Latest news with #RACGP
The Age
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
Living better for longer: The health checks for your 40s, 50s and beyond
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for preventative health checks, individual factors– including family or personal medical history, gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle – influence which tests a person should undertake, as well as when to begin them and the frequency at which they are performed. However, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) does recommend certain health screens for the general population at each decade of life. In your 40s 'By your early 40s, you should have a thorough check-up, including history and a full physical examination,' says Dunne. Certain regular health screenings should also begin. These include annual blood pressure monitoring from age 40 and STI tests if you are sexually active. Five-yearly blood tests for cholesterol, glucose, cell counts, and nutrition deficiency, as well as bowel cancer screening, should begin at age 45. Loading Skin cancer checks are recommended due to the increased risk with age, and due to a trend of increasing colon cancer in people under age 50, the Australian government has recently changed the starting age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45, says Ding. In your 50s Natasha Yates, assistant professor of general practice at Bond University, says that people in their 50s should continue all the health screenings from their 40s, with the addition of some others. 'Add a bone health assessment and consider screening for osteoporosis, especially if risk factors are present,' she says. 'Vision and hearing tests to detect age-related changes are also recommended.' Yates says the National Lung Cancer Screening Program is due to commence in July this year. It will offer two-yearly low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer in asymptomatic patients aged 50 to 70 who are deemed to be at high risk from smoking, she says. In your 60s In addition to existing screenings, Yates says that a cognitive function evaluation, which assesses for signs of cognitive decline or dementia, should be undertaken. Similarly, a physical functioning screening for preventing falls and frailty should also be considered, adds Ding. 70s and beyond In your 70s, on top of existing checks, ensure your immunisations, including tetanus and shingles, are up-to-date, says Dunne. 'There is a funded vaccination program for older Australians, including influenza, COVID, shingles and pneumococcal pneumonia,' he says. Gendered screenings Due to anatomy and physiology, women and men each have unique health risks, which warrant their own specific health screenings. 'For example, whereas women are at risk of cancers of the cervix, ovaries and uterus, men are at risk of prostate cancer,' says Dunne. Gender can also impact their approach to healthcare. 'Unlike women, who are often introduced to regular health screenings from a young age, such as pap smears, breast checks, and GP visits for contraception, men typically don't develop the same routine health-seeking behaviours,' Dunne says. 'This makes early detection for men especially important, as they are more likely to delay seeking help until symptoms become severe.' Health screenings for men 40 + Men in their 40s should discuss with their GP screening tests for things like prostate cancer, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. 'Your GP will consider your individual circumstances, including family history, when recommending when to begin these tests,' says Dunne. Screening tests and regular GP check-ups should continue through your 50s and 60s. Health screening for women 40 + Women are going through a lot during their 40s and 50s, says general practitioner Judith Hammond of women's health clinic, Jean Hailes. 'Peri menopause, menopause … women start to get to that sandwich generation, when they are working, worried about children who need support and supporting elderly parents, life really gets quite crushed around that time,' she says. In this period, it is increasingly important for women to undergo mental health screening, she says. Additionally, regular breast cancer screening via free mammograms can be undertaken from age 40. Although mammography is recommended every two years for women aged 50–74, those at moderately increased risk [including a family history of breast cancer] should consider mammography screening from the age of 40, says Hammond. Cervical cancer screening – which can be self-collected in a private space within a healthcare facility – is recommended every five years for women aged 25–74 who have ever had sexual contact, even if they are not currently in a sexual relationship. From the age of 70, it is also recommended that women have bone density scans every five years.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Living better for longer: The health checks for your 40s, 50s and beyond
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for preventative health checks, individual factors– including family or personal medical history, gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle – influence which tests a person should undertake, as well as when to begin them and the frequency at which they are performed. However, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) does recommend certain health screens for the general population at each decade of life. In your 40s 'By your early 40s, you should have a thorough check-up, including history and a full physical examination,' says Dunne. Certain regular health screenings should also begin. These include annual blood pressure monitoring from age 40 and STI tests if you are sexually active. Five-yearly blood tests for cholesterol, glucose, cell counts, and nutrition deficiency, as well as bowel cancer screening, should begin at age 45. Loading Skin cancer checks are recommended due to the increased risk with age, and due to a trend of increasing colon cancer in people under age 50, the Australian government has recently changed the starting age for colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45, says Ding. In your 50s Natasha Yates, assistant professor of general practice at Bond University, says that people in their 50s should continue all the health screenings from their 40s, with the addition of some others. 