Health Articles
What Is a Mental Health Care Plan? A GP’s Guide to Getting Started
A Mental Health Care Plan is a structured plan your GP prepares with you when you’re experiencing a mental health issue such as anxiety, low mood or ongoing stress, setting out your treatment goals and, in many cases, opening access…
IUD vs the Pill: How to Choose the Right Contraception for You
Choosing between an IUD and the pill is one of the most common contraception questions GPs hear, and there is no single right answer. The most suitable option depends on your health history, lifestyle and how much daily involvement you…
What Is a Chronic Disease Management Plan? A GP’s Guide to Ongoing Care
A Chronic Disease Management Plan is a structured, Medicare-supported plan your GP prepares when you are living with a long-term health condition, setting out your health goals and coordinating the different health professionals involved…
Low Iron Symptoms: What to Watch For and When to See Your GP
Iron deficiency is one of the most common conditions seen at Shire Family Medical, a family-owned GP practice in Sutherland, and one of the most easily overlooked. Many patients put their symptoms down to a busy life, poor sleep, or…
What Is a PSA Blood Test and Do You Need to Fast Before It?
A PSA blood test is one of the most common pathology requests a GP makes for male patients, and one of the most frequently misunderstood. The result is not a diagnosis. The preparation is simpler than most men expect. And whether to test…
How Much Does an Iron Infusion Cost in Australia?
“How much does an iron infusion actually cost?” is one of the first questions people ask once a GP raises it as an option, and it’s a fair one to raise before committing to an appointment. Unlike a standard GP visit, an…
Can a GP Prescribe ADHD Medication in NSW?
From 1 September 2025, new NSW Health rules changed how ongoing ADHD prescriptions are managed in general practice, and for many patients already on a stable treatment plan, this means their GP may now be able to handle continuing…
What Is a 715 Health Check?
At Shire Family Medical, your local family doctors in Sutherland, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients of all ages can access a free annual 715 Health Check, a Medicare-funded assessment designed to review your health, identify…
What Is an ECG? Understanding the Heart Test Your GP May Recommend
At Shire Family Medical’s Sutherland medical centre, ECG testing is available on-site where a GP considers it clinically relevant. An ECG (or electrocardiogram) is one of the most commonly ordered heart tests in general practice:…
Pap Smear vs Cervical Screening Test: What’s Changed and What You Need to Know
At Shire Family Medical, your Sutherland GP practice, cervical screening is offered as part of GP-led women’s health care (including discussions about self-collection, follow-up after abnormal results, and how screening fits into…
Why Am I So Tired? A GP Guide to Persistent Fatigue
At Shire Family Medical, your local family doctors in Sutherland, persistent fatigue is one of the most common concerns GPs hear, and one of the most frequently dismissed by patients themselves. Tiredness is easy to explain away with a…
When Should You Take Your Child to the GP for a Fever or Cough?
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, fever and cough are among the most common reasons parents bring a child in for assessment, and among the most anxiety-provoking. Few things leave parents more uncertain than a…
Men’s Health Check: What It Involves and What to Discuss With Your GP
Most men book a GP appointment when something already feels wrong, which is understandable, but leaves a lot of manageable conditions to grow unchecked. At Shire Family Medical, an AGPAL-accredited GP practice in Sutherland, a men’s…
Perimenopause Symptoms: What Changes Are Worth Discussing With Your GP?
Perimenopause can feel confusing because it does not always arrive in an obvious way. For some women, the first sign is a change in their menstrual cycle. For others, it is disrupted sleep, hot flushes, mood shifts, heavier bleeding,…
What to Ask at a GP Check-Up
A GP check-up is worth more than most people give it credit for. Done well, it steps back from day-to-day symptoms and looks at health more broadly: your risks, family history, lifestyle, screening needs, medications, mental wellbeing and…
What Happens During a Skin Check?
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, skin checks are part of everyday preventative care: a practical step for anyone with a mole that concerns them, a spot that has changed, or a personal or family history that puts…
Heavy Periods: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and When To See Your GP
At Shire Family Medical, your local family doctors in Sutherland, women’s health consultations include assessment and management of heavy periods across all life stages, from teenagers and women in their 30s and 40s, to those…
Contraception Options in Australia: A GP Guide to What’s Available and How to Choose
Contraception options in Australia fall into four main categories: short-acting hormonal methods, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), barrier methods, and emergency contraception. The right option depends on your health history,…
How Long Do Blood Test Results Take? Understanding What Happens Next
When you walk out of a blood test, the first question is usually the same: how long until I hear something? At Shire Family Medical, your Sutherland GP practice, the wait is one of the most common concerns patients raise, and…
Iron Infusion: What To Expect Before, During and After
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, iron infusions are one of the most frequently asked-about procedures we offer, particularly by patients who have been told their iron is low and want to understand what the…
Do I Need a Yellow Fever Vaccine Before I Travel?
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, we are an approved yellow fever vaccination centre: meaning we can administer the vaccine and issue the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), the…
Needle Phobia in Children: How to Help Before, During and After Vaccinations
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, a child’s vaccination appointment is usually straightforward: a brief visit, a moment of discomfort, and it’s done. But for others, the experience is genuinely…
Vaccinations for Bali: What Australians Need to Know Before They Fly
At Shire Family Medical, a GP medical centre in Sutherland, pre-travel consultations are among the most common appointments booked in the weeks before school holidays, and the question is almost always some variation of the same thing: do…