|
Welcome to the GMC website, which has been designed to give you information about our services and help you make more effective use of the GMC. We welcome Contact us from our patients and others using this website.
Mission
Our mission is to provide comprehensive, continuing primary medical services to the people of Goonellabah.
Our location
Goonellabah Medical Centre is located at 616 Ballina Road in Goonellabah, a suburb of of the city of Lismore in northern New South Wales. The map below provides a guide to our location.
Top of Page
About us
The Goonellabah Medical Centre opened in March 1997 when three established local general practices amalgamated to provide a more comprehensive medical service under one roof.
The GMC is an accredited general practice with its standards of medical care approved by Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL). It has a team of nine doctors with back-up from nursing and paramedical staff, and a pathology collection centre. In addition it provides a 7 day service.
The GMC has a minor procedure operating theatre with an adjoining sterilisation room. This ensures modern sterilisation standards are achieved. There is also an area for casualties and urgent cases. All areas have their own networked computer terminal to enable efficient communication and record keeping.
The Goonellabah Medical Centre is fully equipped for all general practice needs and emergencies. We have the facilities necessary for the management of minor fractures and skin lacerations. We are fully versed in the care of medical emergencies and have full resuscitation equipment available. We can organise hospital-base investigations or admissions to Lismore Base and St Vincent's hospitals if needed. We will make house calls at the end of the day if necessary.
Easy car parking, disabled access and an ambulance bay mean that we can cater to people with disabilities. Our air-conditioned and spacious waiting area is designed for your comfort. We welcome your comments, as we are always looking for ways to improve our service.
Top of Page
Emergencies
Emergencies can come directly to the centre but a quick phone call first is always worthwhile (ph 6625 0000). Patients with dull central chest pain or loss of consciousness should be taken directly to the Lismore Base Hospital, Uralba Street, Lismore (ph 6621 8000). In an emergency the local ambulance is best contacted by dialling 000.
Top of Page
Waiting times and long consultations
Waiting times can sometimes be unpredictable in a busy general practice. Patients with more complicated problems generally need more time with their doctor.
Things like annual medical check-ups, Pap smears, ante-natal care and emotional issues all need more time than the standard 15 minute consultation.
The GMC also has a small theatre and emergency room and sometimes emergencies will throw the schedule out, perhaps leaving your doctor running behind for the rest of the day. We would ask that you bear with us when this sort of thing happens.
You can help too when you book your appointment. If you have several problems or a complex problem, you may need a longer appointment. Please ask the receptionist. In most cases, the gap payment after claiming through Medicare will be about the same as for a standard consultation.
If necessary, we’re happy to see more than one family member. However, please book an appointment for each person.
Another thing you can do is phone the centre before coming in for your appointment. Reception will be able to tell you if your doctor is on schedule or running behind.
Top of Page
Weekend Medical Service
The Weekend Medical Service at the GMC is a co-operative GP after hours weekend and public holiday service. It is the result of a joint venture between the doctors of the Goonellabah and Alstonville medical centres, and a group of Lismore doctors. The doctors involved are experienced GPs who run the service on a roster basis.
The Weekend Medical Service is conducted primarily at the Goonellabah Medical Centre, which is the most central and convenient. Our aim is to provide you with an accessible after hours medical service.
Please note that weeknights are covered by the patient's usual surgery. After hours care during the week is not part of the Weekend Medical Service. If there are any problems with the answering system, the Lismore Base Hospital receptionist should be contacted on (02) 6621 8000.
The Weekend Medical Service is for urgent weekend medical care. For routine medical matters such as immunisations, prescriptions, check-ups and minor medical problems, you should make an appointment to see your usual doctor.
The following doctors are rostered on the Weekend Medical Service:
Dr Sukhdeep Bains, Lismore
Dr Andrew Binns, Goonellabah
Dr Nigel Chamberlain, Alstonville
Dr David Guest, Goonellabah
Dr Prasanna Mishra, Goonellabah
Dr Ruth Tinker, Goonellabah
Dr Ian Traise, Alstonville
Dr Rita Vinten, Lismore
Dr John Watts, Alstonville
There is no bulk billing available for the Weekend Medical Service as it is a private medical co-operative service.
Top of Page
After hours pharmacy
The after hours pharmacy roster is manned by the six downtown pharmacies. The rostered pharmacies open from 6.00-7.00 pm on Saturday and Sunday nights and from 11.00am-1.00pm on Sunday mornings. Further information about the roster can be found in the Northern Star every Saturday morning.
The Goonellabah Pharmacy is open 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday. Munro & Wicks Pharmacy at the Lismore Shopping Square is open 8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3.00 pm on Sunday.