'Add a bone health assessment and consider screening for osteoporosis, especially if risk factors are present,' she says. 'Vision and hearing tests to detect age-related changes are also recommended.' Yates says the National Lung Cancer Screening Program is due to commence in July this year. It will offer two-yearly low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer in asymptomatic patients aged 50 to 70 who are deemed to be at high risk from smoking, she says. In your 60s In addition to existing screenings, Yates says that a cognitive function evaluation, which assesses for signs of cognitive decline or dementia, should be undertaken. Similarly, a physical functioning screening for preventing falls and frailty should also be considered, adds Ding. 70s and beyond In your 70s, on top of existing checks, ensure your immunisations, including tetanus and shingles, are up-to-date, says Dunne. 'There is a funded vaccination program for older Australians, including influenza, COVID, shingles and pneumococcal pneumonia,' he says. Gendered screenings Due to anatomy and physiology, women and men each have unique health risks, which warrant their own specific health screenings. 'For example, whereas women are at risk of cancers of the cervix, ovaries and uterus, men are at risk of prostate cancer,' says Dunne. Gender can also impact their approach to healthcare. 'Unlike women, who are often introduced to regular health screenings from a young age, such as pap smears, breast checks, and GP visits for contraception, men typically don't develop the same routine health-seeking behaviours,' Dunne says. 'This makes early detection for men especially important, as they are more likely to delay seeking help until symptoms become severe.' Health screenings for men 40 + Men in their 40s should discuss with their GP screening tests for things like prostate cancer, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. 'Your GP will consider your individual circumstances, including family history, when recommending when to begin these tests,' says Dunne. Screening tests and regular GP check-ups should continue through your 50s and 60s. Health screening for women 40 + Women are going through a lot during their 40s and 50s, says general practitioner Judith Hammond of women's health clinic, Jean Hailes. 'Peri menopause, menopause … women start to get to that sandwich generation, when they are working, worried about children who need support and supporting elderly parents, life really gets quite crushed around that time,' she says. In this period, it is increasingly important for women to undergo mental health screening, she says. Additionally, regular breast cancer screening via free mammograms can be undertaken from age 40. Although mammography is recommended every two years for women aged 50–74, those at moderately increased risk [including a family history of breast cancer] should consider mammography screening from the age of 40, says Hammond. Cervical cancer screening – which can be self-collected in a private space within a healthcare facility – is recommended every five years for women aged 25–74 who have ever had sexual contact, even if they are not currently in a sexual relationship. From the age of 70, it is also recommended that women have bone density scans every five years.
The Advertiser
31-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Low vaccine rates see flu cases rise, putting vulnerable people at risk
This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine. This year's flu season is shaping up to be one for the ages if current influenza case numbers are anything to go by - and low flu vaccination rates could be to blame. Figures from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System show there have been more than 80,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases recorded across Australia in the year to May 19, representing about a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. At the same time, flu vaccination rates are alarmingly low. Despite being part of a high-risk group, only 11.7 per cent of children aged between six months and five years old have received a flu vaccine this year. People aged 65 and over are another high-risk cohort at risk of serious complications from influenza. But data shows less than half (46.9 per cent) of this group are covered for the upcoming winter months. Dr Ramya Raman, vice-president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said people may be reluctant to get the flu vaccine due to fatigue surrounding vaccines in recent years. "There is a level of vaccine hesitancy that we are seeing, and it's primarily related to a sense of exhaustion," she said. But Dr Raman said flu vaccination is still very important, not just for your own health, but the health of those around you. "It's well proven in effectiveness," she said. "It not only protects patients, it also protects their families, their communities. And it makes a huge difference from having good herd immunity." The updated flu vaccine for the 2025 season is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning it targets four separate strains. The following groups can access flu vaccines for free through their pharmacist or GP: If you are part of one of these high-risk groups, it's best to seek advice from your regular GP or medical practitioner before receiving a vaccine.
