Your Questions Answered
A standard consult time is 15 minutes. If you think you will require a longer time, please let the receptionist know when making your appointment.
Patients who are new to the practice, or who have more than one problem to discuss, may need a long appointment. Other consultations which may require longer appointments include:
- Insurance medical examinations
- Driver’s license medical examinations
- Annual general examinations
- Minor surgical procedures
Regular visits are scheduled for elderly, disabled and nursing home patients. A number of our GPs regularly visit all the nursing homes in the district. If you have a loved one that requires a GP in one of our local care facilities please contact us to see if we can assist.
A co-operative after hours’ service is run by the local doctors. By ringing 4861 6433 you will be put in contact with the doctor on call. Do not hesitate to ring after hours if you feel that you have an emergency. We also suggest you ring the doctor on call before attending casualty. In addition, the After Hours Clinic operates at the St Jude Specialist Centre, 21 St Jude Street Bowral, on Saturdays (3 pm – 5 pm) and Sundays/Public Holidays (10 am – 12 noon and 3 pm – 5 pm).
Telephone calls to the doctors themselves do interrupt consultations and cause delays. In most cases our receptionists will be able to assist you with your enquiry or will take a message for the doctor and seek their instructions. Your call will always be put through to the GP in an emergency.
Your doctor may consider a consultation more appropriate than a telephone call, in which case either telehealth or face to face appointment will be arranged for you.
In the case of an emergency please contact your nearest hospital or call 000.
Test results are received by the surgery electronically and reviewed by the Doctors at regular intervals throughout the day. Doctors will flag results that may require an appointment or follow up. You may receive either and electronic notification or a phone call from one our team to advise. Patients are welcome to telephone and enquire about the Doctor’s decision regarding their results.
In selected cases, and at the doctor’s discretion, prescriptions for continuing medications and repeat referrals will be written without a consultation. This can be requested via HOT DOCS - Link is available on home page.
We require several days notice and there is a charge for this service.
You will also need to have seen the doctor within the last 6 months. It must be emphasised that in many cases (such as the ‘Pill’ and blood pressure medications) the number of repeats is chosen to coincide with the need for regular medical follow up.
Repeat prescriptions and specialist referrals may be requested without an appointment for $15, payable at time of request.
The following criteria must be met in order to make a request:
- The request must be made to your regular doctor.
- It must be for a repeat medication or repeat specialist referral only.
- You must have had an in-person consultation within the last 12 months.
- Requests may take several business days AND are dependent on your doctors consulting days.
- Each request is always subject to the doctor's discretion.
*In the event your doctor declines your request you will be refunded in full.
This practice is a Teaching Practice of the University of Wollongong, University of Sydney and Charles Sturt University and regularly has university medical students doing community medicine attachments in their final year of training. We will inform you if your doctor has a student with him or her. Please advise us if you prefer to consult with your doctor alone.
Several doctors at SMC have commenced specialist general practitioner training, these doctors are known as GP Registrars and are generally with the practice for 6 or 12 months. We feel this is a critical part of maintaining and improving the quality of family doctors in Australia, particularly in rural areas.
All new patients to the practice are required to complete a new patient form. if you would like to print and complete the form prior to arriving to your first appointment please click on the link below.
We have a reduced rate for holders of a commonwealth concession card and full time students. A list of fees for consultations and commonly performed procedures is prominently displayed at the front desk. Please ask your doctor if you have any queries as they have billing discretion.
We require payment at time of consultation and accept cash, Visa, Mastercard or EFTPOS(debit cards). We are electronically linked to Medicare and are usually able to process your Medicare rebate instantly through EFTPOS(debit cards).
Face to Face Or Telehealth: Standard | Level B | (Under 20)
Item No: 23
Standard Rate: Upfront: $90.35 | Rebate: $42.85 | Gap: $47.5
Concession Rate: Upfront: $77.70 | Rebate: $42.85 | Gap: $33.85
Face to Face Or Telehealth: Level C | (20 Minutes+)
Item No: 36
Standard Rate: Upfront: $165.90 | Rebate: $ 82.90 | Gap: $83.00
Concession Rate: Upfront: $135.90 | Rebate: $82.90 | Gap: $53.00
Face to Face Or Telehealth: Level D | (40 Minutes +)
Item No: 44
Standard Rate: Upfront : $245.15 | Rebate: $122.15 | Gap: $123.00
Concession Rate: Upfront: $205.15 | Rebate: $122.15 | Gap: $83
Miscellaneous: Repeat Scripts or Repeat Referrals (without consultation, at doctors discretion) | Dressings (The amount will vary depending on specific requirements)
Rate:$15.00 | $15.00 - $50.00
- Upfront Fees are payable on day of consultation.
- Medicare Rebates are processed for you. This is done immediately if you have an eligible debit card (in person only) or processed overnight to your bank account details registered with Medicare.
- Concession Rates applies to the following: (Valid Concession card or Uni/School ID required)
- Pension Concession Card Holders
- Health Care Card Holders
- Full Time Students
- Bulk Billing applies to the following: (Valid Medicare or DVA card required)
- Children under 16 years
- Unemployed
- Disability Pensioners
- Residential Aged Care Residents
- GP Management Plans
- Financial Hardship
- if you are facing genuine financial hardship, please discuss with your doctor or our practice manager so we can ensure you can access our medical services.
