A FEW beers and snacks in a casual setting and Roosters’ club doctor Ravin Sadhai finds men are a little more willing to talk about their health. So he brought The Pub Clinic to Ballarat.
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The free forum offers men a chance to sit down, relax with a few mates and meet medical specialists who make short presentations in layman’s terms.
Dr Sadhai’s initiative has been building popularity in his Bacchus Marsh, Myrniong and Trentham, branching into different topics each catch up. Ballarat had its first taste with the backing of North Ballarat Sports Club and North Ballarat Roosters on Wednesday night.
Breaking down the bravado and “I’ll be right” suck-it-up culture, Dr Sadhai’s purpose is simple – eat healthy, exercise regularly and ask for a health check.
“A lot of men don’t talk about it or any concerns they have and they’re resistant to going to the doctor,” Dr Sadhai said. “This applies physically but, especially for younger men, the mental side of things too.It’s about maybe knowing what to look for and looking out for your mates as well.”
Dr Sadhai said he was spurred to get men talking after knowing a couple of men, in their early 40s, who had heart-attacks or strokes. He was baffled why, then a look at their medical records showed they had never really had a proper check-up, despite having key risk factors.
So, Dr Sadhai decided to bring doctors to men. An informal pub-style setting with a few laughs seemed to catch on. He has been hosting such clinics with local specialists since 2008 and hoped attendees were spreading the basic message.
The inaugural Ballarat Pub Clinic’s key focus was on how to avoid having a heart attack, with key tips from Ballarat cardiologist Chris Hengel.
Urologist Richard McMullin addressed prostate health and explained the debate on prostate screening.
IVF specialist Russell Dalton spoke on fertility.
Bacchus Marsh fitness trainer Matt Prince and AFL personality Doug Hawkins drew on personal accounts for how a simple check in with the doctor could make a massive difference.
Hawkins, a Western Bulldogs legend, is an EJ Whitten Foundation ambassador, promoting prostate cancer awareness and men’s health.