Meet Dr Scott Wines, the newest member of Mt Gibraltar General Practice and read about his top tips for developing healthy lifestyle habits and being proactive about your health.
We recently sat down to have a chin wag with Dr. Scott Wines about relocating with his family to the Highlands and his passion for helping his patients develop healthy lifestyle habits as we age as well as the importance of staying up to date with our vaccinations. Take a look at what he had to say.
1 :: Thanks for taking the time out of what we can only imagine to be a very busy schedule, to chat with us today. How did you stumble upon the Highlands?
I spent my primary school years on the south coast near Nowra before I moved to a large farm in Tamworth, so I knew the area. After completing medical school and working at various places around Australia and in major Sydney hospitals, we wanted the kids to grow up in a similar environment that I experienced as a child.
The Southern Highlands offered so much. We’ve got a couple of acres a few minutes from town and it was always the plan to have a little bit of extra space for the kids. They have a lot of fun with the goats! They’ve also got a great school where they’re really comfortable, the community is wonderful and it is not far away from Sydney, so my wife is able to check in with her family every now and then.
So, we’ve settled in really well here and we’re planning to stay for the long term.
Sounds like you landed in the perfect place…
Exactly. Now, if it was just a little bit closer to the beach… but you can’t have everything.
2 :: I understand you have quite the range of experience. Can you fill us in?
Sure. I was a radiographer at Sydney Children’s Hospital for eight years and my advanced medical specialist training is in paediatrics which led me to my previous position at St. George Hospital in the paediatric department. I also specialise in rural and remote medicine and have worked in places as diverse as Kangaroo Island in South Australia and the NSW Snowy Mountains the in August last year, I moved to the Mt. Gibraltar Medical Practice in Bowral.
3 :: And you’re a big advocate for ageing well?
Absolutely, and this is particularly important in the Highlands where we have a large population of retirees. We spend a lot of time at the practice helping people to stay fit, healthy and well.
I am particularly interested in the benefits of maintaining physical activity for as long as possible, which I think is key to ageing well. A part of that is seeing the doctor regularly for check-ups but also getting out there and moving. The Highlands is spoiled for choice when it comes to bushwalking and strength-based exercises are also really important. I’m very physically active as a keen bushwalker and cyclist.
4:: That is so important for everyone, but men need a little more encouragement?
I guess a lot of middle-aged males miss out on a lot of healthcare because they think, ‘Look, I’m alright, I don’t need to see a doctor.’ I find that I can build a lot of rapport with those men and I always make sure that I tailor healthcare to their needs.
I think it’s really important in early middle age that men touch base with a doctor because the preventative healthcare we can offer in the 40s can make a huge difference to how well you are as you enter your 60s, 70s and beyond.
It’s also important that everyone keeps up with their vaccinations.
5 :: Great point. Let’s talk about vaccinations. It seems every second person you meet has had the flu!
Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are running at twice the numbers of last year and what we’re seeing in Bowral is that there’s been quite a high number of flu cases and RSV. Elderly people are more at risk of the complications of both of those. For influenza, the shot is available on the Australian immunisation register and is free to anyone over 65 years of age.
If you are over 70 we encourage you to get the pneumonia shot and you can see your doctor for the Boostrix which covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
I guess the over 60s might not know as much about RSV and there’s a new vaccination called RX that is available on a private script and will cover you for two winters. So, now is a great time to make an appointment and get the shot.
6 :: Can you tell us a little more about RSV?
RSV is a respiratory condition that can make you quite unwell because it can cause some inflammation in the lungs, a nasty cough and in bad cases the patient may require oxygen. During the Covid period, our natural immunity waned a little bit and there is no anti-viral available for it. So, vaccination is important.
7 :: Speaking of Covid, we also need to keep on top of our boosters?
Yes, we are seeing a bit more of Covid around and the vaccine is specific to the latest strain of the virus so it should provide better coverage. Just remember all that messaging. If you have symptoms be sensible about practising good hand hygiene, face covering and staying out of high-risk environments such as nursing homes or hospitals. Do what you can to break the chain of transmission.
And remember for any of the vaccines, the side effects are much lower than the risk of the disease.
8 :: Can you tell me a little bit more about Mt. Gibraltar Medical Practice?
Yeah, we’re a very small medical practice right in the centre of town with patients who have been with us over the long term. We come to know our patients on a first name basis. You’ll see the same staff here pretty much all the time. We’re all local people and we all live locally.
Pop in and see some of our friendly staff.
9 :: And are you taking on new patients?
Absolutely, I am available here at the general practice from Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 5pm. Just call up at the front office and book an appointment.
Thank you for your time, Dr Wines. To learn more about Mt. Gibraltar Medical Practice, visit them at https://mtgib.com.au/
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