Top of Page
Repeat prescriptions
When you are prescribed a medication, the prescription will often include repeats that will last from a few weeks up to 12 months. If you need a repeat prescription at the end of this time, it is essential that you make an appointment to see your GP, preferably well before you run out. It is a problem when there are missed tablets, particularly for medical conditions like high blood pressure.
The GMC does not provide prescriptions requested over the phone. You will need to book a standard consultation to sort out any problems, review blood tests and deal with any other matters.
If you need to discuss a number of health matters with your GP, please make a double appointment as this will help prevent the doctor from running late.
Top of Page
Been in hospital recently?
If you are admitted as a patient to Lismore Base Hospital the admitting staff will ask for your permission to let your usual GP know you are in hospital. The information is brief and includes your name, admission date, admission diagnosis and the doctor in charge during your hospital stay.
When you leave hospital the medical staff routinely write a letter to your GP informing him or her that you have been discharged. They also provide medical information from your hospital stay that your GP may need to know, such as test results. Sometimes they will phone your GP.
However, due to time constraints on the hospital medical staff, the letter may be delayed for up to several weeks. Before you return for your follow-up visit, it is helpful to us if you let our receptionists know of your discharge and give us permission to obtain copies of your in-hospital radiology and pathology results. A telephone call to our receptionists at least two days before your appointment gives us time to get the information necessary for your ongoing care.
Top of Page
NSW WorkCover
WorkCover is the medical scheme that covers the medical and rehabilitation expenses of workers injured in NSW.
If you come to the surgery as an emergency from a work injury our focus will be in treating your injury at that time. This may mean, however, that you will have to return at a later date for the completion of the WorkCover forms, which are complex and take quite some time to complete. We understand that this is a nuisance but feel it is important that the forms are accurately completed so that your entitlements to care and compensation are not lost.
Top of Page
Fees
Each of the doctors at the Goonellabah Medical Centre operates in their own right. This means that each doctor determines their own fees and working hours. As a result charges, availability, and waiting times for doctors vary considerably.
In addition to charges for consultations, there can be other charges for bandages and vaccines. These can be quite expensive, and are usually not rebated by Medicare.
To enable us to bill you correctly, please show your Medicare and pension cards to the receptionist on arrival. It is the policy of the GMC that payment is made at the time of consultation.
The Goonellabah Medical Centre has credit card and EFTPOS facilities, and accepts cash and cheques. All receipts are itemised so that you can apply for your Medicare rebate.
We are happy to forward your Medicare claim form and receipt to Medicare on your behalf. A cheque for the rebate will arrive at your home address within two weeks. If you prefer, you can go to a Medicare office and claim your rebate straightaway. Details of the charges for each doctor can be found in our charges schedule. Cheques should be made payable to the individual doctor.
If you have a problem paying your account, please discuss this with your doctor or the receptionist to save you any embarrassment or inconvenience.
Top of Page
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
8.00am to 6.00pm
Weekends and public holidays (except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
9.00am to 5.00pm. Please phone for an appointment.
Top of Page
Privacy for patients
The Federal Government recently introduced changes to the Privacy Act to improve the regulation of people’s personal information, including their health information.
The Privacy Commission developed ten national privacy principles (NPPs) that regulate the protection and security of people’s personal health information, in addition to other state laws governing patient privacy. These set the minimum standards for privacy in the private health sector.
The NPPs aim to promote greater openness between health service providers and patients regarding the handling of health information.
Privacy and Health Care
Health information is very personal and people expect their privacy to be respected whenever they use a health service. The Privacy Act offers privacy, protection and choice to patients, while balancing this with the need for health service providers to share information where necessary for the provision of quality health care.
Access
You have a general right of access to your own health records and a right to have information corrected if it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
Further information
For more information, go to the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner’s website at www.privacy.gov.au or phone 1300 363 992.
Top of Page
Contact us
For information regarding clinical matters, patients are asked to ring the surgery. Our receptionists are on duty seven days a week and routine appointments can even be made after hours. Enquiries regarding administration and services can be sent to the practice manager, whose email address appears below.
Telephone
(02) 6625 0000
After hours number
Pager 996 330 32
You will be asked to leave your name and phone number so a doctor can call you back as soon as possible.
Fax
(02) 6624 4406
Postal address
616 Ballina Road
Goonellabah
NSW 2480
Australia
Email
General information
Practice manager
Webmaster
Top of Page
Feedback
We are happy to hear any suggestions you have about improving our service. If you are not happy with something, please tell us and we will try to fix the problem. Our aim is to provide you with the highest quality medical service possible.
Top of Page
Services
|
|
|
|
