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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 feedback 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 (labelled as A). Note that you can click and drag to move the map around, and click the + and - buttons in the map to zoom in and out. N.B. Please be aware that the address of the medical centre is 616 Ballina Road, despite what the Google Maps say. This is a Google database error.
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About us
The GMC is an accredited general practice with its standards of medical care approved by Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL).
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.
It has a team of eight 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 two operating theatres for minor procedures 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-based investigations or admissions to Lismore Base and St Vincent's Hospitals if needed.
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.
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EmergenciesEmergencies 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.
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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 two small theatres and an 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 for your patience and understanding 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 a long consultation 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, it is important to let reception staff know and they will book an appointment for each person.
You may phone the medical centre before coming in for your appointment and ask reception staff if your doctor is on schedule or running behind.
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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 medical centre, Alstonville medical centre, and Prema House in Lismore. 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 location. Our aim is to provide you with an accessible after hours medical service.
Appointments for the weekend medical service may be booked by phoning the Goonellabah Medical Centre on the day the appointment is required. Reception staff are available from 8am on Saturday and Sunday to assist you with making appointments.
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 Andrew Binns, Goonellabah
Dr Linda Brown, Alstonville
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.
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After hours pharmacy
The after hours pharmacy roster is manned by a group of local 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 Friday morning.
The Goonellabah Pharmacy at Goonellabah Shopping centre is open 8.30am to 4.00pm on Saturday. Priceline Pharmacy at the Lismore Shopping Square is open 9.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday and 10am to 3.00pm on Sunday. The Chemist Warehouse at 799 Ballina Road, Goonellabah is open on Saturday 8.30am to 4.00pm and Sunday 9.00am to 3.00pm.
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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.
Many doctors at GMC do 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.
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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.
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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.The patient is responsible for the payment of workcover consultations until their employer has approved the workers compensation claim through their insurance company.
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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 card, pension or health care cards and Commonwealth Seniors card 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 most doctors accept cheques. All receipts are itemised so that you can apply for your Medicare rebate.
We are now happy to offer the On-the-spot Medicare claiming service at the GMC. Accounts must be paid at the time of consultation to be eligible for this service. This practice will then send your claim electronically to Medicare Australia through a secure internet connection and then Medicare will pay your rebate directly into your nominated cheque or savings account within two to three working days. This means no more queuing at a Medicare office for your rebate. For this surgery to be able to lodge your claim electronically, Medicare Australia needs you to register your bank account details first.
If you have a problem paying your account, please discuss this with reception staff at the time of making an appointment or with your doctor at the start of your consultation to save you any embarrassment or inconvenience .
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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 on the day.
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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.
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Contact us
For information regarding clinical matters, patients are asked to ring the surgery. Our receptionists are on duty seven days a week. 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
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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.
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