Patient Information

Home and other visits

Home visits are available for regular patients of this practice whose medical condition prevents them from attending the surgery.

Telephone Access

GPs in the practice may be contacted during normal surgery hours, however we try not to interrupt consultations with telephone calls. If the GP is with a patient, a message will be taken and the reception staff will advise you when it is likely that the GP will return your call. Your call will always be put through to the GP in an emergency.

Fees and billing arrangements

All appointments, whether tele-health, face to face, or for treatment will incur a fee. Your Medicare rebate can be paid instantly into your cheque or savings account, at our front desk. For tele-health appointments if your bank details are lodged with Medicare, the rebate will be paid directly into your account.

We wish to inform you that as from 1 October 2022, Stirling Central Health Clinic, in line with industry practices, will no longer be able to provide bulk billing to patients with the exception of those covered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

The reason for this is that successive Federal Governments have failed to ensure that Medicare rebates have kept pace with AWE (Average Weekly Earnings) and CPI (Consumer Price Index) increases both of which have been substantial.

In order for our Clinic to remain financially viable, we have no alternative but to take this step and we seek your understanding of the objective reasons for this; and your ongoing support of us as we continue to provide you with the highest possible quality of healthcare.

Should you have any queries, please refer to our website for more information or call me personally. We urge you to speak to your local Federal Member to lobby for our current Federal Government to take long overdue action to make Medicare rebates both reasonable and in keeping with ever increasing external costs.

For more information about our fees, feel free to ask our reception staff. We accept most credit cards and have eftpos facilities. Fees are payable in full at the time of consultation.

If you have any difficulty in paying our fees, please discuss it with us.

Getting the results of any test or procedure

Your doctor will let you know whether to telephone for your results OR make an appointment.

If you are telephoning for your results, please call the Practice Nurse between 9.00am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday, if possible. The Practice Nurse will be able to give you basic information regarding your results and advise whether you require a follow up appointment with your doctor.

Please phone in for your results as we do not routinely phone every patient. Your doctor can tell you when your results will be ready.

Should you prefer to discuss results with your doctor please make an appointment.

Email access

The RACGP does not recommend the use of email for the transfer of patient information. Email is not considered secure as it is not encrypted. We regret we are generally unable to send your results and other clinical information to you by email. If you would like copies of your results we are happy to provide you with a printed copy.

Reminder System

Our practise is committed to preventive care and uses a computerised reminder system. We may send you a SMS or reminder message from time to time offering you preventative health services appropriate to your care. We would encourage you to consent to SMS reminders and recalls, as your doctor may send an SMS message or ask us to phone you regarding follow up appointment.

If you do not wish to be part of this system please let your doctor or reception know.

Your doctor may also ask us to phone you regarding follow up appointments and we may leave a message asking you to contact the clinic.

If you have any concerns about being contacted by the clinic, please let us know.

Management of your Personal Health Information

As a patient of this practice we need to collect your personal details and a full medical history, so that we can look after you. We take the security and privacy of your personal information seriously, and you can request a copy of our privacy policy at any time. If you would like access to your health record, please contact the Practice Manager, or speak to your doctor.

Your rights

If you have a problem we would like to hear about it. Please feel free to talk to your doctor or Practice Manager. You may prefer to write to us or use our suggestion box. We take your concerns, suggestions and complaints seriously.