Uncategorized Archives - Blackburn Specialist Centre

Dr Elise is mobile!

Helen Yaacoub — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:46:48 +0000

Looking for an appointment with Dr Elise Harrison?

She now has appointments available at Blackburn Clinic as well as at Blackburn Specialist Centre.

On Mondays, Elise will consult at Blackburn Clinic, Suite 5. On Wednesday and Friday she will continue to consult at Blackburn Specialist Centre.

If booking via the website, she’ll be listed twice.

If booking via the AMS Connect app you need to select Location ‘Blackburn Clinic’ for Monday appointments, and ‘Blackburn Specialist Centre’ for Wednesday or Friday appointments.

In order to maximise availability of GPs, more room changes are coming for several other GPs…. So follow our Facebook or Instagram pages to keep up to date.

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Dr Janice Kreltszheim is retiring!

Helen Yaacoub — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:53:47 +0000

Retiring in April 2026

After over 26 years working as a GP at Blackburn Clinic, Dr Janice Kreltszheim has made the decision to retire.

A note from Janice to her patients:

“This has not been easy, as I love so many aspects of my work, especially the patients that I have been privileged to meet and care for. However, grandparenthood, downsizing and caring for my own elderly relatives, as well as some travel and volunteer work at our local church and the charity Wise Choices for Life in Africa, are now calling for my time and attention. Many of my regular patients will want to know, “Which GP should I see now?”, and I’d encourage you to make an appointment with me to discuss this and to tie up any loose ends.

My last day at Blackburn Clinic will be Thursday 16^th April. (I have a grandchild due just a few days after that!). I wish you all very well!

Dr. Janice Kreltszheim”

I’m sure many of her patients will join us in wishing Dr. Janice Kreltszheim a very long, healthy, happy and fulfilling retirement.

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Flu Vaccinations

Helen Yaacoub — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:04:02 +0000

Weekend FLU Vaccination Clinics are open for booking from 11th April 2026.

Book online or via the AMS Connect app (by selecting Location ‘Blackburn Clinic’ and then selecting ‘Flu Vaccine’), or phone the clinic.

The GP will check your eligibility and offer a Covid booster at this visit if appropriate.

Check your eligibility for a free Flu vaccine here. Private vaccines cost $20.

Children with needle aversion

A nasal spray flu vaccine for children aged 2 to 17 years is available by private prescription. Book a Flu Vaccine appointment to find out whether this is suitable.

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Do you qualify for a free health check?

Helen Yaacoub — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:41:51 +0000

The 45-49 yo Health Check is a comprehensive checkup designed to detect and prevent chronic disease, and enable early intervention strategies to be implemented.

If you are aged 45-49 and have one or more of the below risk factors, you are eligible for this once-off free assessment.

Risk Factors for chronic disease include:

High chloestrol
Alcohol or drug misuse
Excess weight
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Poor nutrition
High blood pressure
Impaired glucose metabolism
A family history of a chronic disease (asthma, cardiovascular diseas, mental health condition, arthritis, cancer, diabetes mellitus etc.)

What to expect

In this health check you will spend about 10 minutes with the practice nurse, followed by 20-30 minutes with your doctor.

The health check includes assessment of physical and mental health in order to identify risks and signs of early onset of chronic disease, undertaking interventions and referrals where clinically appropriate, education, advice and health strategies and a written record of the assessment.

How to book

Please phone 9875 1123 to book this appointment as they cannot be booked online.

Once you’ve booked in your appointment please print out the 45-49 Year Old Health Check questionnaire – which can be found on the patient information page of the website under ‘Forms’.

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Complete Health Checks

Helen Yaacoub — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:51:38 +0000

A gender inclusive whole body checkup comprising: breast & cervical screening or prostate check as appropriate detailed heart risk evaluation body composition analysis hearing screening test risk evaluation respiratory assessment diabetes check kidney check skin cancer check eye check an ECG. COST: Mon-Fri appointments = $200 GAP Weekend appointments = $240 GAP. Phone the clinic ... Read more

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2025 Shingles, Flu and Covid vaccines

Blackburn Specialist Centre — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:58:44 +0000

Flu Vaccinations

FLU CLINICS for 2025 are now open for bookings.

The Department of Health 2024 flu season advice is below. (2025 information is yet to be released)

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over, but only the categories below are eligible for free influenza vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP):

ages 6 months to less than 5 years
ages 65 years and above
pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and above
people who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications (cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic neurological conditions, immunocompromising conditions, chronic metabolic disorders, chronic kidney disease, haematological disorders, and children aged 6 months to 10 years taking long-term aspirin therapy).

The General Practitioners who consult from Blackburn Clinic have decided that ‘Flu Clinic’ consultations (which do not address anything other than the flu vaccine) will be billed to Medicare. If you have your flu vaccine as part of a normal consultation with your regular doctor, normal consultation fees will apply.

If you are not eligible for a free Government flu vaccine, the vaccine will cost $20.

Shingles Vaccinations

Please contact the clinic to book for a Shingles 1st dose.

We will automatically reserve your 2^nd dose once you’ve received Dose 1. You will be notified of the date and time of your 2^nd dose booking.

ELIGIBILITY for the 2-dose course of Shingrix®, given 2-6 months apart in most cases, includes:

people aged 65 years and older
First Nations people aged 50 years and older
immunocompromised people aged 18 years and older with medical conditions including:
- haemopoietic stem cell transplant
- solid organ transplant
- haematological malignancy
- advanced or untreated HIV.

(Immunocompromised people may need an Appointment with their GP to determine eligibility & timing of doses.)

Anyone who has received a free Zostavax shingles vaccine in the past will need to wait 5 years from the date of vaccination before being eligible for a Shingrix. If in doubt, book an Appointment with your GP to determine eligibility and the timing of your doses.

Anyone who paid for a Zostavax shingles vaccine in the past may receive a free Shingrix vaccine if eligible. You should wait at least 12 months between receiving Zostavax and getting the Shingrix vaccine.

Anyone who has had Shingles (the condition) within the last 12 months will need an Appointment with their GP to determine their eligibility and the timing of their doses.

Covid Vaccinations

Regular COVID-19 vaccinations (also known as boosters) are the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.

All patients over the age of 18 years are eligible for one Covid booster every 12 months (check that it is 12 months since your last dose and 6 months since a Covid infection).

A booster is recommended every 6 months for those aged 75 and over and every 12 months for those aged 65-74.

If you are eligible, you may have a covid vaccination at the same time as you have your flu vaccine. You do not require a separate booking. Please speak to your immuniser on the day. Covid vaccines are not available during shingles vaccine clinics.

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