After Hours

For after hours help attend either Macksville, Bellingen or Coffs Harbour Emergency Departments.
Or call the After Hours GP Help Line on 1800 022 222
Macksville Hospital (02) 6598 3300
Bellingen Hospital (02) 6659 5888
Coffs Hospital (02) 6656 7000

Phone Calls

All messages will be relayed to the doctor and we will endeavour to contact you later that same day.

Email and communications

Our practice will communicate with patients by email, however, results will not be sent via email and an appointment is required.

Please note that emails are not encrypted.

Facilities

Our toilet has full disabled access and there is a disabled parking area at the rear of the building accessed from Ketut Close.

Services available

• • Childhood Immunisations and checks
• • Travel advice
• • Skin Cancer checks
• • Minor Excisions
• • ECGs
• • Suturing of uncomplicated lacerations
• • Cryotherapy
• • Management of sporting injuries
• • Management of chronic diseases
• • Women’s health issues e.g. cervical screening
• • Care of the elderly
• • Preventative health checks
• • Insurance Medical Examinations

Other General Practice Issues

Recalls & reminders

We offer a reminder system (and an opt-out option) for a variety of procedures and services.

Results

We are unable to email you you results unless your home computer/ server has the same encryption that is required for Medical Practices. You are welcome to contact front desk and book a time with our nurse to collect your results IF THEY ARE NORMAL and do not warrant further appointments with the doctor.

Appointments

Face to Face appointments are routinely 15 minutes long and Telehealth appointments routinely 20 minute long. A number of appointments will always be kept unbooked until the morning to accommodate urgent requests to see the doctor.

Please make sure that you inform reception if you need a longer appointment. Specific issues such as Insurance Medical examinations, full skin checks and procedures will need a longer time.

If you do have several issues that need attention the doctor may have to request that you book a further appointment to deal with all of the problems as it would be unfair to other patients in the waiting room if the wait is too long.

This surgery operates by appointment only but in the event of an emergency we can accomodate walk-in appointments.

Note: If you fail to attend your appointment without giving 24hrs notice (barring acts of God, bereavement etc) you will be billed the full fee for your missed consultation.

House calls

House calls are not done routinely except at the discretion of the doctor and only within 1km of the practice. There is a cost involved if a house call is requested – please enquire about requesting a house call.

Fees

Payment is requested on the day and can be in the form of cash, EFTPOS or credit card.

The full fee is due on the day of the consultation – please refer to the notice boards in the waiting room for more details.

When a procedure is performed a gap-only payment may apply.

Department of Veteran’s Affairs Gold or White Card holders will still be bulk billed.

There are various different fees and rates for different consultations and procedures – please make sure you acquaint yourself of these when attending the desk or calling for an appointment.

We have the facility for patients to pay the full amount and then immediately have the Medicare rebate deposited in their bank account.

Scripts

Scripts that have been done through the practice before can be requested for pick up. In order for someone else to request or pick-up scripts for you, a consent will need to be signed. A request for scripts will incur a fee.

Transfer and Closing of Files

We will transfer your file to the next doctor via electronic means, fax or registered post.

If the file is over 20 pages long, there will be an administrative charge per page of notes if we need to fax or post these notes.

There is no charge for electronic transfer of notes. Please note that once patients are transferred out of our clinic, due to our rapidly increasing patient numbers, we close the file permanently but will see you if there is a life threatening emergency.

However, if that patient transfers their file as they are moving away from the area, we will accept them back as patients if they move back to the area.

If you, the registered patient has not been at Valla Beach Health for two years, we will close your file permanently, unless you notify us in writing or via email to keep it open.

Feedback

We welcome any feedback that you may have – please tell our staff, or your doctor, if you have any suggestions or complaints.

If a matter cannot be resolved you may contact the Health Care Complaints Commission at www.hccc.nsw.gov.au or call them on 1800 043 159.

Your Personal Health Information

Confidentiality of all aspects of your medical record is extremely important to us. This information will not be released to a third party without express written consent from you. Exceptions to this would be if we are required by a court of law to provide this information or in the rare cases where you are at risk of harm without treatment and you are unable to provide consent. Please refer to our website for our privacy policy.

Cultural sensitivity and language issues

We encourage patients to advise the staff / doctor if there are any cultural issues that we need to take note of. Translation services can be arranged and our doctors and some staff have second and third languages that they speak.

Preventative Health Care

Annual Check Up

An annual check of blood pressure, weight, glucose and other relevant matters is advised.

Cervical Screening Tests (CST)

Cervical Screening tests, if normal, are now every 5 years.

Mammograms

Women from 50 to 70 years of age should have a mammogram every two years.

Immunisations

We advise that all children should be immunised according to the National Immunisation Schedule. Immunisations should not be delayed because of minor coughs and colds, but you should see a doctor to discuss this before any immunisations.

Patients over the age of 65 years, or with diabetes or heart or lung diseases should receive annual influenza vaccinations.

People turning 65 years of age should also receive a pneumococcal vaccination.

All patients should have up to date tetanus vaccinations.

Skin Cancer Checks

We advise regular checks of suspicious skin lesions. If you are at an increased risk of skin cancers an annual (or more frequent) full skin check is advised and a referral to a dermatologist may be required.

No-Smoking policy

We have a strict no-smoking policy in our building and on the premises.

Bullying / Violence

We have a zero tolerance to bullying and / or violence. Bullying includes – cyber-bullying, lies, gossiping, rumour, name-calling, teasing, mean words, threats and passive-aggressive behaviour.

This clinic is monitored, alarmed and has a CCTV system installed.

Useful Phone Numbers

• Emergency Services 000
• Bellingen Hospital 02 6659 5800
• Macksville Hospital 02 6598 3300
• Coffs Harbour Hospital 02 6656 7000
• Alcohol & Drug Hotline 1800 250 015
• Blue Knot Hotline 1300 657 380
• Carer’s Australia 1800 422 737
• Carer’s NSW 02 9280 4744
• Childwise Helpline 1800 99 10 99
• Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 737 732
• Family Drug Support 1300 368 186
• Grow (Mental Health Support) 1800 558 268
• Health Direct 1800 022 222
• Hepatitis C Support line / Info 1800 803 990
• HIV Hotline 1800 451 600
• Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
• Lifeline 131 114
• Mens Line Australia 1300 789 978
• Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1800 273 8255
• NSW Quit Line 131 848
• Parent Line 1300 1300 52
• Poison Information Line 131 126
• Rape Crisis Centre 1800 424 017
• Sexual Assault Helpline Coffs Harbour 02 6656 7200
• Warrina Womens Refuge 02 6652 4000