top of page
Helpful information
We want every visit to to feel welcoming, straightforward and well supported. To help you feel prepared before your appointment, we’ve put together some helpful information about how our practice works, what to expect when you arrive and a few things to keep in mind when seeing one of our Doctors.
Urgent and after-hours medical care
If you require URGENT medical care, please call 000 for emergency services or visit your nearest hospital's emergency department.
For AFTER-HOURS medical care, you can schedule an online appointment with the Virtual Emergency Department:The Virtual Emergency Department is operated by Northern Health and supported by the Victorian GovernmentThe Doctors and Nurses are based in VictoriaThe VED provides care for urgent but non-life-threatening health concernsYou can have a video call using your phone, tablet or computerThe VED is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a weekYou do not need a GP referral, appointment or Medicare cardIf you require an interpreter, you can request for an interpreter when you register to use the service
Appointments
Yes – we are always pleased to welcome new patients to our clinics. We will request you to complete a short registration form, at the clinic, before your appointment.
You can click on the below BOOK ONLINE button to make an online booking through the 'HotDoc' portal. You are also welcome to call our clinic on (03) 9716 0153.
You can click on the below BOOK ONLINE button to make an online booking through the 'HotDoc' portal. You are also welcome to call our clinic on (03) 9716 0153.
Yes – however, we highly encourage patients to book an appointment to see a Doctor. Walk-in wait times can be lengthy depending on Doctor availability.
Your Medicare cardIf you are new to our clinic - any current medications and relevant medical recordsOptional - a brief list of your symptoms or concerns so you don't forget to tell your Doctor any important information
A short consultation is considered to be less than 10 minutes. A long consultation is considered to be up to 20 minutes or more. When making your appointment, please discuss with our friendly reception team, the length of consultation you require.
A Doctor's appointment is required for:TreatmentTest resultsScripts or review of medicationReferrals (including radiology and allied health)Licence medicals e.g. VicRoads, firearm, boat, pilotMedical CertificateEmployment medicalsWorkCover Certificate of CapacityTransport Accident Commission (TAC) Certificate of CapacityInsurance claimsSuperannuation reportsCertifying documents and filling out paperwork
If you can, please contact the clinic if you think you will be late for your appointment. Late arrivals may be asked to reschedule depending on clinic flow.
We request that you provide a minimum of 2 hours’ notice if you cannot attend your appointment – this provides us with the opportunity to offer your appointment to another patient who may need to see a Doctor.A $50.00 cancellation fee will be charged where adequate notice to our clinic is not provided (a Medicare rebate is not applicable to this fee).
Yes – for a 'standard appointment' you will:receive an email confirming your appointmentreceive an SMS 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time, as a friendly reminder
Test results and referrals
Yes – please book an appointment with your Doctor to discuss and review your test results. For privacy and to ensure results are explained appropriately, we are unable to provide test results over the phone, by SMS or via email.If your test results require urgent attention, we will make every effort to contact you promptly.You are welcome to contact the clinic to confirm that your test results have been received and reviewed by your Doctor.
Yes – to claim specialist care through Medicare, you’ll need a valid, up-to-date referral from one of our Doctors.
Prescription renewals
Yes – to request a prescription renewal (even if you have had the medication previously), you will need to book an appointment with one of our Doctors.
Not always – next time you are visiting with your Doctor, you can discuss whether a Telehealth appointment or an in-person appointment is required.
Transfer of medical records
To transfer your medical records, please provide a signed request from your new clinic. For secure and seamless integration, we recommend using a compatible file format (preferably XML).Once we receive the signed form, your request will be processed within fourteen (14) days. A processing fee applies – please contact us on (03) 9716 0153 to obtain the fee information.
Fees and payment methods
Yes – however, Medicare bulk billing** covers a limited amount of services – please click on the button below to view a full list of Medicare rebatable items.
We accept payments via eftpos and credit card.We do NOT accept CASH payments.
Feedback (good or bad)
We are committed to continually improving the care and services we provide – and welcome feedback from our patients. Whether you would like to share a positive experience, provide a suggestion or raise a concern or complaint, we encourage you to contact us.Feedback can be emailed to wfmc@ecn.net.au or provided in writing to:Whittlesea Family Medical Centre4 MacMeikan StreetWhittlesea VIC 3757
bottom of page