Services

Childhood immunisations

NIP childhood immunisations (appts 8.30am -1.00pm)
General Health Concerns
Developmental Milestones
We also offer private vaccinations like Meningitis ACWY and B for infants and adolescents 15-19 years as well as RSV vaccination for Pregnant Women and persons aged 60 + years. If you’ve recently arrived from overseas, we can assist with updating your child’s overseas immunisations in the Australian Immunisation Register. Please book a long appointment.
Vaccines ie private and government NIP vaccines, desensitising/allergy vaccines

Jaw clenching

Jaw clenching and bruxism are habits common to people suffering from high-stress levels. The adverse effects of jaw clenching include temporomandibular joint disorder and tension headaches.

The constant clenching of the jaw forces the muscles surrounding the jaw to contrast more than they are meant to. These tense muscles swell and result in headaches.

Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD for short, results from bruxism or constant jaw clenching. It can affect chewing and speaking ability. It may also result in lockjaw. The constant grinding and clenching of teeth cause the masseter muscles to swell. It is the masseter muscles that are responsible for jaw movement.

Botulinum Toxin A treatment targets the source of jaw clenching; the muscles surrounding the jaw. Botulin Toxin Type A is injected into the jaw nerves. The toxin relaxes the nerves and muscles around the affected area.

Travel medicine

What to expect:

Comprehensive travel consultations
Full range of vaccinations including: Yellow fever, Q fever, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis
Completion of vaccination record booklet to meet health regulation guidelines
Educational material, travel booklets

If you are traveling to Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe or anywhere else in the world, a travel medicine consultation at Durrant Medical Clinic is a vital part of planning your next holiday or business trip.

Even ‘safe’ travel to Europe and North America is not without risk. Children, older travellers and those who have a weakened immune system are especially at risk. Illnesses can be caused by exposures which include contaminated food or water, poor hygiene or infected insects, animals or people.

We offer advice and ideas on how to look after your health while you are away and upon your return. Durrant Medical Clinic offers a full range of vaccinations on site for your convenience to protect you while away.

Cost:
Vaccination costs range from $30 to $370. There may be specific vaccinations which may cost a traveller more than $370. Certain private health insurance companies offer a rebate on travel vaccinations. Please call your private health insurance company for details.

We ask that you bring in your full itinerary if available so comprehensive advice can be given.

A consultation fee will vary from $90 - $350 depending on the complexity of your trip and medical history and is applicable per person. We recommend that if traveling with a family, the whole family attend the consultation so that medical advice is given specifically to meet individual needs. Please bring along details of childhood vaccinations.

A tax invoice is given to work related travellers (Business Travel) as the consultation is not medicare rebatable.

If you experience illness while away or upon your return, we highly recommend a prompt medical review.

When to book:
We encourage travellers to book travel vaccinations "sooner rather than earlier" – (ideally 6–12 weeks before travel) to ensure availability, as high demand and outbreaks can lead to vaccine shortages.
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It is important to consider that vaccines take time to become effective—usually 2 to 4 weeks, and up to 6–8 weeks for some types.

Also vaccines, such as those for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, or rabies, require multiple doses over several weeks or months to be fully effective.

Chronic illness management plans

If you are living with a chronic disease or chronic pain you may be eligible for Chronic Disease Management Plan. This is a written strategy between you and your GP for managing ongoing health issues and concerns.

It is a team based approach which connect you with various health professionals and provides a clear pathway for managing your condition over time.

The plan will help cover costs for allied health services. For example, allows for Medicare rebates for up to 5 allied health appointments (like physio, podiatry, psychology) per year (or 10 for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people).

Skin cancer checks

Approximately, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70, with more than 750,000 people treated for one or more non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia each year. Non-melanoma skin cancer is more common in men, with almost double the incidence compared to women.

A skin check appointment involves:

History taking and an assessment of your personal risk for skin cancer
A full clinical skin check or spot skin check
Education about prevention of skin cancer and how to perform self-checks to detect any developing skin cancer
Appropriate individual skin management

At Durrant Medical Clinic our doctors are experienced to undertake full body skin checks and perform skin cancer removal, if required.

Our GPs use a handheld dermatoscope as used by specialist dermatologists and is the screening tool recommended by the Australian Cancer Network to pick up malignant melanoma and other skin cancers.

Our practice is equipped to carry out procedures that treat pre-cancerous sun spots, various skin lesion biopsies and surgical excisions of skin cancers (biopsy). A biopsy is a quick and simple procedure and is performed in our treatment room. You will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area, and a small piece of tissue is cut from the spot or the skin spot is cut out completely in a procedure called an excision.

Often stitches are used to close the wound and help it heal. The tissue that is cut out will be sent to a laboratory, where a pathologist will examine it under a microscope. The results will be available in about a week. You will be required to book a follow up appointment for the results.

In some instances, your doctor may need to refer you on for more specialised care depending on your biopsy results or skin lesion location.

Prevention

For best protection, we recommend a combination of sun protection measures:

Slip on some sun-protective clothing – that covers as much skin as possible
Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun
Slap on a hat – that protects your face, head, neck and ears
Seek shade
Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian standards.

Hayfever

Hay fever is a common condition affecting around 15% of the Australian population. Melbourne's notoriously changeable weather, together with introduced grasses and vegetation, particularly birches and plane trees, result in the city suffering one of the highest allergic reactions in Australia.

Symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe. Some of the typical symptoms experienced by patients are runny or congested nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, headaches and daytime tiredness. Many patients are left taking daily tablets and using nasal sprays with little relief.

Hay fever symptoms can be reduced in severity for several months (results vary) by spraying Botulinum Toxin A into the nose.

Botulinum toxin, commonly known for relaxing muscles of facial expression, is increasingly being used to reduce hay fever symptoms. Over the last decade, research has demonstrated that botulinum toxin is a treatment option for hay fever sufferers in whom other therapies have failed or those patients who do not wish to take daily medication.

The botulinum toxin works by blocking the conduction of nerve signals in the nasal passage which triggers the onset of hay fever symptoms.

For more information and fees or to book your consultation with Dr Shashi Wijesinghe call 03 9592 5133 or email Durrant Medical Clinic here.

Health assessments

GP health assessments are comprehensive check-ups for specific patient groups (like over-75s, Indigenous Australians, or those with chronic conditions) to proactively manage health, involving history review, physical checks (BP, weight), blood tests, lifestyle discussions, and creating care plans for early intervention, often bulk-billed and longer than standard visits.

They aim to catch issues early and improve long-term well-being through tailored preventative strategies, potentially including referrals for allied health. 75> year old Health Assessments (bulk billed service), 45-49> year old Health Assessments (bulk billed service)

Iron infusions

More than one million Australians are diagnosed with an iron deficiency. Iron plays a key role in red blood cell production. Low iron levels may contribute to symptoms such as ongoing fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, or reduced concentration. In some cases, intravenous iron may be recommended to restore iron levels more efficiently.

An iron infusion involves administering iron through a controlled intravenous drip under medical supervision. This approach allows iron stores to be replenished more quickly than oral supplements and may be appropriate for patients with iron deficiency anaemia, certain medical conditions, or ongoing iron loss.

Before treatment, the doctor will assess your medical history and review relevant blood test results to determine whether an iron infusion is clinically appropriate. Potential risks, side effects, and aftercare will be discussed during your consultation.Iron infusions are offered by appointment, and eligibility is determined by the treating doctor. To discuss whether this option is suitable for you, please book a standard consultation.

General Practice Services

Women's health services

Men's health services

Family health services

Allied Health Services

Psychology

Podiatry