- Cancellation/ Non Attendance Fee
- Last minute cancellations or missed appointments may incur a $70.00 fee.
The provision of quality health care requires a doctor patient relationship of trust and confidentiality. Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain the security of personal health information at all times and to ensure this information is only available to authorised members of staff. A copy of our privacy policy is available at reception.
- Your medical record is confidential.
- Only authorised members of staff have access to your information.
- A full copy of our policies and procedures is available at reception and on our website.
- Should you be suffering from genuine financial difficulty, and this is preventing you from accessing health care, please discuss this with your doctor. Southern Medical Centre will always work with you to ensure you receive the care you need. Please feel free to email our Practice or Finance manager to discuss further:
- Genevieve Stewart (Practice Manager)
mvfrontdesk@southernmedical.com.au - Kate Lozell (Finance Manager)
mvfrontdesk@southernmedical.com.au
- Genevieve Stewart (Practice Manager)
- RESULTS will require an appointment unless a prior arrangement has been made with the doctor.
- REPEAT prescriptions and referrals require an appointment with your doctor to allow us to monitor your condition and keep your records up to date. Some repeats can be requested online via our website.
In general, we are not a bulk billing practice although we do bulk bill children under the age of 16. Certain types of visits are exceptions to this rule, such as diabetic reviews, some mental health plans, etc. If you feel you have a valid reason to be bulk billed, please ask the doctor at the time of your visit, this decision cannot be made by reception staff.
The safety of our patients during their visits to our practice is important to us. We follow strict infection control guidelines, as recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
All items used during your visit are either fully disposable or are sterilized by autoclave under steam pressure.
These precautions, and the disposal of clinical waste, are costly in terms of materials, labour and maintenance. They are part of your medical care, and are reflected in our consultation fees.
We are always trying to improve the standard of professional service to our patients. You can help us do this by telling us of any suggestions you may have. Should you have any complaints, we would like to know of them immediately so that appropriate steps can be taken to remedy the situation and ensure that there is no repetition.
Who can you complain to?
- Your doctor
- Our Practice Manager
- Health Care Complaints Commission – Locked Bag 18 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 (Freecall 1800 043 159)
THIS MEDICAL PRACTICE COMPLIES WITH PRIVACY REGULATIONS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2001 REGARDING THE HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION IN MEDICAL RECORDS.
Medical files are handled with the utmost respect for a Patient’s privacy. Ordinarily we will not release the contents of a Patient File without their consent. However, there may be occasions where we will be required to release details irrespective of whether consent to the disclosure of information is given. This will occur where the law requires disclosure, such as pursuant to a subpoena.
Patients have a general right of access to their health information.
A written signed request is necessary explaining what records and why they are required.
The doctors do have the rights to deny access in some circumstances and up to 45 days to reply to any requests.
Please forward any enquiries regarding your personal medical record access to the Practice Manager.
As part of our commitment to preserving confidentiality of medical records we ensure strict secure storage policies are observed in this practice. Electronic records are accessible only by staff of this practice and are protected by a security password. Each member of staff is well versed in the principles and importance of Doctor-Patient confidentiality.
Our fully equipped treatment rooms are staffed with Registered Nurses for minor procedures and emergencies.
Our nurses also perform:
- Over 75yr health checks
- Audiograms
- Spirometry
- ECG
- Over 45yr health checks
- Diabetic reviews
- INR's
- Cervical Screening
- Propulse Ear Wash
This service is for patients who have concerns that cannot wait for a standard GP appointment.
What it is for:
- Minor infections
- Minor sprains, sports injuries, neck and back pain
- UTI’s
- STI’s
- Minor cuts
- Insect bites and rashes
- Minor eye and ear problems
- Respiratory illness
- Gastroenteritis
- Mild burns
What it is not for:
- Ongoing medication scripts
- General screening and health checks
- Vaccinations
- Mental Health Advice
- Family Planning
- Referrals for any tests, scans or specialist care.
- Chronic disease management
- Preventative health procedures (i.e cervical screening)
When patient should visit the local Emergency Department and or call 000
- Chest pain or tightness
- Breathing difficulties
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Severe burns
- Poisoning
- Numbness or paralysis
- Unconsciousness
- Unresponsiveness
- Seizures
- Ongoing fever in infants.
Recall is when a test or repeat test is required at set intervals. We add the patient to recall system and then send a reminder to patient for when they are next due to see the doctor or nurse. Patient can opt out of recall system if preferred.
- Payment for workers compensation and other third-party accounts, such as CTP insurance, is required at the time of consultation.
- Once we receive confirmation from your insurer or employer with the relevant claim details, invoices will be sent directly to the insurer.
- When you register your new little one, their doctor visits are not be billed until they are registered with Medicare. We kindly request that you provide us with the baby’s Medicare details by the age of 3 months.
If, by this time, the child has not been registered, the parents will be required to pay the full fee (you will be able to claim rebates on these visits once the child is registered).
Once the Medicare details are recorded, all future visits will be bulk-billed until the child turns 16. Thank you for ensuring the smooth processing of your child's medical care
- Home visits may be available in some instances, such as palliative care or another genuine reason.
- A home visit is always at the doctor’s discretion.
- Advance bookings are required.