The clinic has ZERO tolerance for aggressive or abusive behaviour towards staff and patients. Offenders will be ejected from the clinic and refused future access. Where necessary, the police will be asked to intervene.
We appreciate patients ensuring their children are well behaved while in the waiting room to avoid causing distress to others who may be feeling unwell. We also appreciate patients’ consideration with regard to noise. Our receptionists are often on the telephone and it is difficult for them to properly execute their duties in a noisy environment.
We see patients by appointment and, where possible, we will try to accommodate those without an appointment although they may be required to wait. Emergency patients are given priority at all times and this means that patients with appointments may experience delays in seeing the doctor. Wherever possible we appreciate 24 hours’ notice for cancellation of appointments.
Home visits are available for house-bound patients by prior arrangement with the doctor. This is entirely at the doctor’s discretion and dependent on his availability at the required time.
Patient records are strictly confidential and clinic staff members adhere to privacy legislation. Privileged patient information is shared, as required, with other health professionals by whom the patient is being treated.
Patient test results are downloaded electronically whenever possible. Test results are not given by phone and patients need to make an appointment to see the doctor to obtain results. Patients are contacted by telephone (or by mail) by clinic staff should test results require them to discuss outcomes with the doctor. Where the doctor determines that the test results require urgent attention, the patient is given an appointment on the same day.
Patients presenting as emergencies must alert reception staff if they experience any of the following symptoms as this will assist staff in assessing the situation and alerting the doctor:
Those patients presenting with serious symptoms that cannot be treated at the clinic will be referred to the emergency department of the local hospital. It is sometimes advisable to proceed directly to the hospital emergency department if you experience serious symptoms while at home. Explaining your situation to our staff will help them to determine whether it is best for you to proceed to hospital or make an appointment for you to see the doctor.
