The following information will be useful for you to know before booking your appointment.
Continuity of Care
Our practice encourages patients to see a Doctor of their choice when making an appointment. However, be assured that all our Doctors keep comprehensive notes and discuss patients with each other where necessary to ensure continuity of your care.
Medical Certificates
An appointment is required in order for your Doctor to issue a medical certificate for medical conditions requiring time off work.
Management of your Patient Health Information – Privacy Policy
All information collected by this practice is deemed to be private and confidential. The right of every patient is respected. Your medical record is only available to authorised members of staff. We abide by the National Privacy Principles. Please ask Reception if you would like a copy of our Privacy Policy.
Medical Forms/Pre Employment Medical Assessments
Due to the time involved in completing forms or any paperwork (e.g., RTA Fitness to Drive Medical Assessment, Renewal of Licence Applications, Mobility Parking Permit, Centrelink forms, etc.), please inform the Receptionist at the time of your booking to allow sufficient time for the consultation.
All Pre-Employment Medical Assessments (includes Job Fitness & Driving Assessments) are not bulk-billed by Medicare. An additional fee is charged for medical examination and completion of pre-employment assessment forms. Please check with Reception prior to making an appointment.
Reminders/Preventative Care
Our practice is committed to providing preventative health care. Your Doctor will seek your permission to be included in our reminders system. We may issue you with a reminder notice from time to time offering you preventative health services, e.g., cervical screening, blood pressure checks, diabetes check, health assessments or immunisations appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be part of this system, please advise your Doctor or Reception.
Recalls / Receiving Results
Please ensure that you book a follow-up appointment to see the Doctor to find out the results of a test or procedure. Patients that require immediate action in relation to test results will be contacted by the practice (either by phone or SMS) to arrange a consultation so that they can discuss the test results with a Doctor. This practice does not give test results to patients over the phone to protect your privacy.
Request for Prescriptions or Referrals
If you need a repeat of a script or a referral to a specialist, you will need to come in and see the Doctor. This is to ensure that every aspect of your health is taken into account, and that you are getting the best possible health care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering to do these consultations by telephone.
Contacting your GP
Doctors in this practice may be contacted by telephone during surgery hours. A message will be taken if the Doctor is with another patient and your call will be returned when the Doctor is available. We do not use email to provide medical advice.
In case of a medical emergency please dial 000.
Transfer of Medical Records
If you would like to have your medical records transferred to us from another medical centre/practice please ask the Receptionist. Please be aware that most practices charge a small fee to transfer medical records to cover the cost of printing and postage.
Updating your Personal Details
To update your details such as name, telephone number, address or a change to your medicare card, please call our Receptionist on 02 9649 7588 or let us know at your next appointment. It is important to ensure your contact details are up to date at all times. We may need to contact you about results or to change or confirm an appointment.
Feedback & Continuous Improvement
We take your concerns, suggestions and complaints seriously. If you have a problem we would like to hear about it. We believe problems are best resolved within the practice as this helps us to continuously improve. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the care that you receive from us then please let us know. Talk to either your Doctor or the Receptionist or you may prefer to write to us.
If however, the problem is not resolved you may wish to contact the NSW State Government authority for dealing with medical complaints.
NSW Health Care Complaints Commission
Locked Mail Bag 18
Strawberry Hill NSW 2012
Telephone: (02) 9219 7444 | 1800 043 159 (Toll Free in NSW)
www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
We also have a Patient Feedback/Suggestion Box conveniently located in our waiting area for your input on any suggestions to help us improve our service.