Please book online and check our website before you call

HHMP is a busy medical practice caring for the community for over 150 years. We are excited to be offering the COVID-19 vaccine from the first week to local patients.

On Wednesday 17th of March, we received over 200 phone calls from people wanting to book in for COVID-19 vaccination. This is a great response from the community. The problem was that the government has not as yet delivered us any vaccine.

We do not want to book patients in if we do not have the vaccine to give them as this will simply lead to us then cancelling or rescheduling such appointments leading to inconvenience and frustration all round. Please book online where appointments will only be available when vaccine is available.

We have only been allocated 80 shots in week one and we will start on Wednesday 24th of March as long as the vaccines arrive. The first group of patients will be very high priority patients such as 90+ year olds, patients with organ transplants and those on chemotherapy. We will contact those patients individually and book them in until we exhaust all 80 doses. Book Online will operate after week one.

Please Book Online

We expect the supply to get better in the next couple of weeks and then we can vaccinate more patients. The best way to check for vaccine availability is by clicking the book now button on the top and bottom of our website and then clicking on COVID-19 vaccination. If you get a red 1 line message, no appointments are available. If you progress to the next step, please follow instructions and book online.

All patients booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments need to check that they meet the Phase 1b eligibility criteria. If you are new to HHMP you will need to also bring with you a health summary from your usual GP to not only show eligibility but also for your safety were any issues to arise after vaccination.

All vaccination will occur on level 1, and if you are presenting for COVID or flu vaccination please proceed there first. We expect flu vaccines to start to arrive at the beginning of April. The best place for the latest information is this website and the quickest way to book is by booking online.

We pride ourselves on doing the best for our patients including answering phones quickly and having a chat to our regulars. We would like to apologise in advance if it takes longer to get to your call or if we have less time to chat. These are unprecedented times and even with extra reception staff, the phone call load is high. Please help us by checking our website first and booking online.

Puberty and Growth : The Journey Begins…

The following blog post from Dr Jade Tsen was written for the Ryde District Mums blog and newsletter by  HHMP GP Dr Jade Tsen.

If there is one word to send shivers down the spines of every parent, its “puberty”. All of a sudden, the sweet, innocent angel who once upon a time looked up to you barely utters two words to you, except for the odd “I’m hungry” when they choose to emerge from their bedroom.

Luckily, puberty need not be the bewildering roller coaster of emotional and physical change if you are aware of the signs and cues indicating that something is on the horizon.

Puberty is the rapid phase of growth and development that the body enters into when certain chemicals (produced in the brain) start being secreted in a specific pattern, generally around the age of 10. This stimulates the production of hormones that make your little one take their first steps towards adulthood. The primary hormone which stimulates pubertal development in girls is oestrogen and in boys, testosterone.

Emotional and psychological change can often be the first sign that something is brewing. Though it may seem to be so, it is not necessarily all battles and bickering.

Along with the erratic moods, you might notice your child developing their sense of self and an increased need for independence. They may even want to take on more responsibilities both at school and at home. It is a curious age, and there will be an uncontrollable urge for new experiences, some of which will include taking on a whole new level of risk. It is important to foster their newfound freedom, whilst at the same time, standing firm on the non-negotiables.

The physical changes of puberty will tend to follow a much more predictable pattern. On average, the physical changes of puberty begin in females at 10.9 years of age, but can be as early as 8 and as late as 13.5 years. For males, the onset of puberty is generally between 9 and 14 years, with the average age being 11.5. For some, the whole physical process is complete in 18 months, for others it can take up to 5 years. When all the pubertal dust has so called settled, your no longer “child” will be sexually and reproductively mature.

Breast development is the first physical sign of puberty in females. You may notice lumps developing under the nipples, otherwise known as “breast buds”. They are normal lumps and can often be a bit tender. You will notice your daughter will not only get taller, but will start developing those “child bearing hips”. Pubic hair will begin to develop followed by underarm hair.

Periods are the last physical stage of puberty for girls. The average age for the onset of periods is 12.7 years of age. You may notice some clear or white coloured vaginal discharge occurring for some months prior to periods commencing.

For boys, genital enlargement is the first physical change to occur, on average at about 11.5 years old. It is normal for one teste to grow faster than the other, and they generally don’t end up the same size. Next pubic hair will grow, followed by hair under the arms, facial hair and the rest of the body.

Your son will enter into a significant phase of growth. He will get taller and his chest and shoulders will expand (along with your grocery bill)! Brace yourself, they can continue growing until the age of 20, however rates of growth can vary significantly between individuals. At around 13.5 years, sperm production begins and boys may experience wet dreams. Their voice will begin to break at around 14-15 years of age.

When should you consult a health professional?

For girls:

• Breast development or pubic hair appears before the age of 8
• Periods begin before the age of 10
• Your daughter has not entered into puberty by the age of 13.5
• Periods have not commenced by the age of 16

For boys:

• Pubic hair appears before the age of 9
• Testicular enlargement occurs before the age of 9
• Your son has not entered into puberty by the age of 14

In general:

• Mental health concerns
• Advice on risk taking behaviour – alcohol, drugs, smoking, sexual activity
• Bullying

Puberty can be a fairly tumultuous time for all. If you are still feeling more confused than Joey Potter on an episode of Dawson’s Creek, there are many resources available and health professionals to help you along the way. As daunting as puberty may be, and despite the ups and downs, try to enjoy seeing your child become “who they want to be when they grow up”.

If you have any questions with regards to puberty or concerns about a child, please book in to see one of our doctors who deal with this on a regular basis.

 

Please call us on 9817 2080 or click the booking link at the top of the page.