At Invitation to HEALTH we offer standard medical treatment, a range of allied and complementary therapies, a herbal dispensary, pathology service, specialised health education and services designed to promote social contacts and needs.  All our therapists are experienced and well qualified with professional accreditation.

OPERATING HOURS:

Mon ~ Fri: 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Saturdays: 9 am to 1 pm.

New patients, please note that GP books are open for selected doctors only. 
Our therapist books remain open and we welcome new patients.

Note also that appointments are reserved each day for patients who need acute, emergency attention.

PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE:

Our GPs are members or fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. While each of them has particular clinical experience and expertise (click on Our Practitioners) they offer the following services:

  • family health care
  • nutritional medicine
  • IV nutrient therapy
  • skin cancer clinic
  • care for acute and chronic illness
  • palliative care
  • counselling
  • minor surgical procedures 

PATHOLOGY SERVICES
For your convenience, a pathology collection service is available on our first floor daily from 8.30am to 4.30pm.


ALLIED AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH CARE

Currently, ,those practitioners at Invitation to Health are clinical psychologist, osteopaths, acupunturist/chinese herbalist, dietician, nutritionist, homeopath, naturopath/massage therapist, bush flower practitioner, kinesiologist and exercise physiologist.

Practice Nursing.

The doctors at ITH are supported by our practice nurses, who maintain the treatment room, conduct minor surgical procedures and provide nurse-led programs and services.  Our nurse-led services include health assessments, clinics for immunisations, asthma, diabetes, weight loss and care plans for patients with chronic and complex needs, as well as assisting with home visits and home-based health assessments. 

The practice nurses interview all new patients, taking their vital measurements and conducting nutritional assessments. The practice nurses also act as patient advocates, answering any further questions after the doctor’s consultation, streamlining procedures for tests and scans, organising services and agencies to assist patients in their homes and clarifying any other outstanding matters. They offer advice and education to patients on a broad range of topics.


Psychology and Clinical Psychology.

Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, having studied the brain, memory, learning, human development and the processes determining how people think, feel, behave and react. Clinical psychologists have specialist post-graduate training in the assessment, diagnosis and provision of evidence-based interventions for the major psychological disorders and mental illnesses, as well as for addressing ordinary, everyday problems.

Common reasons for seeing a psychologist are for

  • Depression
  • Stress, phobias and anxiety disorders
  • Coping with chronic illness
  • Eating disorders
  • Acute and chronic pain disorder
  • Assessment for educational, insurance or legal purposes
  • Rehabilitation and return to work programmes
  • Help for parents with childrens’ behavioural and emotional problems
  • Families or couples with relationship problems
  • Help adjusting to life transitions such as pregnancy and childbirth, marriage, separation and divorce, ageing, retirement, bereavement and grief
  • Cigarette smoking and alcohol and drug abuse

Osteopathy.


Osteopathy embodies a holistic approach to patient care. It is based on the belief that the human body operates as a total functional unit with all parts interrelated and structure being closely associated with function. Damage to one part of the body can have an adverse effect on the other systems or organs.  Osteopathy aims to restore the body's musculoskeletal system to a state of balance by using a hands on approach to help pain and dysfunction.  Most people know that osteopathy can help back and neck pain using gentle techniques.  The Osteopaths at Invitation to Health in particular use specialised techniques including trigger point therapy, craniosacral technique, joint mobilisation and energy techniques to help a wide range of complaints such as: babies with colic, reflux and restlessness; digestive system disorder, headaches and migraines, metabolic disorderd; learning difficulties and ADHD.  Treatment may involve a variety of manual techniques such as massage, gentle mobilisation (also know as articulation), muscle stretching and indirect release techniques. They can also be augmented by the use of acupuncture.

Osteopathic treatment is most commonly sought for musculoskeletal conditions such as:

  • Back and neck pain
  • Postural and or mobility problems
  • Arthritis
  • Joint pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Back pain during and after pregnancy
  • Repetitive strain injuries(RSI)
  • Head pain such as: migraines, neuralgia and headaches.
  • Direct manipulation of joints.

Osteopathy can also be of great benefit for the treatment of menstrual problems, chronic fatigue, digestive problems, circulation and breathing disorders.


Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprises an ancient group of therapies that have been practiced in China for at least 5000 years. TCM includes techniques like acupuncture, massage, moxabustion (burning herbs on acupuncture needles), cupping and herbal remedies.

TCM is based on the fundamental principle that everything changes or moves. In TCM, health is represented as a balance of yin (negative, dark, and feminine) and yang (positive, bright, and masculine). These two forces represent the bipolar manifestation of all things in nature, and because of this, one must be present to allow the other to exist. The shift in the balance of yin and yang is very natural. Such as when one is angry, yang is said to predominate. It is when the balance is consistently altered, and one (be it yin or yang) regularly dominates the other, that health is compromised, resulting in illness and disease.

In Chinese Medicine, the same diseases will manifest in slightly different ways for each individual. So five people with, for example insomnia, may receive five different herbal remedies and five different acupuncture prescriptions, and these may change over time, depending on the changes in the patient.

Some of the conditions that respond well to TCM are:

  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Cancer support
  • Women’s health, including fertility and symptoms of menopause
  • Child health
  • Pain management
  • Stress reduction


Dietician and Nutritionist

Dietitians are trained to give expert, scientific advice on a variety of food and nutrition issues. In private practice, they address the specific health and lifestyle needs of their patients. These can be related to chronic medical conditions or to improving quality of life. Dieticians and nutritionists need a basic university degree in science and a post-graduate diploma or degree in nutrition and dietetics. They work in a variety of hospital and community settings as well as in health promotion and public health.

Dietary advice can be sought for:

  • Diabetes or Insulin resistance
  • Weight management, either weight gain or weight loss
  • Athletic performance
  • Optimising health
  • Food allergies and sensitivities
  • Many other diet related medical conditions

HEALTH EDUCATION

As well as the range of educational activities carried out in our conference facility, ITH offers mentoring and supervision to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, and students in the various complementary health disciplines.

Activities in The Shed

Our conference facility, The Shed, offers an open, creative and healing space where patients of ITH and the general public can explore different and complementary pathways to health. It contains an office/reception area, library, board room furniture and kitchen facilities. The Shed can be used either as one large hall, or divided into two more intimate, but generously sized meeting rooms. There is also a “wet area” for art therapy activities.
The Shed is available for hire for conferences, courses, workshops and meetings of community groups.

Links with Universities and Professional Societies.

Dr Penny Caldicott and Dr Nicole Avard at ITH are accredited with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to provide mentors for GP registrars undergoing general practice training. They also offer supervision to medical students from the University of Newcastle.

Dr Suzanne Grant (ITH Therapist) as a PhD candidate with the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, has completed a clinical trial of a modern Chinese herbal medicine.  Suzanne was the principal researcher of this randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a Chinese herbal medicine, Jiangtang Xiaozhi in the treatment of impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in persons with prediabetes.


TESTIMONIALS

My Story:    Helen Hyslop, age 77.  

When my doctor suggested I see Katia for chronic back pain I was none too keen.  However, as I trust my doctor implicitly, I arranged to see Katia.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT FIRST VISIT CHANGED MY LIFE.

On that first visit, Katia told me that a lot of my back pain was due to the total knee replacement I had had done 8 years previously and my body's reaction to it.  This was hard for me to believe, as my knee had a great range of movement and was considered a great success.  However, it was always swollen and when touched felt like pins and needles, but this didn't bother me.  Five days after my first visit with Katia the swelling and pins and needles had vanished and have never returned.

Katia has explained to me that what she does is to release the cranio-sacral flow of the body, thus restoring the cranial rhythmic impulses of the body.  In one year I had 7 falls.  I did not hurt myself, just pitched forward.  Although my posture is good, Katia found my weight was on the balls of my feet, so unbeknown to me, I wa already tipping slightly forward.  I have degeneration of my lower spine.  Nothing can change that, but Katia, with gentle manipulation and her unique healing powers, is able to remove the muscle tension and pain associated with this, so I leave my sessions with her very, very relaxed.

I recently went to see her when my heart had been in atrial fibrillation for ten days.  Stupidly I had not told my doctor, but was self-medicating with no effect.  After my treatment with Katia the fibrillation stopped.  I was amazed.

I have recommended Katia to several people and they have been pleased with the results.  I will continue to put my body in her hands.

6th November, 2010.