4 Year Old Healthy Kids Check - Are your Kids Ready for School? 
All parents want their children to be happy and healthy and to have the best possible start to life. Being 4 is a very exciting time for your child. Soon they will be getting ready for their next big step - going to school!!!
The Department of Health and Ageing have introduced a free* healthy kids check for all four year old children. This is to make sure kids are happy, healthy and ready to learn. The Healthy Kids Check is available to all four year olds with the consent of a parent/guardian at the time of their four year old immunisations.
This service is delivered by your GP and Practice Nurse through Medicare, and it will make sure kids are on track for health and well being. It will include things like:
- height and weight
- eyesight
- hearing
- immunisation
- oral health
- toileting
- allergies
At your visit you will also receive a free “Get Set 4 Life – Habits for Health Kids” booklet. This booklet is a practical user friendly guide to assist you to help your child develop healthy habits for life. The guide includes information about:
- healthy eating
- regular exercise
- speech and language
- oral health
- hygiene
- skin and sun protection.
You will be able to use this booklet at home and enjoy some of the activity ideas with your child.
Please submit an appointment request or call reception for more information on 3343 0000.
* the health check is fully bulk billed but any subsequent visits or reviews may be charged at the normal consultation rate.
Annual Health Assessments for 75+ Year Olds
If you are aged 75 years and over, or 55 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and are living in the community, you are eligible for this free* Health Assessment.
The assessment is conducted at Metropol Medical Centre by one of our Registered Nurses on behalf of your Doctor, and takes approximately 45 minutes of your time.
The assessment is made up of a number of questions looking at all areas of your health & well-being including:
- diet and nutrition
- exercise
- mobility
- mental health
- family & social relationships
During the assessment, we will check:
- blood pressure
- pulse
- height & weight
- vision
- perform a urinalysis
Part of the assessment also involves discussing your home environment to assess your living arrangements to see if they are safe and if there is any additional help you may need.
Please submit an appointment request or call reception for more information on 3343 0000.
* the health check is fully bulk billed but any subsequent visits or reviews may be charged at the normal consultation rate.
45 - 49 Health Checks - Are you in the 45-49 year old age group?
Do you have at least one of the following (or other) risk factors that could lead to a chronic disease later in life?
- high blood pressure
- family history of disease (e.g. Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes)
- inadequate exercise
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- overweight
If yes, you could be eligible for a free* health check.
Ask your doctor here at Metropol Medical Centre for more details. The aim of the health check is to help find, prevent or lessen the effect of disease. Afterall, it is better to avoid disease than to treat it. this health check will give us the opportunity to look at your lifestyle and your doctor and nurse can support you by:
- checking your lifestyle for health risks
- giving you personalised advice on how to reduce your risk of illness by making some healthy changes
- providing you with practical advice to help you improve your health
- putting you in touch with expert advice, information and support.
Please submit an appointment request or call reception for more information 3343 0000.
* the health check is fully bulk billed but any subsequent visits or reviews may be charged at the normal consultation rate.
+ information provided by Lifescripts - Advice for Healthy Living.
What are Home Medicine Reviews? 
A Home Medicine Review (HMR) is a way for your Pharmicist and GP to help you manage your medicines at home. Your GP gives you a referral to the community Pharmacy. The Pharmicist then talks with you, preferably in your home, and makes a written report back to your GP, who discusses the recommendations with you.
Why are they a good idea?
If medicines aren't used properly, of if the wrong ones are used together, the results can be serious. More than 140,000 Australians have to go to hospital each year with problems caused by their medication. It has been shown that, in up to 69% of these cases, the problem could have been avoided. Older Australians, because they often take a number of different medicines, are particularly at risk.
Who needs one?
Can you, or someone you know, answer 'yes' to any of these questions?
- Do you take more than five medicines a day?
- Are you confused or worried about your medicines?
- Do you sometimes forget to take your medicines?
- Do you see more than one GP or specialist?
- Have you recently spent time in hospital?
If so, it might be a good idea to ask your GP about a Home Medicine Review.
Please submit an appointment request or call reception for more information on 3343 0000.
* the Home Medicine Review is fully bulk billed but any subsequent visits or reviews may be charged at the normal consultation rate.
Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community. Immunisation uses the body's natural defence mechanism - the immune response - to build resistance to specific infections. Immunisation helps children stay healthy by preventing serious infections.
The routine childhood immunisations given through the National Immunisation Program currently provide protection against the following diseases - Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Poliomyelitis (polio), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (german measles), Haemophilus influenzae type b (hib), Hepatits B, Meningococcal C, Pneumococcal, Varicella (chicken pox) and Rotateq (rotavirus gastroenteritis). All of these diseases can cause serious complications and sometimes death. All of the vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program are now given by injection.
How Does Immunisation Work?
All forms of immunisation work in the same way. When someone is injected with a vaccine, their body produces an immune response in the same way it would following exposure to a disease but without the person getting the disease. If the person comes in contact with the disease in the future, the body is able to make an immune response fast enough to prevent the person developing the disease of developing a severe case of the disease.
Most immunisations are bulk billed but is at the discretion of the doctor.
Please submit an appointment request or call reception for more imformation on 3343 0000.
* Information sourced from the National Immunisation Program brochure located:
http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/nips2
Gardasil Vaccine
This is the vaccine to prevent cancer of the cervix and pre-cancerous abnormalities of the cervix. For more information contact reception staff.
Maintaining Your Health
This is one of our key focus areas
- Cholesterol Checks and Total Body Fat and Muscle Analysis (VLA).
- ECG's and Spirometry.
- Child Health and Behavioural Issues.
- Care Plans.
Womens Health
You can feel comfortable talking to a doctor who understands your problems. We have 2 female GPs. Contraception; Pap Smears; Sexual Health; Family Planning; Breast Checks; Ante and Post Natal Care; Pelvic Pain; HRT & Natural Therapy; Menopause
Mens Health
Blood Pressure Checks; Cholesterol Checks; Diet; Weight Management; Exercise; Quit Smoking, Depression, Stress Management; Sexual Health.