About Us
Our Practice
Masks
For the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients, we request that patients presenting to the practice with respiratory symptoms (cough, fever, sore or itchy throat) wear a mask.
Appointments
This surgery operates by appointment only, no walk-in consultations. Appointments are allotted in ten minute intervals, should you require a longer appointment please notify reception when making an appointment. Please notify reception at the time of booking if you require any procedures, eg, excisions, ECG, medicals, forms, GP Managements, Health Assessments. Our practice aims to run no later than 15 minutes past schedule. Patients are encouraged to telephone the surgery prior to their appointment to ensure the estimated time of their appointment.
Telehealth Appointments
Telephone and video consultations are available for patients that have consulted with a GP, face to face in the practice, within the previous 12 months.
Emergencies & Triage
Patients in need of receiving medical treatment are able to present to the surgery without an appointment. The patient’s urgency is triaged by our trained Reception staff following the POPGUNS Triage Process. Reception staff are trained to recognise emergencies and assistance will be provided immediately.
Unattended Appointments
We understand that unexpected situations arise however, we require a minimum of one hour notice of inability to attend an appointment. If less than one hour or no notice is given a ‘Did Not Arrive’ is recorded against your family. After three ‘Did Not Arrives’ are recorded against your family, a non-refundable fee of $87.40 must be paid in full, prior to any further allocation of appointment times to your family. Any further ‘Did Not Arrive’s' within the next 12 months will result in the cancellation of registration at the practice.
Medicines of Addiction
It is a policy of our practice that medications of addiction are not to be prescribed unless under direction of a specialist. Our practice is able to offer support and program assistance for patients requiring medications of addiction.
Repeat Prescriptions & Referrals
In the best interest of your health we do not issue repeat prescriptions or referrals without your doctor seeing you. Please ensure that all your prescriptions and referrals are up to date when consulting your doctor.
Results
Patients requiring test results are required to attend a doctor of the practice to obtain the results. It is a policy of the surgery that no test results are to be given over the telephone and may only be given by a doctor.
Recalls & Reminders
Patient recalls and reminders are available to all patients who would like to be reminded regarding their ongoing treatment. Ask at reception and a recall/reminder will be arranged for you.
Medical Students
Our practice is committed to supporting the future of medicine and accommodate medical students from Universities all around Australia. You will be advised if a medical student may be in your consultation and your consent will be obtained at reception prior to your consultation. Refusal of the medical student to be present will in no away affect your treatment or relationship with your Doctor or the practice.
Accessing Your Health Records
You have the right to access health information about yourself that we hold in our medical records. Please speak to your doctor or reception if you would like to avail yourself to this information.
Transfer of Medical Records
If you have medical records at other general practices you can request a health summary and/or a copy of your health records to be transferred to us. Reception will happily arrange this for you. If you are moving to another area please contact your new general practice for a health transfer request. A health summary will be released to your new general practice. Fees may apply if you request for more information from your record.
Compliments or Complaints
If you are happy or unhappy with any aspect of care provided by this practice, we are keen to know about it. Please feel free to speak to your Doctor or Practice Manager with any feedback you may have about our services or you may put your compliment or complaint in writing and post it to the surgery. Alternatively, you may wish to lodge your complaint with Health Care Complaints Commission online at http://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au.
Privacy
This practice strictly follows The Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in relation to its confidentiality issues, a copy of our privacy policy is available at reception.
Translation Services
Please let Reception know at the time of booking your appointment if you require assistance with translation or communicating with your GP.
Translating & Interpreting Services (TIS) - 1300 131 450Auslan - 1300 287 526
Translating & Interpreting Services (TIS) - 1300 131 450Auslan - 1300 287 526
Emails
Patients may communicate with the practice via email, however appointments will not be booked via email.
Patients requesting documents relating to a telephone consultation are to email reception@rutherfordmedicalcentre.com.au, include their name, date of birth and address and the document/s they are requesting. Reception staff will reply to the email with the requested documentation as soon as possible.
Management can be contacted by emailling admin@rutherfordmedicalcentre.com.au.
Social Media
Our practice has a Facebook page that allows us to communicate with our patients about practice news, changes within the practice, promote health preventation strategies and health support.
Our Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com.au/rutherfordmedicalcentre or by clicking the News page on our website.
Contacting Your GP Via Telephone
Without a scheduled appointment, GPs are unavailable via telephone.
If you have an enquiry, please discuss with our friendly and trained reception staff who will be able to assist you with resolving your enquiry in a timely manner.
If your call is urgent, you will be transferred immediately to one of our clinical staff for assistance.
Book an Appointment
Book online now or call 02 4932 7327 to book an appointment with one of our GPs.