PATIENT INFORMATION
When looking for a general practitioner it is important to ensure that your Doctor has achieved either of these specialist qualifications in general practice.
FRACGP – Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
FACRRM – Fellow of the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine.
Appointments:
Appointment Policy
Bowenfels Medical Practice & Eskbank Surgery provide an appointment system which has the ability to accommodate patients with urgent, non-urgent, complex, planned and chronic and preventative health care issues.
A scheduled visit is required for practice appointments. Please phone Bowenfels Medical Practice on (02) 63522533 or Eskbank Surgery on (02) 63531113 and a receptionist will assist you with an appointment. Every effort is made to accommodate your preferred GP and time. Please advise the Receptionist if you require a longer appointment. We ask that longer appointments be made for complex problems, insurance related consults and pre-employment medicals. If there is another family member to be seen please advise the Receptionist so (she can also book them) adequate time can be booked with the GP.
We have also implemented an Online Appointment system (so you may wish to use this method) which you may use outside of our usual hours to make an online appointment A link to this can be found on the home page. This service is not available for all doctors but if you wish to use this service to see your doctor, please let you doctor know on your next visit.
The Practice has a policy that we will fit in a child or an obstetric patient on the day if a parent or guardian is concerned that the issue is serious. Please make sure that you clearly communicate concerns to our Reception staff.
Our Practitioners endeavour to keep to their scheduled appointment times. However Practitioners may be delayed or have emergencies at the Lithgow Hospital. We apologise for this and suggest that you phone ahead of your appointment time and ask the Receptionist to check if your appointment will be on time.
Bowenfels Medical Practice Online Appointments:
Eskbank Surgery Online Appointments:
Cancelling Appointments:
Our Practice may charge a fee for missed appointments, or appointments that are cancelled at short notice. Details of doctors fees are available at our Practice. If you repeatedly do not attend your appointments, the practice may, at the discretion of the doctor, be unable to make further appointments for you at the practice.
Emergencies:
Emergencies will always be given priority. Please advise Reception staff if your call is of an urgent nature and your call will be triaged appropriately. If you are experiencing chest pain or a life threatening condition, you may need to call an ambulance or attend Lithgow Hospital. (of which many of our doctors attend as well.)
Practice Hours:
Bowenfels Medical Practice 8:30am – 5:30pm
Eskbank Surgery 9:00am – 5:30pm
(hours at Eskbank Surgery may vary daily depending on consulting GP)
After Hours:
If you require emergency after hours medical treatment or advice, please go to Lithgow Hospital Emergency Department.
Home Visits:
Home Visits are available for regular patients whose condition prevents them attending the Practice. It is up to the doctors’ discretion as to how far they will travel and what time they are available for a home visit. Please ask your doctor for this service.
Interpreter Services
Interpreter Services
The Practice provides a health service that accommodates a diverse multicultural population including those with disability.
Patients are encouraged to use the free Translating and Interpreting Service. This free service is available 24 hours a day via telephone 131 450. Further information about this is available at:
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
Another free interpreting service is available for patients who are deaf and use Australian sign language (AUSLAM). Their contact details are:
Telephone 1800 246 945
Website: www.nabs.org.au
Other than English the following doctors also speak the following languages:
* Dr Siva Kan – Speaks – Tamil.
* Dr Wan Sze Yin – Speaks – Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Hokkien, Indonesian, Malay.
* Dr Biing – Speaks – Cantonese.
Practice Fees
Bowenfels Medical Practice & Eskbank Surgery has a combination of Private and Bulk Billing services. All patients are expected to pay a private fee unless they provide Reception Staff with the details of the Pension or Health Care Card. We ask that all accounts are paid at the time of consultation. We accept cash, cheque, credit card and eftpos payments.
If you are having difficulty with payment please talk to your practitioner regarding this. It is the practitioners’ discretion to waive this fee.
Repeat Prescriptions
If you require a prescription you will be required to attend the practice for an appointment. We generally cannot write a prescription if you do not attend the practice. This will be up to the discretion of your practitioner.
Test Results
When a Doctor is requesting tests for you, please discuss with your Doctor how the results will be communicated to you. If you have not received feedback on your test after 14 days please contact our Nurse and they will organise an appointment with the practitioner to discuss your result with you.
Reminder and Recalls
Our Practice participates in State recall systems, such as Pap Smears. It is our policy to include you in these systems unless you state otherwise. We also have a reminder system and your details MAY be added in order to follow up (when and if needed to check on) any outstanding health matters.
Patient Resource Centre
Patient Resource Centre
http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/
http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
http://www.asthmafoundation.org.au
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
http://www.myvaccination.com.au/
http://canceraustralia.gov.au/
Travel Clinic
TBA