The Good GP

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life Podcast, hosts Dr Catherine Bourke and Dr Anna Mullins provide an overview of preconception care, and the key considerations for GPs when supporting patients who are planning a pregnancy.
Key discussion points include:
Initial Assessment: Consider age, reproductive history, and duration of attempts to conceive. Referral for fertility investigation recommended for women over 35 trying for 6 months, or any age trying for 12 months, or women aged 40+.
Review of Medical History: Assess chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy (and medication management), thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and asthma.
Medication Management: Identify and remove teratogenic medications prior to conception (e.g., isotretinoin, some weight loss medications). Recognise medications that are safe/necessary during pregnancy (such as inhalers for asthma).
Dietary Advice: Encourage a balanced diet rich in vegetables, lean meats, fruits, grains, nuts, and dairy; minimise processed foods.
Alcohol Consumption: Advise abstinence from alcohol in the period of actively trying to conceive and during early pregnancy.
Lifestyle Modification: Smoking cessation strongly recommended for both partners to improve fertility and prevent harm to the fetus and child.
Pre-Pregnancy Investigations: Which include routine tests: full blood count, iron studies, electrolytes, liver and kidney function. Check immunity to rubella and varicella; advise vaccination if necessary before pregnancy.
Consultation Advice: Recommending dedicated, extended preconception consultations to address medical, lifestyle, and individual patient factors.

Links & Resources:
For information about listeria is: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-poisoning-listeria
For information about fragile x: https://www.cdc.gov/fragile-x-syndrome/index.html

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP podcast, Dr Ramya Raman, Vice President of the RACGP and GP, is joined by Dr Sean Stevens, Chair of the RACGP Digital Health and Innovation Specific Interest Group, and Dr Amandeep Hansra, Deputy Chair and esteemed digital health expert, for a discussion about the upcoming RACGP Hackathon event.
Beginning with the introduction of what a hackathon is, particularly in the context of general practice. Dr Amandeep describes hackathons as intensive, collaborative events where clinicians, technologists, and entrepreneurs come together to solve real-world problems faced in general practice and develop practical solutions.
The unique focus of the RACGP Hackathon on clinically-relevant issues, highlighting the importance of clinician-led innovation. Reflecting on previous events, including the significant outcomes for past participants such as product development, enhanced professional networks, and entry into healthcare innovation accelerator programs.
Dr Sean mentions who should consider applying, emphasising that the hackathon is not only for those with technical expertise but is open to any general practitioners interested in innovation, regardless of experience in technology or entrepreneurship.
They address the broader challenges facing general practice, including workforce shortages, burnout, patient complexity, and emerging disruptive technologies. Discussing the role of innovation and digital solutions in maintaining the central importance of general practice and improving patient care.
Key event information:
The RACGP Hackathon will be held in Sydney from 13th to 15th March, 2026
Applications close on 29th January, 2026
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to compete for a significant cash prize (to be announced) and potential entry into an innovation accelerator program.

Join the RACGP Hackathon here: https://hackathon26.au/
The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, host Dr Maria Li is joined by Dr Parth Shah, an adult and paediatric ophthalmologist based in Canberra and Sydney, to discuss paediatric squints, also known as paediatric strabismus.
Beginning with an overview of why paediatric squints can seem daunting for general practitioners, and the importance of a systematic approach to assessment. Outlining GPs responsibilities when encountering a child with possible eye misalignment: diagnosing whether a true squint or pseudo-squint is present, assessing visual function, and determining the urgency of referral to a specialist.
Practical steps for eye examination in babies, particularly at the routine six-week check. Dr Parth Shah offers guidance on inspecting eye alignment, performing the corneal reflex test using a pen torch or ophthalmoscope, and checking the red reflex to rule out conditions such as congenital cataract.
As babies develop, the use of dynamic tests such as the cover test becomes more reliable, generally from three to six months of age, allowing for assessment of fixation and equal visual development between the eyes. GPs are advised to initiate urgent referral at any stage if there is concern about poor visual function, abnormal red reflex, or significant limitations in eye movement.
Further exploring referral processes, noting that detailed documentation of GP observations, supported by photos or videos from parents, greatly assists ophthalmology triage and assessment.
Links & Resources:
http://www.squintclinic.com/
https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/eye-problems-children-factsheet
https://www.aapos.org/resource-catalog/educational-resources
https://medicinetoday.com.au/mt/2017/april/feature-article/assessing-eye-problems-children – GPs can access this article via a free online Medicine Today subscription.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information.

In this episode, host Dr Sean Stevens is joined by Dr Paul Effler, Senior Medical Advisor at the WA Department of Health and Adjunct Dr at the University of Western Australia. Dr Effler is an experienced public health physician with extensive expertise in vaccine safety surveillance and has been a longstanding member of the WHO Global Advisory Committee for Vaccine Safety.
They explore the use of intranasal vaccines for influenza and COVID-19, which are now available in Australia. Dr Effler explains the mechanistic advantages of intranasal vaccines compared to traditional intramuscular injections, highlighting their ability to create mucosal immunity at the site where respiratory pathogens enter the body. Offering the dual possibility of preventing both clinical infection and onward transmission which is a key public health benefit.
Practical aspects of administering intranasal vaccines in general practice are discussed, including ease of use, absence of sharps and associated risks, and specific technique considerations.
Looking ahead, they also covered potential future developments in intranasal immunisation, including vaccines for RSV and pertussis, and the promise of platforms that do not rely on live attenuated virus. Dr Effler describes emerging models of self-administration and the possible implications for increasing vaccine uptake, while reaffirming the ongoing role of GPs in supporting safe and effective immunisation.
The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information.

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life Podcast, hosts Dr Catherine Bourke and Dr Anna Mullins discuss Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia. Providing an in-depth, evidence-based overview tailored for general practitioners.
Key discussion points include:
Epidemiology: Chlamydia remains highly prevalent in Australia, with over 100,000 recorded cases in 2024. The majority of cases occur in individuals aged 15 to 29.
Clinical Presentation: The infection is frequently asymptomatic, with 85-90% of individuals not displaying symptoms. When present, symptoms can include vaginal or penile discharge, dysuria, pelvic pain, testicular pain in men, intermenstrual or post-coital bleeding in women, and, less commonly, conjunctivitis and reactive arthritis.
Complications: Untreated chlamydia can result in serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in women, epididymo-orchitis in men, and other sequelae including ectopic pregnancy, premature birth, and low birth weight in affected pregnancies.
Screening Recommendations: Outlining current Australian guidelines, recommending annual opportunistic screening of all sexually active women under 25, women with new partners over 25, sexually active men based on individual risk, anyone who requests screening, and individuals with a history of STIs or higher risk exposures.
Treatment: Uncomplicated chlamydia is typically treated with a one-week course of doxycycline. Complicated or extra-genital infections may require longer courses or intravenous antibiotics.
Contact Tracing: The importance of notifying and treating recent sexual partners (up to six months prior), offering tools such as anonymous online partner notification services to aid this process.
Prevention: Reinforcing the importance of barrier protection and patient education to reduce STI transmission.

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network