COVID has taken the spotlight in the last 12 months but Flu still remains a risk. With the winter months coming it remains important to consider. Government funded vaccine will be available to those most at risk of serious complications. However, it is also worth considering for those who cant afford to be unwell or to mitigate against staff absenteeism & lost productivity. If you would like to arrange vaccination in 2021 in your work place, or, in our clinic, contact us now.
Do you need to visit an aged care facility/nursing home? Note that from May 2020 it became a legal requirement to have an annual influenza vaccination in order to visit an aged care facility.
Although a Coronavirus vaccine is coming soon we want to encourage you to keep influenza vaccination in mind. The winter months are coming!

Australia continues to weather the COVID 19 pandemic. This has forced us to change the way we all go about our daily lives and is likely to go on for an as yet uncertain period. For those needing care the health sector has had to change its approach in many ways. For our patients and clients in community practice it means;

Expanded cleaning & disinfection of all common use areas
Strict personal hygiene protocols – we may request you don at least a mask when entering the clinic
Pre Visit Screening – we will ask you brief risk based questions & may take your temperature from a distance
Restrict non essential clinic visits – instead providing telehealth services & “car park” assessment if the risk is considered high enough

The Australian Government Department of Health VISIT COVID19 is a trusted source for up to date Australian and International information .
For south Australian relevant information. SA HEALTH Coronavirus
Even though a vaccine is coming uncertainties persist and so we encourage everyone to continue to adopt infection control including social distancing measures both now and for the future.
The MSG Health Team

Opioid related deaths and hospitalisations are rising and South Australia features prominently.  Concern is mounting about the use of prescription opioid misuse and deaths in South Australia (Sunday Mail Dec 1 2019). This is part of a growing problem nationally and internationally.  Anyone taking opioids is encourage to speak with their doctor about safe use and other care options.  See reachforthefacts.com.au for more support.

The Federal Government recently announced an initiative to help chronic pain sufferers find services in their state. Last month it was announced that a National Pain Services Directory would be available to assist those with chronic pain to seek out appropriate pain management services. With funding from the Commonwealth, peak body Pain Australia has made this available at painaustralia.org.au.