NEWS
STAY INFORMED
At Stratford Medical Centre, we are committed to providing thorough, personal and high-quality care — not rushed consultations.
While bulk billing may seem appealing, it often leads to short, high-volume appointments that don’t allow enough time to properly address your health needs, especially for chronic or complex conditions.
From 1 November 2025, dedicated mental health plan review item numbers will be removed from the MBS, and several chronic disease items have been reduced. Unfortunately, this will increase out-of-pocket costs for many patients.
If you’re concerned about how these changes may affect your access to care, please email Matt.Smith.MP@aph.gov.au to share your feedback.
Our team will continue doing everything possible to keep fees affordable while providing safe, comprehensive and sustainable care.
This mum’s answer to a question on Quora is something every parent needs to read
From theheartysoul.com If you’ve ever googled something and ended up on Quora, you have likely spent a few hours of your life reading a question and answer submissions, maybe you’ve even contributed some of your own insights and answers. When an anonymous...
Jenny Chandler joins the team
Stratford Medical Centre has welcomed a new doctor to the team - Dr. Jenny Chandler. Dr Jenny is a registrar and will be completing her specialist training with us over the next year. She has more than 10 years of paediatric experience since qualifying as a doctor....
Here’s what happened when codeine was made prescription-only
OPINION - Dr Rose Cairns Dr Cairns (PhD) is a senior poisons specialist (research and audit), NSW Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW. Fears switching the painkiller codeine to a prescription-only medicine would lead to...
Help us support our community
Dr Amanda Roberts, the founder of Wheels of Wellness, describes the reasons and the need for this program. The Wheels of Wellness (WOW) Outreach Mobile currently runs a medical clinic from the boot of a car, hindered by the weather, lack of space and only allows us to...
Why full-fat milk is back in favour
Analysis by Professor Clare Collins who is a Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine at the University of Newcastle. The Heart Foundation now recommends full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt or reduced-fat...
Mel’s mysteries shed light on family secrets
Mel Dunstan says one of her fondest memories is sitting around the dinner table at Christmas, discussing lost relatives that her grandfather found while researching her family free. She’s watched her mother and grandfather complete many branches on that family tree,...
Dave’s long road to faith and finding a miracle
Australians of all ages and backgrounds become homeless. In Cairns, more than 2000 people sleep on the streets every night, and across the country, that figure is more than 100,000. They are men, women and children from cities, country towns and suburbs we live in....
Australia set for new 10-year health plan
Minister for Health Greg Hunt says smoking and mental health will be target areas By AAP Fewer than one in 10 Australians will smoke in five years time if the Morrison Government has its way. The nation will also soon have a strategy for improving the mental...