Family Doctor Week

Family Doctor Week 2010
West Lakes Shopping Centre		Arndale Shopping Centre
Tue 6, Wed 7 & 8 July 2010		Wed 14, Thu 15 & Fri 16 July 2010

Every year in the July school holidays, the Adelaide Western General Practice Network holds a successful community event called “Family doctor Week” held in various shopping centres around the Adelaide Western region.

Many local Doctors, practice nurses and practice staff participate in this event to connect with the community in a friendly and relaxed manner to help celebrate and raise awareness of the many different reasons we see our local GP and to promote this years caption “Everybody Needs a Family Doctor”.

We are able to provide health checks in the form of blood Pressure tests, waist circumference measurement indicators and Pikotest (early detection of lung disease) together with a variety of Health brochures and information on many medical conditions.

If you would like to be involved in this event, please contact Rita Sullivan, Corporate Administration at AWGPN rita.sullivan@awgpn.org.au or phone 8244 3822.

Family Doctor Week 2009 was acknowledged by many who attended as being a recognised and welcomed public event and many have mentioned that they had their blood pressure taken in previous years. The major component of FDW is without doubt, the ongoing participation of our GPs and their practice staff together with Adelaide Western General Practice Network health professionals. Many GPs and practice staff have given of their time each year and have been keen to engage and interact with the general public which in turn, helps to create a well organised group of professionals.

There were approximately 24 GPs and Practice staff who took the opportunity to participate and we were again, appreciative of their time and effort in helping to pave the way for another fantastic couple of weeks. Brochures and information were especially selected to cover common health issues and were seen to be useful in supplying information to those who chose from the many brochures available. Family Doctor Week is a great opportunity to showcase GP’s in the western suburbs for their wide range of services and resources that they have available.

Family Doctor Week 2008 was once again, very successful. The participation by our GPs and their practice staff is a major component of the event. The practice staff participants were keen to engage and their positive approach and interaction with the general public helped to create a well organised, ever changing group of professionals. Brochures and information were specially selected to cover common health issues and were seen to be useful in supplying information to those who chose from the many brochures available.

The importance of the family GP providing a unique service to the general public that is crucial for the wellbeing of all, young and old, of all nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds.

General practice aims to provide ongoing quality, holistic health care appropriate to the needs of both individuals and the community.

"GPs Leading the Way to Better Health" was the theme which was promoted along with GPs, the role of practice nurses, practice managers, staff including the receptionist.

A number of other important health messages were promoted including healthy eating guidelines, diabetes risk factors, immunisation, mental health, women's and men's health and healthy lifestyle issues.

The 2007 FDW was held over two consecutive weeks from 10th - 20th July 2007. One week at the West Lakes Shopping Centre the second week at the Centro Arndale Shopping centre.

FDW 07 was another great success with the participation of approximately 40 GPs and Practice staff who took the opportunity to get involved. Their organisation was excellent and helped pave the way for a fantastic fortnight. The display of information was selected to cover the more frequent health inquiries and overall the presentations were exceptional.

For more information you can read the AWGPN FDW 07 REPORT. It includes the outline of the project, as well as statistics and charts.

Name:	Rita Sullivan	Name:	Don Allan
Position:	Practice Support Assistant	Position:	General Manager
Email:	rita.sullivan@awgpn.org.au	Email:	don.allan@awpgn.org.au
Phone:	08 8244 3822	Phone:	08 8244 3822 or 0407 975 976
Fax:	08 8243 0260	Fax:	08 8243 0260