GPs in a Pod

In this episode, Dr Ramaloo is joined by Dr Matthew Stevens, Senior Researcher at the University of Adelaide School of Biomedicine, and Dr Chris Holmwood, Addiction Medicine Specialist and former GP.

They speak about recognising and addressing alcohol and other drug use in general practice, including local data, practical strategies for screening and brief intervention, and referral pathways to support patients in primary care.

Resources

⁠World Health Organisation: The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)⁠

Dr Tanusha is joined by Dr Hassan Shahid – Staff Specialist Endocrinologist, Research Fellow at the Royal Women's Hospital, and Associate Lecturer at the University of Queensland – to unpack the most important endocrinology guideline updates for primary care.

Dr Shahid covers updates in hypertension management, primary aldosteronism screening, and testosterone therapy.

Dr Tanusha is joined by Dr Paresh Dawda from Prestantia Health to unpack the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI).

They discuss why the incentive was introduced, who is eligible, and how general practices can implement it effectively to support proactive, person-centred care for residents in aged care.

Resources

⁠Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN: GPACI⁠

⁠Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN: GPACI Quality Improvement Workbook⁠

In this episode, Dr Ben Brimblecombe, Public Health Registrar at the Darling Downs Public Health Unit, returns to the show to speak with Dr Jo.

Dr Brimblecombe provides key public health updates on measles, vaccination recommendations, seasonal trends in influenza and COVID-19, and vaccine storage and preparedness during storm season.

Resources

⁠Queensland Government: Public health units⁠

⁠Queensland Health: Immunisation

In this episode, Dr Tanusha is joined by Lisa Johansson, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Clinical Nurse Consultant, and Simrandeep Singh-Khaira, Social Worker from the West Moreton Sexual Assault Support Service at Ipswich Hospital.

They discuss how victim survivors are supported through trauma-informed, person-centred care in the emergency department, including psychosocial, medical, and forensic pathways. The conversation also covers GP obligations, mandatory reporting, consent laws, referral options, and how GPs can guide patients to appropriate hospital and community-based supports, both within and beyond the seven-day forensic window.

To note:

• An assault occurring within 7 days: If the assault has occurred within a 7-day timeframe, the victim survivor can attend Ipswich Hospital Emergency Department where they will receive psychosocial support via a Social Worker and also be provided with the opportunity to undergo a forensic examination. During their presentation to the Emergency Department, the victim survivor also will have the option to report the assault to the Queensland Police Service (QPS). Victim survivors can undergo a forensic examination without making a report to QPS.

• An assault occurring beyond 7 days: If the assault has occurred outside a 7-day timeframe, the victim survivor can still retain the right to report the assault to QPS, either by attending their local police station or by making a verbal report via Policelink on 131 444.

• Alternative reporting: If the victim survivor does not wish to make a formal report to QPS, they may submit an anonymous Alternative Reporting Options (ARO) report online or through Policelink on 131 444.

Resources

Queensland Police Service: ⁠Alternative Reporting Options⁠

DVAC: ⁠DVAC services⁠

⁠1800RESPECT⁠

⁠National Redress Scheme⁠

Queensland Government: ⁠Consent laws in Queensland⁠

In this episode, Dr Tanusha is joined by Dr Mei-Ching Freeman and Dr Brent Simkus, hospital clinicians from West Moreton Health, to unpack the growing range of hospital, virtual, and community-based services available to support GPs in the region.

They cover how to navigate local care pathways, reduce unnecessary emergency department presentations, and support vulnerable patients, particularly older adults, people in residential aged care, and patients with mental health needs.

Resources

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN: ⁠Find the right care⁠

West Moreton Health: ⁠Important numbers for GPs in the West Moreton region⁠

West Moreton Health: ⁠West Moreton GP contacts for mental health services⁠

healthdirect: ⁠Symptom Checker⁠

Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dr Tanusha speaks with Peter Tully and Grandall Manning – Partners at DCA Mentoring Supports.

The DCA Mentoring Supports team have the lived experience of being both NDIS participants, and nominees.

They discuss the challenges GPs often face when completing NDIS Access Request Forms and why focusing on functional impact is essential. They also highlight practical ways clinicians can improve communication and support patients throughout the NDIS access journey.

Resources

⁠DCA Mentoring Supports

In this episode, Dr Tanusha speaks with Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) CEO Julie Borninkhof.

They discuss PANDA’s role in supporting perinatal mental health, how GPs can identify and manage perinatal anxiety and depression, referral pathways and secondary consultation options, engaging dads and partners in care, and recognising high-risk groups.

Resources

PANDA: ⁠National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline⁠ - 1300 726 306

PANDA: ⁠Secondary consultation service⁠

⁠PANDA: Referring to PANDA⁠

PANDA: ⁠Healthcare providers | information and resources⁠

In this episode, Dr Tanusha speaks with Nephrologist and Obstetric Physician at West Moreton Health and Mater Mothers' Hospital, Dr Vishwas Raghunath.

They discuss how to monitor, investigate, and support women after high-risk pregnancies – including those complicated by preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes – to ensure early detection and prevention of future disease.

Resources

International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics (FIGO): ⁠FIGO pregnancy passport⁠

Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia & New Zealand (SOMANZ): ⁠SOMANZ Hypertension in Pregnancy Guideline 2023⁠

In this episode, Dr Tanusha speaks with Dr Jill Parkes-Smith, an Obstetric Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician working at Ipswich Hospital and Mater Mothers' Hospital in South Brisbane.

This conversation focuses on cytomegalovirus (CMV) in pregnancy, including why it matters, how to interpret serology, when to investigate, and how GPs can provide effective patient support to reduce transmission risks. Dr Parkes-Smith also provides insight into the mycobacterial infections service at Ipswich Hospital, including care pathways for latent tuberculosis (TB), active TB, and non-TB mycobacterial (NTM) disease.

Resources

⁠Queensland Government: Cytomegalovirus (cmv)⁠

⁠HealthPathways: Non-acute Infectious Diseases Referral⁠