Introduction of Telephone Consultations – Medicare is now going to pay GPs to consult patients via telephone, with the aim being to reduce exposure risks for both Doctors and patients. Eligible patients can have a bulk-billed phone consultation with their Doctor. Patients who meet the following criteria will be bulk billed:

Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years of age, and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Vulnerable means a patient at risk of COVID-19, so a person who:
 is required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with guidance issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in relation to COVID-19; or
 is at least 70 years old; or
 if the person identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent—is at least 50 years old; or
 is pregnant; or
 is the parent of a child aged under 12 months; or
 is being treated for a chronic health condition; or
 is immune compromised; or
 meets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection.

For all other patients, the provider may charge a private fee and the patient will get the usual medicare rebate back.

If you need scripts, a referral or anything at all, our receptionists will book in a phone consultation for you., or you can still book online. This way we are able to continue to care for your health needs without you coming into the Practice. If the Doctor needs to see you for a physical examination, then we ask you to adhere to the new guidelines that we have put in place for all of our protection.

You will notice some changes in the practice environment as we adhere to social distancing guidelines. You may also be asked to wait in your car, rather than inside the waiting room. The waiting room has been rearranged to adhere to the social distancing rules. We ask that you wash your hands before coming in to see the doctor and then use hand sanitiser on entry to the practice.

If you are unwell with ANY of the following symptoms: Fever OR Sore throat OR Cough OR Shortness of breath, OR if you have been advised to get testing by the Public Health Unit, we ask that you DO NOT ENTER the practice (as you may expose elderly and vulnerable patients).

Instead, please ring reception on Ph: 33962141 and you will be offered a phone consultation.

Your GP will discuss your symptoms and advise you on appropriate management. If they determine you will need testing for Coronavirus, they will either fax a referral for you to be tested at a local pathology provider or direct you to a Fever Clinic.

Please note: We are not performing any testing for Coronavirus in person due to the risks to the doctor and other people in the practice.

Queensland Health has set up specific Fever clinics within some public hospitals, that are available for anyone to visit, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. These clinics are better equipped to assess you and provide testing than this practice. The closest clinics to Wynnum/Manly are located at Redlands Hospital in Cleveland, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba, and Mater Adult Hospital in South Brisbane.

For up to date information on Coronavirus (also called COVID-19) see: https://www.qld.gov.au/…/conditions/he…/coronavirus-covid-19

For information on testing, see: https://www.qld.gov.au/…/take-act…/testing-and-fever-clinics