“The person most often late for the doctor’s appointment is the doctor himself”
Making an appointment
We don’t want you to wait. Help us by booking the right appointment, with the right person at the right time.
Emergencies
Shortness of breath, difficulty talking, severe allergic reactions, central chest pain, altered consciousness, severe burns or crooked fractures are all problems best seen in the Emergency Department. Call 000, or proceed to Southwest Healthcare Emergency Department in Ryot St, Warrnambool.
Urgent appointments
We hold a minimum of 10 appointments each day for patients that require urgent care. These appointments are only available by telephoning the clinic. Our reception staff will ask for some information about your problem to help them decide how urgently you need to be seen. They may also ask you to discuss your symptoms in detail with a nurse.
After hours appointments
Our doctors provide a regular Sunday afternoon session from 2:00pm until 5:30pm. Most appointments are reserved for patients who have newly developed a symptom over the weekend. Please call the clinic from 1:30pm Sundays to make an appointment.
Urgent after hours care is available only to patients of the clinic. Our on call doctor can be reached by calling the clinics phone number after hours.
Routine appointments
Routine or non-urgent appointments can be made online via Hotdoc, or by telephoning the clinic. Hotdoc allows you to see all of your doctor’s available appointments and choose the one that best suits you. You can book at any time of day or night, and it’s free to use. Simply download the application onto your device.
Which appointment should I book?
Different problems deserve different amounts of time. One way to be sure you have enough time to address everything you’d like to discuss is to ask our receptionists to help you decide what type of appointment you need
Express appointments (5 minutes)
Simple repeat script, medical certificate, blood pressure check, removal of sutures. (Online script requests can be made via Hotdoc.)
Classic consultation (15 – 20 minutes)
A single new symptom or illness, coughs and colds, cervical screening, fever
Comprehensive consultation (30 – 40 minutes)
Multiple symptoms or concerns, new patient to the clinic, first antenatal visit, procedures (please book an appointment prior to your procedure appointment in order for us to plan for it), first contraception discussion, mental health concerns (stress, anxiety, depression), long standing symptoms, second opinion on a complicated symptom
Care Plans
Mental Health Care Plans
Mental Health Care Plans are a tool for you and your doctor to assess your mental health and plan your recovery, often with the help of a mental health practitioner, such as a psychologist or mental health social worker.
If you think you need a Mental Health Care Plan, please book a comprehensive consultation with your GP. Alternatively, your GP might suggest developing a care plan if he/she thinks you might benefit from one.
The care plan may take one or two appointments to develop based on your current problem and health.
Your plan, once completed and billed, will allow access to rebated psychological counselling services with registered providers. You and your doctor will decide who would be best for you to see. There may still be an ‘out of pocket payment’ to see your counsellor, however you will have access to up to six rebated visits with a counsellor, followed by a further four after the plan is reviewed by your GP.
Chronic Disease Management Plans
Chronic Disease Management Plans are available to patients who have an illness expected to last longer than six months. Developing a plan helps both you and your doctor to set goals for your health and plan your care proactively.
At Middle Island Medical Clinic, plans are discussed with your doctor and then written by our practice nurse.
If you have a Chronic Disease Management Plan, you may also benefit from a Team Care Arrangement. This allows you and your doctor to develop a team of practitioners to help you achieve your health goals. Your team must consist of at least three clinicians – your GP, your specialist (if you have one), and any allied health practitioners, who could help you with your goals.
When you have a Team Care Arrangement, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates (up to five per calendar year) to see the allied health practitioners who are on your team. These referrals are developed during your care plan appointment with the practice nurse.
Care Plans at Middle Island Medical Clinic are set to change soon. We are passionate about keeping you as well as possible. Very soon you will be invited to become part of our preventative Essential Care Program.
Your Essential Care will encompass a thorough health assessment and discussion about what the priorities are for your health. With this in mind, your GP and your Essential Care team will plan your appointments for the coming year to help you stay well. Medicare Care Plans and Health Assessments will assist you to undertake this program if you choose to do so.