Patient Information

Billing & Fees

Wollongong Central Medical Clinic is a Mixed Billing Practice. There is a $30:00 out-of-pocket cost for all patients between the age of 16- 65 years for all face-to-face consultations. All charges are subject to change without prior notice.

Consultation Fees

Standard Consultation fee	Type	Charge	Medicare rebate	Out-of-pocket cost
Up to 19 min	Level B	$69.75	$39.75	$30.00
20-39 min	Level C	$106.95	$76.95	$30.00
40 min and over	Level D	$143.30	$113.30	$30.00
20 minutes	Full Body Skin Check	$126.95	$76.95	$50.00

Procedures And Other Services:

Other services such as procedures, dressings, treatment room presentations, forms, and transfer of records may incur additional costs. You will be informed of these in advance.

PLEASE NOTE: For longer appointments or those with multiple issues the fee might be higher, and an appropriate appointment must be made. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask our friendly staff.

Health Information Policy & Your Privacy

All staff is bound to a confidentiality agreement that ensures your personal information is kept private at all times. Our practice is dedicated to maintaining your privacy. Your electronic records are stored on password-protected computers that are backed up daily, and your paper records are filed in our storage room, which is off-limits to the public. Please inform reception or your Doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your health information, privacy, or
accessing your records.

Transferring your records to a new Doctor/Practice

If you would like to transfer your health care to another Doctor, you will need to sign a letter at the
practice you are intending on transferring to, and have them fax the request to us. We will then transfer any relevant health information to the chosen practice within five business days.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Our practice does not discriminate against or disadvantage patients in any aspect of access to personal health information, examination, or treatment. No patient new or existing will be refused access to medical care from a doctor based on their sex, age, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, or medical condition. All doctors and staff expect to treat patients with respect, courtesy, politeness, and understanding at all times.

Repeat Prescriptions, Referrals & Test Results

To monitor your health and fulfill our ethical and legal obligations, we request that you attend to see your Doctor for a consultation if you require further prescriptions, referrals, or follow-up test results. If your Doctor is not available, another Doctor in the practice can attend to your request. We do not give test results over the phone due to privacy laws and the need for your Doctor to conduct further follow-up if required.

Care outside of opening hours

Radio Doctor Illawarra: 4228 5522

Available for bulk-billed in-home consultations weeknights 7 pm-6 am, weekends from 12 pm Saturday until 6 am Monday, and all-day public holidays. Their boundaries are from Sea Cliff Bridge to Gerroa. Patients can call to book the Radio Doctor one hour before consultation times begin.

For an emergency either go to Wollongong or Shellharbour Hospital or ring 000 for an ambulance.

Home Visits

Wollongong Central Medical Clinic does not routinely offer home visits as part of our normal services. If there are extenuating circumstances where you believe a patient may require a home visit from one of our doctors, please call the practice and provide reception staff with as many explanatory details as possible.

This information will be passed along to the treating doctor who will exercise their discretion regarding the matter.

If you require emergency treatment, please call for an Ambulance on 000 or present to the emergency department at Shellharbour or Wollongong Hospital.

Communication Policy

Doctor’s in the practice may be contacted during normal surgery hours. If the Doctor is with a patient, a message will be taken and the reception staff will advise you further. Your call will always be put through to the Doctor in an emergency. Please note this surgery does not communicate via email due to privacy and confidentiality laws unless advised by your Doctor.

Translating & Interpreter Service

If you would like a language interpreter for your medical consultations, reception will gladly arrange this for you. A phone call will be placed with the service used by this practice to obtain an interpreter in your preferred language for your subsequent medical consultation.

Feedback/Complaints

If you have any concerns regarding your health management, please speak with one of our staff or address a letter to the Practice Manager and we will take every action to make sure we accommodate your concerns. We take your concerns/suggestions seriously and are always looking for ways to improve our practice to better serve you.

If you are not satisfied with the above, you may direct your concerns to the Health Care Complaints Commission on the following details:

Health Care Complaints Commission NSW

Locked Mail Bag 18, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

Toll-Free: 1800 043 159

Email: hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au Website: www.hccc.nsw.gov.au

Change of Personal Details

Please advise our reception staff of any change of details as soon as possible. This is very important so we can contact you if necessary for any health-related matters.

Reminder System:

Our practice is committed to providing continuing care and preventative care. we operate a reminder system for preventative health services. Please make sure your contact details are kept up-to-date.

Test Results:

Discussion of test results is best done at a follow up appointment with your GP. Please allow several days for routine pathology results to be processed. Urgent tests are usually available within 24 hours.

Delays:

We hope you understand that delays sometimes occur due to unforeseen circumstances which are out of our control. We endeavour to see patients as close to their appointment time as possible.