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
GPs to diagnose ADHD and prescribe drugs for children and adults under NSW reforms
GPs in New South Wales will be among the first in Australia to diagnose and provide medication for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the state government has announced. Currently, most people seeking a diagnosis, management and ongoing prescription medication for ADHD must see a specialist – often a paediatrician for children or a psychiatrist for adults. That creates difficulties, critics have said, due to the high costs and long wait lists involved, especially in regional areas. The NSW reforms should help people like mid-north coast mother Suzanne Grobke, who told the Guardian in March that she was making an eight-hour round-trip to visit a Sydney paediatrician every three months to access ADHD medicine for her 12-year-old daughter. The government announced on Monday it would enable up to 1,000 general practitioners to provide ongoing ADHD prescriptions for children and adults on stable doses of medication. A smaller number of GPs would be enabled to diagnose and initiate medication where appropriate. The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said 'by safely training more GPs to treat and diagnose ADHD, we are hoping to break the cycle of people having to wait years for what can be a life-altering diagnosis'. The move was welcomed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The college's NSW chair, Dr Rebekah Hoffman, said: 'This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state.' Hoffman said she had heard of families in rural areas travelling more than seven hours to see a paediatrician, and families in Sydney spending more than $5,000 on assessments and diagnosis for ADHD.' 'We know when it comes to ADHD that early intervention is vital, and being able to access appropriate therapy and medications from a young age helps kids thrive at school and at home,' she said. The state government would seek expressions of interest from GPs to undertake additional education and training funded by NSW Health in the coming months. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The reforms would be staged, prioritising prescriptions for children because of the significant impact any delay can have on a child's development. Ongoing prescriptions for children were expected from early 2026. In Queensland, GPs have been able to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medicine for children but not adults since 2017. Western Australia committed in February to reforms allowing GPs to diagnose and prescribe stimulant medication for ADHD for patients over 10 years of age. The WA chair of RACGP, Dr Ramya Raman, said GPs in the state would 'soon' begin a structured college educational program with 13 hours of online modules and complete workshops led by non-GP specialists. A 2023 Senate inquiry into ADHD in Australia recommended nationally consistent rules for ADHD medication prescriptions. The proposal was supported by the federal government, but it is yet to commit to national reforms.
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
State-wide reform to ADHD treatment enabling faster, cheaper diagnoses
Treatment for people living with ADHD – one of the most prevalent mental disorders in Australia – will become cheaper and more accessible under major reforms made by the NSW Government. The Minns Government has announced reforms to the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity and impulsiveness – which expands who is permitted to diagnose, manage and dispense ongoing prescriptions. Currently, people seeking treatment for ADHD must see a specialist, which can be expensive and involve long wait times of months or years. For many Australians, these barriers mean that treatment will not be accessed at all. The reforms announced on Monday will allow GPs to become accredited to diagnose and initiate medication, after completing additional training and education. There are two tiers of accredited training or registration, with each providing differing levels of capacity to diagnose, treat, prescribe or manage ADHD. Up to 1000 general practitioners will be supported to complete additional training to allow continuation prescriptions once a patient has been stabilised without the need of a formal arrangement. Currently, GPs can only get approval to prescribe stimulant medications under specific conditions. The additional training will be funded by NSW Health. With the number of Australians prescribed ADHD medication growing by almost 300 per cent in a decade, rising to 470,000 people in 2022-2023, the changes are expected to make a significant impact. These reforms will be rolled out in a staged approach, with an initial focus on prescriptions for children as delays in treatment for this cohort can be detrimental to academic progress, employment and mental health. Premier Chris Minns said he hopes that by removing 'red tape', these reforms will 'break the cycle' of delays plaguing ADHD treatment in the mental health system. 'By safely training more GPs to treat and diagnose ADHD, we are hoping to break the cycle of people having to wait years for, what can be, a life-altering diagnosis,' he said. 'Not getting diagnosed can have a particularly big impact on a child getting the most out of their life, whether that's academically or socially. 'These reforms help tilt the scales in favour of fairness – reducing the cost of getting treatment by hundreds of dollars, removing red tape for thousands of families and young people, and giving people the support they need to live happier, healthier lives.' RACGP Chairperson Dr Rebekah Hoffman said she has witnessed how challenging acquiring an ADHD diagnosis can be for individuals and families, and welcomes the changes. 'As I travel across New South Wales, I hear from my colleagues about families in rural areas who travel more than seven hours to see a pediatrician, and of families in Sydney spending more than $5,000 on assessments and diagnosis for ADHD,' she said. 'This announcement will have life-changing impacts when it comes to accessing timely and affordable ADHD care for families across the state. 'GPs in many parts of Australia, and around the world, are already diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medications. Our colleagues in Queensland, for example, have been safely prescribing ADHD medications since 2017 ' … In the years ahead, we look forward to working constructively with the Government to go even further and train up more GPs to diagnose and initiate medication so that all families can access the care and treatment they need.' The training will begin in the coming months and GPs are expected to be able to provide ongoing prescriptions to children by early 2026.
