FEES:
We Bulk Bill all Medicare patients for eligible GP services including:
*GP consults
*Chronic condition Management plans and reviews
*Mental health treatment plans
*Health assessments
Fees may apply for non-eligible services, including:
*Procedures like skin excisions
*Diagnostic services like ECG and pathology
*Allied health and other non-GP services
*Patients without a Medicare number
*Antenatal services
**Each GP dictates whether they will charge a gap fee or not.
Please check with your doctor prior to your appointment to confirm cost.
SKIN CHECKS AND PROCEDURE FEES
Skin checks will be billed as per Standard GP Consultation. if a procedure is required, then an extra out of pocket fee may apply for some doctors. You will be advised of the cost after consultation.
ANTENATAL CONSULTATIONS
Some doctors may charge a gap fee for Antenatal consultations. Please check with reception staff prior to your appointment to confirm cost.
DIAGNOSTIC CONSULTATIONS
Some doctors may charge a gap fee for diagnostic procedures You will be advised of any out-of-pocket gap fee for the planned investigation.
GENERAL PROCEDURE FEES (eg. wound repair, toenail wedge resection, Implanon insertion etc)
Some doctors may charge a gap fee for these procedures, which they will advise on consultation.
PAYMENT:
We accept cash, cheque, Eftpos, Visa, or Mastercard. Unfortunately, we do not accept American Express. We kindly request that accounts are paid at time of consultation. Medicare rebates are processed at reception for your convenience.
HOUSE CALLS:
We're here to help. Depending on the circumstances and Doctor availability, a Home Visit may be organised for existing patients who are unable to attend the surgery.
REMINDERS:
We understand that our patients lead busy lives. Reminders can be sent for pap smears, repeat tests, health assessments, and other services. We also provide State and National reminder systems, NSW Breast Screen reminders and Pap Net Registration.
RESULTS:
If a follow-up appointment is deemed necessary by your doctor, you will be contacted either by phone, sms or letter, to advise you to book an appointment to discuss.
Results will not be given over the phone by our staff, only from a Doctor in a pre-booked telehealth appointment.
AFTER HOURS:
If you require medical attention outside of surgery hours please call our deputised after-hours service, National Home Doctor Service, (13SICK)on 137 425.
APPOINTMENTS:
In order to avoid long delays, please contact our friendly reception staff in advance to make an appointment. Walk-ins appointments are subject to availability.
Please advise our reception team if you require an interpreter.
Missed appointments will attract a missed appointment fee of $50.00.
TELEPHONE CALLS:
The Doctors do not take calls from patients while consulting, however, you are welcome to leave a message during surgery hours or book a telehealth appointment. Staff will endeavor to attend to your enquiry as soon as possible. Emergency calls will be triaged accordingly.
Email Policy:
Only appropriate non-clinical matters are dealt with via email exchanges. Consulting or advice services are not conducted by email, this must be communicated face to face by a medical practitioner or other appropriate health professional, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
COMPLAINTS:
We strive to provide our patients with the very best care. We take your compliments, concerns, suggestions and complaints seriously. Please do not hesitate to speak or write to your doctor or the practice manager. If you wish to take the matter outside the practice, please contact:
The Medical Complaints Commission
T: 1800 043 159
A: Locked Mail Bag 18, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
E: hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au
The Health Ombudsman
T: 13 36 46
A: 400 George St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
E: info@oho.qld.gov.au
PRACTICE POLICY:
For reasons of health promotion and disease prevention, our practice has a range of posters, leaflets and brochures about health issues relevant to the community either on display in the waiting area and/or in the consulting rooms.
When used appropriately, this information will assist patients in making informed decisions about their health.
GPs and clinical staff use written information to support diagnosis and management of conditions, as well as for the purposes of health promotion and illness prevention.
If the practice cares for a particular ethnic community, written health information is made available in the most common languages spoken. Translated health information is available from:
· Victorian Government Health Information, Health Translations Directory
· NSW Health, Multicultural Health Communication Service.
Information about medicines and medicine safety is provided to patients and this information can be accessed via the RACGP website.
Information from the Australian Council for Quality and Safety in Health Care such as ‘Ten tips for safer health care’ should also be made available to encourage patients to discuss the purpose, importance, benefits and risks relating to decisions about their health care.
This brochure plus other information can be downloaded from the Safety and Quality Council website.
Our practice follows the guidelines of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Handbook for the management of health information in private medical practice. This means your personal health information is kept private and secure, as required by federal and state privacy laws.
A full copy of our Privacy Policy and Health Information Collection Policy can be obtained from reception
GPs and staff are aware that alternative modes of communication may be needed by our patients, such as those who require interpreter services or those with a disability. Please contact reception if you need assistance.
