Services

We strongly discourage telephone prescription requests in the interest of good and safe medicine.

We however, allow a very brief prescription appointment with the doctors to ensure you are able to continue on your medication uninterrupted. These appointment are often bulk billed. Your doctor may charge a fee for phone scripts.

Consultations and appointments
An appointment system is used for your convenience to reduce waiting time to a minimum but please be patient as on occasion unavoidable delays may be caused by medical emergencies.

As we value your time also, patients are welcome to ring the practice prior to their consultation time for staff to estimate doctor’s running time, bearing in mind that this can still change due to emergency situations.

As a single appointment is only allocated 15 minutes please request an extended appointment if you need extra time to discuss multiple problems or complex issues. This may include paperwork, health assessments, care plans, medicals, immunizations both travel and childhood, procedures including excisions, contraception devices and dressings.

This will also help alleviate doctor running over time on a consultation and becoming late.

If you are unable to attend your appointment we would appreciate the earliest possible notice.

Medical emergencies will always be seen quickly by the first available doctor, simply notify our receptionist of the urgency.

To make an appointment phone our Receptionists on 5243 1111

Emergency after-hours service can be accessed by ringing our usual phone number
5243 1111 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Or phoning our after hours service on 13 SICK—137425

Some supplies including vaccines, dressings or specialised equipment used for certain procedures may attract a non-rebateable cost in addition to the consultation fee. Please discuss this with your doctor.

Your doctor may request diagnostic tests for you from time to time. At your consultation your doctor will explain why you are advised to have these tests and if additional expenses may be involved. Your doctor will explain the process and ask you to phone him within a day or so of having the tests completed to obtain your results. If there are any abnormalities or complexities your doctor will pre-empt contact with you. Your care may require referral to another health care provider or organization. In this case a written referral is sent to the other party and an appointment is organized. If you have any questions or problems regarding this referral please phone the practice advice from your doctor will be sought. There may be out of pocket expenses incurred and we advise patients to contact the practitioner or organisation and confirm the likely nature of these expenses.

Immunisation

For the current immunisation schedule for Victoria, please click on the Victoria Government Public Health schedule

Annual Vaccinations are an important measure to prevent influenza and its complications and is recommended for everyone older than 6 months of age. It is recommended to have your ‘flu shot’ before the onset of the influenza season each year.  The peak flu season is generally June to September in Australia. While protection is generally expected to last the whole season, optimal protection occurs within the first 3-4 months following vaccination.

In line with the Department of Health Guidelines SBM is holding flu vaccination clinics throughout late April and May.  This will ensure optimal coverage through to September when last year’s influenza season peaked.   Please call  5243 1111 to make an appointment.

For Patients turning 65 this year and older
Flu vaccines are government funded and this year there are new trivalent vaccines to give higher immune response in older adults.

If you are aged between 5 years and 64 years you can received a government funded (free) Quadrivalent  vaccine if you have the following medical conditions:
– Cardiac disease
– Chronic respiratory conditions
– Immunocompromising conditions
– Diabetes and other metabolic disorders
– Renal disease
– Haematological disorders

For all other patients aged 5- 64 years we offer private vaccinations at a cost of $25 or $18 for health care card holders/pensioners

Children aged 6 months to 4 years and 11 months of age are also entitled to a free children’s flu vaccination  please call the practice to arrange an appointment with the doctor.

Your doctor will endeavour to answer your phone calls as promptly as possible. For urgent matters please inform the receptionist, she may need to assess your request but will refer the matter immediately to the doctor in the case of an urgent medical matter.

To alleviate the interruptions to doctor’s consulting hours, he may return phone calls at the end of the session/day.

This practice is committed to preventative care. We may contact you with a reminder notice from time to time offering preventative health service appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be part of this system, please let your doctor know.

SBM does not bulk bill as a general rule.  All patients will however, be offered a reduced fee if they are either on a pension or are health care card holders.  All new patients are to be informed of the above policy at the time of making their appointment and the actual fee amount relevant at that time will be explained.

Any account queries are to be direct through the Manager to the relevant doctor. Additional treatment incurring costs will be explained to the patient appropriately.

Fees are set at the individual doctor’s discretion.

The doctors at SBM inform patients of possible additional costs involved in their care.  They will offer advice to the patient that further investigation may be required to ascertain the actual costs involved.  This is relevant to referral to another Health Care Provider, investigations or medications.

We now offer Intrauterine device (IUD/IUS) insertions and removals at South Barwon Medical centre.

Call us to book a consultation with a GP, if you think an IUD is an option for you.

What is an IUD/ Mirena?
An Intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most effective forms of contraception. It is a device inserted into your uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy for 5 years. It can be removed anytime, and your natural fertility returns after removing the IUD.

A Mirena is a very good treatment option for heavy or painful periods of endometriosis. It is also very effective as part of Hormonal replacement therapy for menopause.

Who can use it? Most people can use an IUD - including teenagers and people without children.

What are two types of IUDs?– One with hormones ( Mirena and Kyleena ) and one without Hormones. (Copper IUD)

For an IUD to be inserted, you will need three appointments.

A consultation before the insertion with a doctor ( 20 min) The doctor will guide you with your options and give you more details about the procedure and preparation.

Appointment for insertion. ( 30 min)

Follow-up appointment six weeks after insertion. (15 min)

IUD removals – This can often be done during a standard consultation. (15min)

For more information: https://shvic.org.au/for-you/contraception/iud-intrauterine-device

Just as the health and function of your feet is important to you, offering successful treatment options is vital. Fortunately, you can receive effective treatment and pain relief at Precise Podiatry located at the South Barwon Medical Centre. Our aim is to enable all our clients to attain and retain the optimal condition of their feet.  through qualified, expert practitioners with extensive knowledge, who offer a comprehensive range of services.

Although we often take them for granted, our feet are extraordinarily complex. We have 26 bones in each, accounting for a quarter of the bones in our body, as well as 33 joints and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons. Combine this with the strain we put our feet under each day and foot pain or problems seem an inevitability.

Our extensive range of services and treatment options include: