practice on Friday 10^th March and will be the fourth GP Obstetrician at Mead Medical.

Chieh grew up in Perth, is a local University of WA medical graduate and has worked for over a decade in various hospitals in metropolitan and rural areas in WA. Chieh has just returned from Albany where she worked for the last seven years as a rural GP obstetrician, providing continuity of care for the young and the elderly, and performing procedures such as caesarean deliveries, Implanon and Mirena insertions.During this time she was involved with the Rural Clinical School and loved teaching medical students.

Chieh has a special interest in women’s health and paediatrics, mental health and palliative care.

Outside of medicine, Chieh enjoys watching films, cooking and discovering the world through travelling. Dr Cheng will practice from both of our locations.

Practice Software Upgrade

We wish to advise that we are currently undertaking a major practice management software migration. The migration is expected to be completed by Wednesday 1^st February, however as with most software upgrades, teething problems are likely immediately following the migration. We remain open and operational during this time, however we do ask for your understanding as we move from one platform to another.

Delivering exceptional clinical care and service remains our focus, but we may deliver it at a slightly slower speed whilst we familiarise ourselves with our new software. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause in the short term but look forward to the added benefits we can bring you in the longer term.

If you have any concerns, please raise them with the reception supervisors or our General manager, Daniel Rarp.

Goodbye and Goodluck

We have unfortunately bid goodbye recently to three outstanding GPs; Rebecca Hunt-Davies. Tim McNaught and Siobhain Brennan.

Rebecca has decided to take an exciting opportunity for her and her family to relocate to Magnetic Island (in Queensland) where she will be one of two GPs on the island.

Following the successful completion of his fellowship exams, Tim is taking the opportunity to do some extensive travel around the world.

Siobhain has moved practices as part of her continued registrar training. We wish them all well in each of their respective pursuits and hope to see them all back at Mead sometime soon.