Winter is finally officially here. For most of us that means sneaking an extra five minutes in bed each morning, fighting against the cold air after a shower, and stocking up on warm soups. So how do you convince yourself to jump out of bed and tackle the day ahead? Here are some top tips on beating that winter slump and staying healthy throughout the season. 

This Monday, Dr Spittaler launched the new O-Arm and Stealth equipment at John Hunter Hospital. This new piece of equipment can halve surgery times and help surgeons ensure the surgery runs smoothly and precisely. As the Director of Neurosurgery at John Hunter Hospital, Dr Spittaler was instrumental in acquiring this piece of equipment for the hospital, with the process taking several years. The machine is a win for the Hunter Region, with it being the first piece of its kind to exist in New South Wales, outside of Sydney. ​

Click on the link below to see this equipment launch on NBN News. 
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http://www.nbnnews.com.au/2018/04/23/john-hunter-neurosurgery-receives-a-world-class-addition/

How and why do women put effort into looking good? Looking good means many different things to many different Australian women. According to the recent 2017 'Changing Faces of Beauty' report, 71% of women make an effort to look good for themselves. The more women value themselves, and in turn their beauty, the more it's changed social views on beauty trends. Currently, 64% of women believe that dermal facial fillers have become more socially acceptable compared to 5 years ago. Plus 42% of women said the desire to consider cosmetic treatments comes from wanting a boost to self-confidence. 

For another entry into our meet the team series I spoke ​to the office superhero, one half of the office management team, Grace. Working as Dr Spittaler's personal assistant and the joint office manager, Grace is the driving force behind the establishment of Hunter Allied Care. We took 5 minutes out of her busy day to have a chat.

This January, Dr Peter Spittaler and Kristy Hord had the opportunity to travel to Niseko to attend the Society of Neuromuscular Sciences Inc. 2018 conference. The conference was home to a bevy of medical experts and covered a variety of topics relevant to both neuroscience and physiotherapy. The team enjoyed the collaborative and educational talks at the event, whilst also getting to enjoy the beautiful and picturesque setting that was Niseko in the winter time. 

Following the holiday break, Hunter Allied Care has returned with some major changes! Following a reflection into what was best for our patients, and a holistic health treatment plan, we've decided to bring RN Louise Herfurth on board! Louise is a registered nurse, and will provide patients with both clinical and cosmetic neurotoxin treatments. Commonly known as 'botox', the treatments aim to help patients who suffer from clinical issues such as excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) or severe migraines. We're excited to introduce these treatments to the practice, and better provide our patients with a health care plan that covers all the bases! Louise will begin treatments in early February. Call us today to discuss plans or for any more information. 

Following our focus on holistic health we have another practitioner joining the team in February, Ms Sarah Tew, an accredited dietitian. We hope that adding a dietician to the team will provide patients with an opportunity to improve their overall diet and health. This will be especially helpful to patients who are prepping for a surgery, or who are receiving physiotherapy treatments and looking to take another positive step towards a healthier life. Sarah is a member of the Dieticians Association of Australia (DAA), and is an Accredited Practicing Dietician (APD). 

There are some big changes coming for us this year at Hunter Allied Care, and we can't wait to begin servicing our patients every need! To chat more about our new practitioners or availabilities, call us today (on 02 4940 0730) or message us via Facebook or email. 

When we started to talk about opening Hunter Allied Care, the first thing that came to mind was a concise and holistic health experience. Dr Peter Spittaler, a neurosurgeon, had three rooms free in his private consultation building, and we decided to convert them into something that would aid every single patient that walked through the door. 

First things first was a physiotherapist. Patients who see specialist doctors, particularly for neurosurgery, are often referred to physios, as they help immensely throughout the recovery and rehabilitation process. We brought physiotherapist Kristy Hord onto the team and began booking patients into the practice in mid-november. ​ 

Spurred on by that goal we are aiming to integrate clinical neurotoxin treatments into the practice in early February of 2018. We are working with a Clinical Registered Nurse to introduce those treatments into the practice, treatments that work on conditions often seen affecting patients with neuro health issues. We are also aiming to begin cosmetic treatments also, working with patients who are interested in minor cosmetic treatments, like the smoothing of wrinkles and frown lines. 

By mid next year our practice will be providing physiotherapy, neurotoxin treatments, cosmetic treatments, psychology, and a dietician. We understand that ones health journey can affect you not only physically, but also mentally as well, which is why we're introducing a psychologist and dietician, to ensure our patients health is truly holistic. 

We're invested in your health care journey at Hunter Allied Care, so if you had any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us for a chat or keep your eye on our blog for some interesting links, posts, and news!