Testimonial

Walk in patients

Did you know that the clinic has a booking system that allows us to see walk-in patients 7 days a week? Doctors are rostered on to be able to take walk-in patients day and night. So you can get the best of both worlds - call and make and appointment or simply turn up at the clinic and you will see the next available doctor.

Women's Health

Dr Katrina Cronin is an experienced GP who helps many female patients. Dr Kim Jackman will be returning to Central Plaza Doctors in May.
All our GPs are trained in women's health including:

• Pap smears
• Birth control, including Implanon insertion and removal and Mirena
• Important health advice such as mammograms and bowel cancer screening.
• Pregnancy and post-pregnancy care.
• Mental health : depression, anxiety, stress management.

Flu vaccine: myths and realities

EXTRACT FROM: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/flu/vaccinated/myths.asp

There has been a large amount of research undertaken to investigate common concerns raised about the influenza vaccine over the years.  Some common myths are addressed below.

Myth: The flu vaccine gives you the flu	Reality: You definitely cannot get the influenza from having the flu shot. The flu vaccine contains no live flu virus at all - it's actually a small dose of parts of inactivated flu virus. However, a small number of people might experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and tiredness as a result of the vaccination.
Myth: You don't need to be immunised if you've never had influenza	Reality: The influenza virus has a number of different strains which keep changing, so no one can ever be totally immune. Most people get sick with influenza multiple times over their life, as the virus spreads easily from person to person through breathing, coughing and sneezing.
Myth: The influenza vaccine causes severe reactions or side effects	Reality: The influenza vaccine is very safe, and most people experience no side effects. However, possible side effects may include redness or soreness at the injection site, a mild fever, headache and/or aching muscles. These symptoms don't usually last more than a day or two. In the rare event of an immediate allergic reaction, immunisation providers are trained to administer treatment. People allergic to eggs or influenza should not receive influenza vaccine.
Myth: Getting an influenza shot every year weakens your immune system	Reality: The vaccine actually prepares and boosts your immune system to help fight the virus if you are exposed. People who get vaccinated against influenza every year are better protected than those who do not get vaccinated.
Myth: It is not necessary to get immunized against influenza every year because protection lasts from previous vaccinations	Reality: There are many different strains of influenza and one vaccine cannot guard against them all. The influenza vaccine only guards against the most common strains of the virus expected to occur in Australia that year. Because strains may change, you need to be vaccinated each year to be protected against new strains. In addition, the flu vaccine only provides protection for around twelve months.
Myth: The vaccine doesn't work because I got vaccinated last year and still got the flu	Reality: There are many illnesses that can cause flu-like symptoms, and the influenza vaccine does not protect against these. As the vaccine takes up to 14 days to take effect, it is possible to catch the influenza virus before, or just after, you are vaccinated. If you are vaccinated when you contract influenza, your illness is usually much less severe.
Myth: The flu vaccine is expensive	Reality: It's important to weigh up the cost of being ill and away from work or school, compared with the cost of vaccination. People most at risk, including the elderly, are eligible for free vaccine. To find out if you are eligible, read our influenza and immunisation fact sheet. If you would like to be vaccinated but aren’t eligible for free vaccine, you can purchase the vaccine from a pharmacy with a prescription from your doctor.

Dengue Fever

Cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Cairns.
Typical symptoms are:

• high fever
• tiredness
• headache
• muscle and joint aches
• loss of appetite
• foul or metallic taste in mouth
• fine rash

If you have any symptoms like this it is best to come in for review with one of our doctors.

Open to 10pm weeknights and all weekend

Lots of people still don't know that we are open extended hours! There are doctors available until 10pm every weeknight and 9am-5pm weekends. We deal with lots of emergency cases like lacerations needing stitches, broken bones, asthma and croup attacks and children with high fevers. Our staff will triage patients in order of urgency. Call 4046 8600 for appointments or simply walk-in.

Diving medicals

We conduct diving medicals daily in our state of the art clinic on McLeod St. Prices start from $50 + GST.
Recreational and commercial. Same day medicals available to get you out enjoying the reef. Our doctors are Australian certified examiners.