Frequently Asked Questions

Our Fees

Consultation Fees (1 July 2020):

• Who Do I Call in an Emergency?

  In the event of an emergency, telephone an ambulance – dial 000.
  Urgent after-hours care can also be availed at the Emergency Department of the John Hunter Hospital or Calvary Mater Hospital.

• Who Can I Call After Hours?

  If urgent problems come up after our business hours and you need medical care, GP Access After Hours service can provide help to you on the surgery’s behalf.

  Please call 02 4951 2100 for telephone advice or an appointment. They will inform us regarding your visit to their service.

• What Are Your Opening Hours?

  We are working 5 days Monday to Friday – 8 am to 5.30 pm

  Sat & Sun: Closed
  Closed on Public Holidays.

• Are You Open on Public Holidays?

  We are closed on Public Holidays.

  On a Public Holiday, please request urgent care at the Emergency Department of the John Hunter Hospital or Calvary Mater Hospital.

  On the contrary, GP Access After Hours service is open from 9 am on public holidays and can provide help on the surgery’s behalf.

• Do You Have Car-parking Facilities?

  Parking is available onsite at level 3 of the Marketown East shopping centre accessed via Ravenshaw Street, Newcastle West. Parking level P2 is at the same level as our premises and is assigned for patients and visitors.
  Disability parking is also available on the same level and just outside our main reception door.
  We have travelators located within our building and we also have lifts that are large enough to accommodate ambulance trolleys, motorised carts, prams and wheelchairs.

• What Provisions Do You Provide for Patients With a Disability?

  We have provisions for patients having disabilities to access our services and facilities with:

  • Accessibility of wheelchair to our reception, toilets and consulting rooms;
  • Ramps and railings installed in common patient entry and access areas;
  • Assigned parking close to the entrance;
  • Availability of lifts for access from all car parking levels and ramps from street access;
  • Baby change facilities available in particularly designated baby change bathrooms within the shopping centre.

• What Is Your Address?

  Wallsend Medical Practice

  Stockland Shopping Centre
  Shop 5, Cnr Kokera and Cowper Sts
  Wallsend, NSW 2287
  Ph: 02 4951 2100
  Fax: 02 4951 2166

  Cameron Park Medical Practice

  Shop 19,
  309 George Booth Drive,
  Cameron Park, NSW 2285.
  Ph: 02 4950 1333
  Fax: 02 4950 1444

  Clarence Town Medical Centre

  40 Grey Street
  Clarence Town, NSW 2321
  Ph: 02 4996 4003
  Fax: 02 4996 4009

  Paterson Medical Practice

  16 King Street
  Paterson, NSW 2421
  Ph: 02 4938 5527
  Fax: 02 4938 5516

• Can I Cancel an Appointment?

  If you are unable to attend your appointment, we request you to make a cancellation phone call at the earliest in advance. If you do so we can offer the appointment slot to another patient who wishes to see a doctor.

• Do I Need to Make an Appointment?

  We follow an appointment system, hence you need to book an appointment for all consultations and procedures. On arrival at the surgery, please check in with reception.

  Patients are required to book their appointments at the earliest in advance.

  The duration of a usual consultation is 15 minutes. If you think your consultation will go on longer, or if you are getting a procedure performed, please book a double appointment. Though we try to maintain appointment times, at times it is not possible, as some problems require a little more time to be dealt with than others. We hate to keep you waiting, however, please do understand that delays may happen to owe to the emergence of unforeseen emergencies and complicated medical problems. We request you to be patient and understand.

  If you are coming to the practice as a family or couple, please ensure you book an appointment for each person who requires medical attention so that we can provide the best possible care and also be efficient with time.

• What Is the Role of the Nursing Staff?

  We work as a team. Our nurses play a great role in helping us provide the best medical care to our patients. Sometimes, the doctors make use of the services of the nursing staff before their appointment. The doctors and nurses work in collaboration with chronic disease management, diabetic care, and immunisations and patients will be directed to surgery-run clinics according to their requirements. The nurses also take height, weight & blood pressure measurements, carry out INR testing and blood sugar level readings, triage patients, offer wound care, remove sutures, and update patient records and also help to perform procedures and attend health evaluations.

• Can I Telephone a Doctor?

  Even though most problems are best managed with in consultation, a doctor will always be at hand during normal surgery hours for emergency advice.

  Our staff have extensive experience in helping you decide whether the condition needs an appointment, a return phone call from the practice or urgent advice.

• Does Your Practice Have a Code of Ethics?

  Our practise is dedicated to providing complete General Practice care to all people and families in this community. We are dedicated to keeping your personal health information private. Your medical record is a confidential document and it is our policy to maintain the security of personal health information every time and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised staff members.

• Can I Get a Script Without Visiting a Doctor?

  If you are our patient and require a repeat prescription, we have a script only appointment system available, and we prompt you to use that.

  The script only appointments are last for a shorter duration than normal consultations and do not permit time to talk about other health concerns.

• Do You Bulk Bill?

  We do not bulk bill, as we cannot keep up with our standard of medical care on the rebate available.

  However, medical care for concession cardholders at a discounted rate is provided by us.

  Our latest fee scale is displayed at reception. Please talk to our receptionists for more details. We ask that entire fee be paid at the time of consultation. We accept cash, EFTPOS, Bankcard, MasterCard and Visa.

• How Long an Appointment Should I Book?

  Patient consultations are scheduled at 15-minute intervals. Some complex conditions need more time than considered. If you feel your problem might require a longer time, please consider booking a double (30 minute) appointment.

  If you have more than one problem or feel you need more time or you are a new patient please book a long appointment as this will help us help you more efficiently. The Medicare rebate for consultations of longer durations makes them a very cost-effective alternative for those patients wishing to discuss more than one issue with their GP.

  For some administrative medical functions such as; insurance forms, Centrelink, RMS driving certifications and medical certificates, please book an appointment and mention the type of document needed when making the booking. This will help the appropriate appointment to be made.

• Do You Provide Home Visits?

  In places where other care arrangements are unavailable, we provide a home visit service within business hours for usual patients of the practice, within the CBD area and surrounds.

• How Do I Obtain My Test Results?

  Our staff will contact patients regarding an abnormal test result when the doctor receives the result. To know your results, or if you haven’t heard from us, talk to our reception staff seven (7) working days after the test is carried out. The calls cannot be transferred to your doctor when they are consulting other patients, and complete consultations cannot be carried out by phone and we regret this

  If you have other queries please talk to our receptionists, they will recommend the appropriate doctor or nurse if needed.

• How Do I Get a Referral?

  Your doctor will discuss referrals with you when required and are glad to answer queries regarding referrals to specialist medical or paramedical facilities.

• How Do I Make Any Suggestions or Complaints?

  Our aim is to provide the highest level of professional care to our patients every time, we welcome any suggestions or complaints, as this helps us enhance our service.

  You may talk to us directly, however, if you want to talk to an external body, you can talk to the NSW Health Care complaints commission on:

  1800 043 159 (toll-free in NSW) or hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au