Latest Announcements

Patients Information

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER?

Please advise our reception staff if you have recently changed your address or telephone number. It is important to keep your information up-to-date on our system should we need to contact you.

YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

The introduction of new privacy laws became effective in Australia on 12th March 2014. The changes include a new set of Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) that will regulate the handling of personal information by all private health service providers.

All medical records and communications concerning patients are stored electronically and are available to your treating doctor at our surgery at all times.

Your medical information is password protected. Access to our computer is not available from organizations outside the surgery. Patient information is not provided to an outside body (e.g. for reports or insurance purposes) without prior written consent by the patient.

Written consent will be gained from each patient should we ever be involved in any research or similar program.

The act allows patients to access the content of their medical record by arrangement with the practice.

A copy of our full privacy policy is available to you upon request.

YOUR RIGHTS

Our doctors and staff endeavor to provide a comprehensive, high quality service for our patients. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our care we are keen to hear about it. Please discuss any problem with staff.

If you wish to pursue the problem outside of the practice, you may have with your doctor, our practice manager or our reception information is available from Health & Community Services Complaints Commission (HCSCC) South Australia

Ph: (08) 8226 8666 or www.hcscc.sa.gov.au

APPOINTMENTS

Standard consultations are booked in 15 minute time slots. Longer consultations are available with our doctors for the following: medicals, minor surgery, care plan preparation, complex or multiple medical problems.

If you need to cancel your appointment please advise us with as much notice as possible so we can allot the time to another person.

Upon arrival to your appointment please report to the reception desk.

INTERPRETER

Our friendly reception staffs are able to arrange an interpreter for your appointment should it be required – please advise when booking the appointment.

CONSULTATION HOURS

Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 9pm

Saturday: 9am _12.00pm

Sunday: Closed

OUT OF HOURS CARE

Our practice ensures safe and reasonable arrangements for medical care for patients outside of our normal opening hours and as such our telephone will divert to the Murray Bridge Soldier’s Memorial Hospital from 12.00pm on Saturdays and throughout the weekend.

HOME VISITS

Regular patients of our practice are able to obtain visits in their home, residential aged care facility, residential care facility or hospital, both within and outside normal opening hours where such visits are deemed safe and reasonable.

TELEPHONE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Patients of our practice are able to obtain timely advice or information related to their clinical care by telephone and electronic means where a GP determines that this is clinically safe and that a face-to-face consultation is unnecessary for that patient.

All telephone calls for doctors will be relayed through reception staff via message and the doctor will return your call at their earliest convenience. Consultations will not be interrupted unless in the event of an emergency.

TEST RESULTS

Patients are required to make a follow up appointment with their doctor for test results. Test results are not discussed over the telephone due to their sensitive nature.

PRESCRIPTIONS AND REFERRALS

Repeat prescriptions and specialist re-referrals will not normally be issued without doctor / patient contact. Where it has been agreed that such repeats / re-referrals will be issued, please provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.

SICKNESS CERTIFICATES

Sickness certificates will not be issued unless a doctor has been consulted in relation to that illness, and cannot be backdated.

RECALL AND REMINDERS

The doctors at this practice are committed to preventative healthcare and as such we may issue you with reminder and recall letters appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be a part of this system please advise your doctor.

SMOKING POLICY

For health and hygiene reasons our practice has a strict No-Smoking policy on or within the premises.

FEES

We are primarily a bulk billing practice. Please ensure you bring your current Medicare Card and Concession Cards (if any) to all appointments.

If your Medicare Card has expired (or if you are not registered with Medicare) you will be required to make payment for the consultation on the day and a receipt will be issued to you for reimbursement at a Medicare Office (if eligible).

A gap fee will be charged for all minor surgical procedures e.g. excisions, suturing, toe nail resections, imp anon. Cost will be as follows:

Non-concession card holders $50 Concession card holders $35

Please note that there are some services that are not covered under Medicare e.g. pre-employment medical examinations and reports, diving medicals & commercial driving license assessments.

Our practice informs patients about the potential for out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare provided within our practice and for referred services.