Mask’s are only now required if you are unwell – please remain in your car, call reception to advise you have arrived in the car park and wait for the doctor to call you before you enter the clinic. If you are well you no longer need to wear a mask while inside the clinic, however you may wear a mask if that is your preference. Some of the doctors and staff will still wear a mask if they prefer to do so. We thank you for being supportive of wearing masks in the past.
Doctor shortage – since July 2021 we have had a vacancy for another doctor to consult at our clinic. It is not from lack of trying to engage with an independent doctor, there is a shortage in Australia of trained GP’s. We will continue to try to engage another GP to join the clinic, but until we can, the wait time for appointments has blown out to 4+ weeks for the next available. While we are not happy with this amount of time patients have to wait, we cannot do anymore until we can fill the vacancy. We thank you for your patience and want you to know we are doing everything we can.
Flu vaccinations for 2023 – We have received our vaccines! They are now available to be booked with our nursing team, or with your doctor at your scheduled appointment. Please call reception on 9435 1144 to make a booking. We can also book your COVID Booster at the same time if you are eligible and wanting to do so.
COVID-19 Booster Vaccination 2023 – Our clinic will be participating in the Australian Government COVID-19 Booster Vaccination roll out. You will be eligible if you are aged 18 years and over. Pfizer boosters in 2023 will be available with the flu vaccination if you are eligible. Any further queries you may have please check the government website at https://health.gov.au
Cervical Screening – Self Test – Cervical Screening Self Test – How to guide
Process for patients with Respiratory symptoms – our protocol for patients who are suffering respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat is to have you speak with a doctor on duty for the Respiratory Clinic for that day. Most days we try to have a doctor available to assist patients with these symptoms. Normally it will consist of a phone call first then during your discussion if the doctor would like to examine you they will advise a time for you to come and be seen in the Respiratory POD. The reason we book patients this way is to reduce the risk of bringing infection into the clinic where many vulnerable patients may be. We want to keep you all safe and infection free as we can. We also need to protect doctors, nurses and administration staff who CANNOT WORK if they have any symptoms at all until they are free of symptoms and had a COVID negative PCR swab undertaken. We do not want to have to cancel appointments already booked due to this and inconvenience patients. Please be advised if we do not have a doctor available to run the respiratory clinic on a given day we may refer you to a respiratory clinic run by the government. These clinics have been created to assist doctors when dealing with any patient’s who present with respiratory symptoms and need care and the regular doctor is unable to assist them. You can google search GPRC to find out locations and details.
Medical Cooling concession – you may be eligible to receive a 17.5% concession on your electricity bill, for usage and service costs between 1 November and 30 April. If you hold a Pension Card/Health Care Card/Veteran’s Affairs Gold Card and:
1. Have a medical condition that affect your body’s ability to self-regulate your temperature or
2. Have a household member with such a medical condition
3. Pre approved conditions are: Multiple Sclerosis / Lymphoedema / Parkinson’s Disease / Fibromyalgia / Post-polio Syndrome-Poliomyelitis / Motor Neurone Disease.
How do you apply? – For an application form, phone your electricity retailer or the Concessions Information line on 1800 658 521 (toll free) or here Medical Cooling Application form
The application form needs to be completed and then signed by a doctor, confirming your medical condition.
COVID-19 – We have created a link for any information. Please click Links (top right hand of page) and you will find “COVID-19” click that link which will take you to the Department of Health Human Services public information page. There is also a link to COVID-19 Self Assessment flow chart from Victorian government Health and Human Services site.
COVID-19 Positive test result – if you have received a positive test result to COVID-19 and you are a current patient of our clinic, you may call to make a Telehealth phone booking with a doctor to discuss oral anti-viral medications. Please also see these useful links:
To report your result, call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398, or fill in this online form https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests#report-a-positive-result-on-a-rapid-antigen-test or https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report
1. Checklists for case and contacts
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist
2. Advise on how to use rapid antigen test – the link for this is already on the page with all the checklists but this may help patient to navigate faster
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests
If you would like to arrange a Telehealth appointment with a respiratory doctor of the day to manage your symptoms please call reception on 9435 1144 to arrange. For further information for you to manage at home, please see this link at
https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/COVID-19-Home-Care-Guidelines.pdf which will provide you with guidelines regarding how we will help you to manage at home with mild COVID symptoms. Moderate to severe symptoms will need to be managed via hospital admission or hospital in the home program.
RCH – Royal Children’s Hospital COVID-19 vaccination information video regarding children – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZb87luSC3Q
Vax Facts – link to information videos regarding COVID-19 vaccination concerns – https://www.vaxfacts.org.au/
Eligibility for vaccination – you may use the following link to see your vaccine eligibility at any stage of the roll out – https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/
Waiting Room – with limited availability to patients.
Please be advised due to the ongoing infection control, we have made the decision to reduce our waiting room to reduce risks of infection to patients.
For blood tests with Melbourne Pathology, please come to the entrance of our clinic and allocate yourself a number on a register at the front door before 8.30am and if you arrive after 8.30am the list will be located inside at reception. Return to your car to wait and you will be called when it is your turn to be seen.
New Patients – we are currently not taking on any new patients due to the high demand with our current patient list. We will be reviewing this policy every 3 months.
Recall & Reminder service – all letters for your recalls and reminders are sent electronically through HOT DOCS via a text message. When you receive this text message from the clinic, we encourage you to read the message, click the link to verify yourself and then you will be able to view your letter and make an appointment if required.
All appointments are sent a reminder 48 hours before your appointment, please reply to this text message with YES to confirm or call reception on 9435 1144 to reschedule or cancel.