Patient Information

The practices are committed to meeting the needs of our community by providing services expected of a seaside community. Services are available in general medical practitioner consultations, care plans and the team-care arrangements for managing chronic illness, family planning, minor surgical procedures, anti ageing treatment,  immunisations, skin checks, mental health care, dietitian and health promotion activities.

All practitioners consulting from South Coast Medical genuinely treat all patients with the same level of consideration, empathy and duty of care including those who may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, tarns, intersex or questioning (LGBTIQA+).  We strive to provide an environment that is safe and supportive and we actively encourage all staff and patients to understand and respect individuality and diversity.

As a practice, South Coast Medical is committed to a safe working environment for our staff, consulting practitioners and visitors alike.  If at any time, a patient does not show mutual respect to each other and/or staff/practitioners, they may be asked to leave the clinic.  If there is an incident within clinic that is deemed to be aggressive in nature or not tolerable behaviour , the policy is to request that the patient not return to the clinics for treatment or consultation.  We will provide the patient with a list of alternative local clinics to serve their future medical requirements and will forward any medical history/documentation.  This will be sent via registered post in the first instance. 

Appointments and Waiting Times

Consultations are made with your chosen practitioner by appointment only. A standard appointment is 10 to 15 minutes. If you feel you need to see the doctor for a complex medical issue, or have more than one problem, please inform reception when booking your appointment so that a longer appointment can be made. Every effort is made to provide an appointment with the doctor of your choice; please advise reception of your chosen practitioner. The practitioners try to keep as closely as possible to the appointed times, however if we are unable to do this, staff will inform you of any expected delays. You can also book appointments through the website.

If you have given your mobile telephone number to reception, you will receive a text message to remind you about your appointment the day before the appointment. If you cannot attend please let reception know so that they can offer the appointment to someone else.

Please ensure your telephone number and address is correct and up to date.

Telehealth Appointments 

Telehealth appointments are a way for patients to get a consultation with their chosen general practitioner remotely, whether it be over the phone or via internet.  The GP may still request to see you in the clinic for further treatment.   Telehealth appointments for prescriptions will incur a private fee and patients should have been seen face to face in clinic in the last 3 months in order to receive a telehealth consultation for a repeat prescription.  Note, no authority scripts will be prescribed via telehealth or in script only appointments.

Please note that telehealth appointments may incur a private fee, this is at the discretion of your chosen practitioner. This fee is payable at the time of consultation.  Legislation requires patients to have had at least one face to face consultation in the 12 months prior to a telehealth consultation in order to receive a Medicare rebate

Accounts

The practitioners consulting from South Coast Medical facilities operate on a private billing basis. The fee for a standard consultation Monday to Friday (Item 23) is $93* and for pensioners and health care card holders it is $87* during weekday business hours. 

Some of our doctors bulk bill for children 15 years and under Monday to Friday - please check with reception when booking appointments. Note: Children may not be automatically bulk billed by Dr Addison, Dr Priestley, Dr Flanagan or Dr Flynn and a private fee may be charged.  

Saturday mornings are charged at $100* for a standard consultation (except in the case of a public holiday where public holiday rates apply). Children are privately billed on a Saturday morning at a rate of $80* with a Medicare rebate of $41.40. 

*Please be aware that the practitioners will advise reception of their billing requirements for each consultation, their billing policy is at their discretion and not that of South Coast Medical.

The general practitioners are very busy and at times are booked well in advance.  If you are unable to make your appointment please endeavour to cancel your appointment either by calling the clinic or via Hotdocs 24 hours prior to your appointment time. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be subject to a non attendance fee of $50.  This is at the discretion of the consulting practitioner.

Payment is required at the time of consultation. The practitioners accept cash, cheque (by prior arrangement only), major credit cards and EFTPOS. The current fee schedule for standard consultations is available in the patient reception and waiting room areas.

Dr Addison consultation fees are time based.
0-15 min $93-$110 16-20 min $120
Medicare Rebate $41.40

21-30 min Up to $180
Pre Booked Double Appt $180
Medicare Rebate $80.10

Please note; children may be privately billed at the time of consultation.

Procedures require a $50 deposit payment
Late cancellation/non-attendance fees many apply

DOWNLOAD THE CONSULTATION FEE BROCHURE

Home Visits

Home visits are available at the discretion of the doctor for their regular patients who are unable to attend because of serious incapacity. They are confined within a radius of 10 kms from the main practice.

Emergencies and After Hours

From 6pm to 11pm GPs will triage and attend to patients as required or refer to local private and public hospitals if required.  An urgent home visit can be facilitated if necessary. DoctorDoctor (previously known as ALMS – Australian Locum Medical Service) provides the after hours service (from 11pm weeknights) for regular patients at Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie and Dromana. DoctorDoctor will the ‘first port of call’ for medical advice to patients. These services are available to current Patients only!

For after hours medical attention via South Coast Medical please call any of the clinics for attention.

Dromana 0359814300 Capel Sound 0359862155 Rye 0359857776 Blairgowrie 0359888604

A Saturday morning clinic is available at the Rosebud Clinic  from 9.00 am-12.00 pm   Appointments are charged at a higher rate than weekday clinics.  The clinics are closed on Sundays except for during peak seasonal periods.

Alternatively, the Rosebud Hospital (Peninsula Health) has a staffed emergency department open to the public 24 hours a day – ph 03 5986 0666

If you are experiencing chest pains or have an urgent medical condition call 000 immediately.

GP Training

All doctors consulting at South Coast Medical facilities have satisfied the training requirements of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners(RACGP)  and are on the Vocational Register of General Practitioners having completed advanced training in general practice. They are dedicated to general practice and to continuing medical education. As a training practice we are committed to the training of doctors who are completing advanced training in general practice.

Medical students and Nursing students attend the practice from time to time. We hope that you will co-operate and help the students to learn about general practice. However, you will be informed of their presence in advance, and if you do not want them to be present at a consultation, your wishes will be respected. This will not affect your treatment in any way.

Results and Recalls

All results are reviewed by the doctors. There is a policy in place for recalling patients where medically appropriate. You will be contacted if your doctor needs to see you or discuss your results.

The practitioners are committed to preventative health care. You may be sent a reminder notice from time to time offering preventative health services appropriate to your care. Make sure that you have given your email address or mobile phone number to the Reception staff. If you do not wish to be part of this system please let reception know.

Referral

All referrals require a consultation and be dated for the day of the consultation. It is important that once a referral is made the patient makes the appropriate arrangements to see the specialist. The practitioners have a relationship with many local health care services.   

Patient records / Privacy Policy

The practice and practitioners are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your personal health information. Your medical record is confidential and private. It is the policy of this facility and the practitioners consulting from the facility to maintain security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised personnel. All staff sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their employment conditions.

Patients have the right to access their personal health information under the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2012 (fees apply).

A copy of the privacy policy is available from the reception staff at the clinics.

Refer to the MBA Code Of Conduct – www.medicalboard.gov.au

Patient Information

Download Patient Information Sheet

Download Patient Information Sheet (Greek)

Download Patient Information Sheet (Italian)

Download Rosebud Patient Information Sheet

Download Rye Patient Information Sheet

Download Blairgowrie Patient Information Sheet

Download Dromana Patient Information Sheet

Download IV Iron Infusion Booklet

Download Full Patient Information Kit (3.1mb)