The Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Visit Hunters Hill Medical Practice During Women’s Health Week
During Women’s Health Week, a pivotal moment for spotlighting women’s health issues, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, and Federal Member for Bennelong, Jerome Laxale MP, visited the Hunters Hill Medical Practice (HHMP) to underscore the importance of accessible and comprehensive women’s health services. Their visit highlights the ongoing commitment to improving healthcare for women, particularly through the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic, which benefits from funding provided by the Federal Department of Health.
Celebrating Women’s Health Week
Women’s Health Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the unique health challenges women face and promoting the importance of proactive health management. An emphasis on empowerment and supporting women has emerged. HHMP aims to provide comprehensive support systems to address various health issues, from general wellness to specific conditions like endometriosis. The week serves as a reminder of the importance of regular health check-ups, education, and community support in managing women’s health concerns.
Spotlight on Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain
An area of focus for Minister Kearney has been endometriosis, a condition affecting approximately one in seven Australian Women and one in ten women globally. Endometriosis is characterised by the growth of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus outside the uterus, causing chronic pain and potentially leading to infertility. The Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic at HHMP aims to provide support, strategies and hope for women suffering from these debilitating conditions.
The clinic, supported by the Federal Department of Health, provides focused care that includes medical treatment, physiotherapy, dietitian advice, psychological support, and nursing care. This holistic approach aims to address the multifaceted nature of endometriosis and pelvic pain, offering patients a range of options tailored to their specific needs.
Meeting with HHMP Staff
During their visit, Minister Ged Kearney and MP Jerome Laxale had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated staff of HHMP. The visit began with a clinic tour and proceeded to meetings with the clinic’s team, including doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses, and management staff. The parliamentarians engaged in detailed discussions about the range of services offered at the clinic and the impact of federal funding on their ability to provide comprehensive care.
Dr Kylie Ozen and Dr Pooja Rastogi, both of whom see patients at the HHMP Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic, spoke about the challenges and successes of treating patients with endometriosis. They emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, which combines medical treatments with physical therapy and psychological support and dietary advice to improve overall patient outcomes. Dr Charbel Badr, Medical Director at HHMP discussed using the grant funding to integrate these services to ensures that the greatest number of patients receive them. This included innovative approaches such as online group sessions which helped the team deliver services to some patients who are 200+ kilometres away.
Monica Marcos from Ryde Road Physiotherapy, discussed the role of the physiotherapists at the clinic in helping patients manage pain and improve their quality of life through specialised exercises and techniques such as TENS. Amanda Patterson discussed the role of psychological support to help patients cope with their ongoing pain, manage the emotional toll of chronic pain and control the stress associated with their condition.
The nurses and management staff were also recognised for their essential roles in delivering care and maintaining the clinic’s operations. Their dedication ensures that patients receive continuous, high-quality care and that the clinic runs smoothly.
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- Women’s Health Week
The Impact of Federal Funding
Federal funding has been instrumental in supporting the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic’s operations. This funding has enabled HHMP to expand its services, invest in state-of-the-art equipment, and enhance patient support systems. The funding has also allowed HHMP to send a team to The Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia‘s national seminar in Adelaide to keep up to date. Minister Kearney was very supportive of the teams work and discussed some options to help further support women’s health. Mr Jerome Laxale congratulated the staff on the work they were doing and mentioned how proud he was to have of of the 22 national clinics in his electorate of Bennelong.
Looking Ahead
The visit to HHMP during Women’s Health Week serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to address women’s health issues with compassion and dedication. By highlighting the work being done at the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic, Ged Kearney and Jerome Laxale MP have brought attention to a critical area of healthcare that requires continued support and investment.
As Women’s Health Week comes to a close, we would like to recognise the many women in our community and wish them the best of health. We would also like to recognise the many wonderful and committed health practitioners that work from HHMP and provide support to these women on a daily basis.
For more information about the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic at Hunters Hill Medical Practice, please see our endometriosis and pelvic pain specific page or complete our online questionnaire for one of our nurses to call you back. Otherwise please email us clinic@hhmp.com.au or call 9817 2080 . You can also reach out online to various women’s health initiatives, through their website or reach out to local health services. Let’s continue the conversation and support women’s health every week of the year.
