Frequently Asked Questions

Appointments

When booking your appointment online, please select a specific appointment type if available, a 10 minute standard appointment or a longer appointment. Standard appointments are for one or two simple issues. A long appointment is recommended if you have several issues or a complex problem. While fees for longer appointments are higher, your gap fee will be about the same or only slightly higher.

Certain procedures require an appointment with the nurse only or with the nurse (either with a GP appointment at the same time or after or without a GP appointment). If unsure, please call our front desk on 02 5112 2248 and our friendly reception team will be able to assist you.

Waiting Times

We endeavour to schedule appointments at realistic intervals and minimise waiting. There may, however, be increased waiting time due to various factors including any of the following:

• More complex problems than anticipated, which cannot be dealt with within the scheduled appointment time. For this reason, we suggest all patients with a list of issues book a long appointment.
• Unplanned appointments: Despite the best planning, the nature of general practice is that sometimes patients require immediate attention and an “unplanned” appointment. We will ask for your patience or, if the wait time would be too long or if you prefer, we can re-schedule the appointment.

Cancellations & Non-Attendance

Cancellations: If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please contact us to change your appointment time or cancel. We require a 4-hour notice for cancellations of appointments. A fee of $55 may be charged for late cancellations (Less than 4-hour notice) or non-attendance of appointments. Please note that this fee does not attract any Medicare rebate.  We reserve the right to bar patients with repeated non-attendance and/or late cancellation from booking further appointments unless the relevant fees are paid.

Should you be running late for your appointment, please ring to see whether it is possible to fit you in or to arrange another suitable time. Our staff will be happy to help you and accommodate your needs as much as possible, but being late will result in other patients being made to wait.

Fee Schedule

Please click here for our fee schedule.

Privacy Policy

Any information you provide to the practice, whether to your GP or staff, is strictly confidential and will not be shared with any third party unless you request it, or sharing it is required by law.

The sharing of your health information with other health professionals will always be discussed with you first.

Your information is stored securely, and all staff are trained in the management of health information and confidentiality in accordance with all professional and statutory privacy obligations.

If you wish to access your health information, please discuss this with your doctor. If you wish to find out more about our privacy policy, please click here.

Referral Letters

A doctor’s appointment is required to obtain a new doctor’s referral or renewal an expired one. Our doctors are usually able to accommodate a brief appointment on the day if this is needed urgently. Please speak to our reception team if enable to book an appointment online.

Please ensure this is done on or prior to the day of your appointment with the specialist or allied health professional you are seeking a referral to as our doctors cannot backdate referrals.

Repeat Prescriptions

A doctor’s appointment is required to obtain a prescription, whether repeat or new. Our doctors are usually able to accommodate a brief  appointment on the day for a repeat prescription if this is needed urgently. Please speak to our reception team if enable to book an appointment online.

Medical Certificates

A doctor’s appointment is required to obtain a medical certificate, whether a new one or an extension of one previously issued. Our doctors are usually able to accommodate a brief appointment on the day for this purpose. Please speak to our reception team if enable to book an appointment online.

Our doctors will generally, at their discretion, bulkbill appointments to extend a medical certificate issued within a few days.

Test Results

We encourage all are patients to ensure requested tests are carried out and to follow up on the results of any test performed.

Our reception staff are not trained to interpret results and will generally not give out results over the phone. Subject to your doctor’s approval results may be emailed to you if no follow up is required or after you have had a follow up appointment to discuss them with your doctor.

Due to privacy reasons, we will not give out your result to any third party unless these have been discussed with you prior and you have requested us to give it to the said third party, we are required by law to do so, or we are sharing it with another treating professional where relevant for your treatment.

We will generally advise, at the time of the investigation or referral, if and when you need to make further appointments to discuss results as. You may also be contacted by the practice via phone, mail or text and asked to make an appointment with your GP to discuss your results.

How long it takes to get your results will depend on the type and agency of the test. Your doctor may give you a rough indication. It generally takes two to five business days for most non urgent test results.

Feedback, Compliments & Complaints

We welcome your feedback. You can submit your comment, complaint or compliment using the patient feedback form available at reception or on our website, or by emailing to manager@chicholmmedicalcentre.com.au.

Complaints and comments about our practice can also be provided directly to the Health services commissioner Health Service – HRC (act.gov.au)).

Our Zero-Tolerance Policy

Our practice has zero tolerance for abusive and/or threatening behaviour towards our team members.  This includes shouting, swearing, aggressive actions, threats, inappropriate gestures and name calling. Please treat us as you would like to be treated yourself. If you are abusive or threatening, you will be required to leave the clinic and transfer your care to another practice. Refusal to leave will result in the police being called.

Iron Infusion Clinic

We run the ACT Iron Infusion Clinic (ACTiic), a pioneer in GP led iron infusion services in the ACT which provides iron infusions and related services to our patients as well as referred patients from all over the ACT and surrounding areas. For more information on ACTiic, please click here.