Practice Policies

General information for our patients

Our medical practice is dedicated to delivering comprehensive general healthcare services to all individuals and families within our local community. Our commitment is to treat everyone with the utmost respect, care, and compassion, and we are dedicated to ensuring clear communication of our policies. If you have any specific concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

We want to emphasise that your medical record is strictly confidential. It is our practice’s policy to maintain the highest level of security for personal health information at all times, in compliance with both State and Federal laws regarding the confidentiality of medical records. As part of our efforts to improve communication, we have implemented SMS appointment reminders. If you prefer not to receive these reminders, please inform us, and we will accommodate your preferences accordingly.

We also extend a special encouragement to Indigenous patients to share their heritage with their GP. Doing so enables them to participate in the Indigenous Health Incentives Program, which is designed to support the unique healthcare needs of Indigenous individuals.

APPOINTMENTS & CANCELLATIONS

Our standard appointments are 15 minutes and we require the following information:

Your name
Date of birth
Address
Medicare Number (if applicable)

Please tell us if you require a longer appointment for several problems or a complex problem, or if you have a special request like:

Insurance
Repeat prescription
Disability forms
Application For Employment Forms
Medical / Centrelink / Recreational medical examinations
Cervical screening test
Post Natal Baby Check

Should you need to cancel your appointment please notify us as soon as possible. The more notice we have, the more able we are to help someone else with an appointment time. A non-attendance fee of $30 for standard appointment and $45 for long appointment will be charged if you fail to attend the appointment or cancel with less than 2 hours notice.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Our telephones are answered from 8.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday. We try to keep interruptions of your consultation to a minimum. You can help by noting:

Please state if the matter is URGENT.
We can return your call later if you leave your telephone number with the receptionist.

AFTER HOURS

Bomaderry Creek Health Centre provide after hours medical advice or consultation to our patients. If you require a consultation after hours you can call this surgery number (02) 4413 2325 and a recorded message will advise who the on-call doctor is. Phone the number given to speak to the GP. A fee is applicable if an after hours consultation is required. Alternatively you can call the GP Helpline on 1800 022 222 or Shoalhaven Hospital on 4421 3111.

FEES

This practice is mixed billing. Bulk-billing is available to pension card or health care card holders, DVA and people under 16 years of age. Care plans, health assessments and mental health care plans are always bulked bill. Current fees and rebates are listed at reception desk. Some consultations such as pre-employment medicals, commercial driving assessment, insurance forms are not rebated by Medicare and incur a private fee plus GST. Please contact us for current rates.

PATHOLOGY

Blood and other pathology specimens can be taken at Southern Pathology collection centre within the surgery. You do not need to be a patient of this surgery to utilise this service.

PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS

If you require a repeat prescription, please make an appointment with your doctor. This will provide the best care for our patients so that the need for ongoing prescriptions can then be medically reviewed in person. Patient need to have an appointment for any prescription written without consultation.

REFERRALS TO SPECIALISTS

When requiring an initial or ongoing referral it is appropriate to see your Doctor. They can then assess your condition and its urgency. If necessary the referral can be written to the most appropriate specialist. The referral will include up-to-date information regarding your past history, current complaints and medications. Please note that we cannot backdate any referral as it is illegal. Patient need to have an appointment for any referral letter written without consultation (ongoing referral only).

MEDICAL CERTIFICATES

A doctor will need to examine you on the day you are requesting a medical certificate. If you wish to extend a medical certificate a consultation will also be required to reassess. Some local pharmacies can provide Medical Certificates for a small fee, contact your pharmacy for more information