Policies and Appointments

Policy

Availability of Doctors by Telephone

Doctors in this practice may be contacted by telephone during normal surgery hours. When a doctor is engaged in a consultation, a message will be taken and returned as soon as possible. Please indicate the nature of your call when you ring, as all such calls are regarded as potential emergencies. If you are calling about an emergency, please indicate that to the receptionist and your call will be put through to your doctor or the duty doctor.

Please note that due to legal implications, we are unable to offer medical decisions without seeing the patient.

If you are asked to ring for results, it is best to ring between midday and 1 pm.

The practice hours are Monday to Friday: 8 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.

After Hours Coverage and Home Visits

When the surgery is closed, all patients registered with the practice are automatically covered for after-hours medical care by our Locum Service on 6288 1711. If you telephone this surgery after-hours, a recorded message will give you the above number. Dr Englin\'s current patients may call 0413 588 715 out of business hours.

House calls are available to patients too sick to attend the surgery after consulting times. We only cover suburbs in the immediate vicinity of Medical Centre Lyneham. This service is not available to new patients whose families are not known to the practice for safety reasons.

 

Billing

The current fee schedule is available at reception. Fees depend on the complexity and the length of a consultation.

We request payment at the time of consultation. EFTPOS facilities are available. All patients with concession cards will be given a discount on full payment.

If you are referred for a test or to a specialist, please indicate if you have any questions or concerns about the billing policy and the costs involved.

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Appointments

All appointments are for 15 minutes unless you request a longer consultation or require a surgical procedure. Please advise the receptionist when you book if you have any special needs.

Please let us know if you cannot make it or don\'t require the appointment to help someone else who may need to get quickly. We will accommodate urgent problems as people arrive with them. If your visit is urgent, please indicate that to the receptionist on arrival. She will then ensure that one of the doctors will assess you as soon as possible.

House calls are peformed only after the practice hours. A separate billing schedule applies to this service

When you ring to make an appointment, please indicate which doctor you normally see. Our staff always attempt to ensure that you see the same doctor for continuity of care. We strongly advise you to see the same doctor when practical.

Sometimes, we can’t avoid running late. If you are on a tight schedule, please check with the receptionist whether there is a delay.

Please advise us of a change in address or telephone numbers. If you have been in hospital or had been treated elsewhere, please ensure that a letter for your doctor is obtained upon discharge and forwarded to us as soon as possible.