Consultations are by appointment and are normally made at fifteen-minute intervals, so you can usually expect to spend 10-15 minutes with your doctor. You will need to report to the reception desk on arrival.
Please inform staff if your call is an emergency, as soon as the phone is answered.
If you require a longer appointment to discuss concerns with your doctor or a complicated problem, please ask the staff to book a half hour appointment when phoning.
Please phone after 8am to make an appointment, Mon- Friday and 8:30am on Saturday.
Office is closed from 5.30pm. If calls are received after this an answering machine message will instruct you. If you have an emergency you will be asked to hang up and call 000 or contact Tanunda Hospital on 8563 2398.
When the doctor or doctors have been called for an emergency the staff will inform you of the time delay before you will see the doctor. The unpredictable nature of country practice means we sometimes run behind schedule.
We encourage our patients to develop a relationship with a particular doctor, because we believe that this is the way in which you will receive the best health care. If for some reason a doctor, who is not your usual doctor treats you, he or she will normally arrange for any follow-up care to be undertaken by your usual doctor.
If you require a dressing or a procedure, and need to see the Nurse you will need to book a time with the Registered Nurse 9.00 am – 4.30 pm Monday to Friday.
We can provide for a wide range of medicals. Please ask to speak to a nurse to arrange a time and inform you of the length and cost involved. Full payment is required on the day unless previously arranged with your employer.
We also have a Translating & Interpreting Service - Doctors Priority Line. Please speak to receptionist if this service is required.
A free AUSLAN service for patients who are deaf is available at www.nabs.org.au
If you are unwell and cannot attend the surgery for a consult the on call doctor may visit you at your home, if you live in the local area. Please remember however, that house calls are time consuming and also that the on call doctor must remain quickly accessible for emergencies and hospital visits.
If you wish to call an ambulance please phone 000.
The Nuriootpa Medical Centre is committed to providing the highest standard of medical care to the whole community. Part of our care is providing patients with a choice of appointment.
Missed or cancelled appointments at the last minute interfere with the practice. This has necessitated a policy whereby future appointments missed or cancelled less than 3 hours in advanced will be charged a fee. Medicare will not cover this cost.
By notifying us well in advance if you cannot attend an appointment, you will be helping us to provide our patients with a prompt and efficient service.
Prescriptions / Referrals / Sick Certificates
In the interest of better health care repeat prescriptions and specialist referrals will not be given without patient-doctor contact. Where it has been agreed that such repeats will be issued, 24 hours notice is required. A fee will apply for scripts $10.00 / referrals $15.00 on each occasion. The fee may be waived if you have seen the doctor in the last 7 days.
Sick certificates will not be issued unless a doctor has been consulted in relation to that illness.
Recalls
The Nuriootpa Medical Centre offers patients the option of being involved in our recall system. Please discuss this with your doctor. Overdue smear recalls and other recalls may be sent to you via the government reminder system. If you do not wish to participate in any recall please indicate this on you patient information sheet.
You may be contacted by a Registered Nurse or your Doctor regarding a test result, and you may need to make an appointment to discuss these results.
We prefer not to email patients at this time, until all security information is in place.