Practice Policies & Info

A fee applies to all consultations. Pensioners, Healthcare Card and DVA card holders are bulk billed for all eligible consults. Please see our ‘List of Common Fees’ which is located in the “Fees” tab. If you are aware of any difficulties you may have paying your account please alert our front desk staff BEFORE you see the doctor.

Only one person can be seen in any one appointment. Separate appointments are required for other family members. If you ask the doctor to see another family member you will be forcing others to wait longer for their appointment.

Our online bookings are now open. You can access these appointments by using our website or clinic app. Our app is available for downloading from the Google Play store or iPhone store.

What to Remember When Booking Online

• Online appointments are only 15mins long and are not appropriate for long consultations or multiple problems.
• If you require a longer appointment – please select the appropriate timeframe when booking online.
• Only one person can be seen in any one appointment. Separate appointments are required for other family members. If you ask the doctor to see another family member you will be forcing others to wait longer for their appointment.
• When you register for online bookings you will be asked to give an email address. Please be aware that you will need to check your email for confirmation of any booked or cancelled appointment.
• Please also be aware that at times we will have a medical student consulting with our doctors. If you are booking online remember that there may be a student present with the doctor at the time of your consult. If you do not want this to occur please phone the reception staff and make your appointment with them.
• To make an appointment for a practitioner not currently offering online bookings, please call reception staff.
• For all enquiries please call reception staff on 8582 2855

FEE FOR MISSED ONLINE BOOKINGS

Be aware that if you fail to attend an appointment that you have booked online, a fee of $50 will be charged. This fee is payable before your next scheduled appointment.

The online service is not to be used for booking emergency appointments.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency

please dial 000 for an ambulance.

Our Self-service Check-in is now available. To use the self-service on arrival you will be asked to enter your name. We ask that you carefully check all you name/address/phone details as well as you Medicare card and any concession cards you may have to ensure all details are correct.

This service is only available to existing patients.

All new patients attending the clinic for the first time must report to reception staff on arrival.

We use text messaging for all patient recalls.

Here at Berri Medical Clinic we use a text service for patient recalls. When you receive your reminder text from “HOTDOC” it will ask you to reply or opt out. Follow the link provided and enter your details. A more detailed message will appear with the reason for your recall (e.g. blood test, Diabetes or Asthma Clinic). Once you have been issued with a recall text, please contact the clinic to arrange an appointment.

Please contact us when there is any changes to your home address or phone number, work phone number, mobile number, Medicare number and expiry, Pension / Concession card expiry and next of kin. It is important that we have your updated details in case we need to contact you or notify you of test results.

In the interests of good patient care, it is best to discuss your issues with your doctor during a consultation. When this is not practical, it may be possible to speak to your doctor on the phone. If your doctor is not able to speak to you at the time of your call, we will email your details to the doctor so that they can call back at a time when they are free. Our doctors are unable to receive phone calls whilst they are consulting with patients. If you need medical assistance, you can request to speak to one of our nurses. Please understand that we try to keep consultation interruptions to a minimum.

All referrals and prescriptions (new and repeat) require a consultation with a doctor.

Childhood immunisations are bulk billed if you have a Medicare card. Travel vaccinations attract additional private charges. For Flu, Whooping cough or any other vaccine additional charges may apply. A standard doctor’s appointment is needed for all vaccinations.

All non-disposable instruments used in the practice are sterilized using modern techniques in accordance with Australian Standards. Our Autoclaves (sterilizers) are calibrated and validated to AS/NZS 4815:2006 sterilization specifications.

The duration of a standard appointment is 15 minutes. If you feel that you may need more time with your GP, please ask for a double appointment at the time of booking. If you are uncertain as to whether or not you may need a longer appointment please check with reception staff.

This practice is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorized members of staff. Your medical record is a confidential document. Please also be aware that we are unable to give information about other patients or confirm whether they are in attendance or have made an appointment.

When calling for test results or any other general enquiries, please call the surgery after 10.30am daily. If you have any further questions relating to your results, you will need to speak to our nursing team or make an appointment with your doctor. If your results are urgent, we will call you directly.

If you require the services of an interpreter for your consult, please advise staff at the time of booking your appointment. Medicare provides an interpreting service which is free to patients. There is also an Ethnic Link Service (8580 4161) which caters for Greek, Italian, Turkish, Croatian and Punjabi patients. A longer appointment is required for this service.

Our surgery is open on Saturday mornings between 9am – 11.30am. Appointments are for emergencies, dressings and script patients only. We ask that you phone from 8.30am on the day to arrange an appointment time, doors will be open from 9am. Please be aware that you will be seen by the first doctor available. We do not book appointments prior to the day.

Fees for Saturday –
Standard Fee $80.60
Concession Fee $20

The Berri Medical Clinic is strongly involved in promoting rural general practice by training young doctors.

From time to time you may be asked for your permission to have a medical student sit in on your consultation. Medical students from Flinders University spend the whole of their third year studying in our clinic. At the end of the year they sit their final exams so it is a vital part of their training. GP Registrars work with our senior doctors to complete their training. They assist with consultations and procedures as well as helping manage hospital patients.

We are always happy to get feedback from our patients. Feedback can either be positive or negative, that is how we improve our services to you. A suggestion box is in the reception area for that purpose. If you have a complaint, please put it in writing or call and discuss it with the Practice Manager on 8582 2855.

If your concern remains unresolved and is related to your medical treatment:

Please write to:-

Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner
PO Box 199
Rundle Mall SA 5000
Toll Free in SA: 1800 232 007