FAQ’s

Unfortunately, from time-to-time doctors run late. Sometimes patients may under-estimate the significance of their problem or how much time is required to see their doctor and these appointments can run over time. We may have to see emergencies and must prioritise urgent/life threatening cases. Please arrive for your appointments on time as late arrivals also contribute to doctors running behind schedule. Wherever possible, our receptionists will advise you when you arrive if your doctor is running behind.

Please note that referrals cannot be backdated as this is illegal.

We do not routinely give results over the telephone. Our receptionists are unable to access patient results due to privacy requirements.  Your doctor should explain to you how you can access your results:

• In many cases, your doctor will ask you to make a follow-up appointment to discuss your results.
• In some cases your doctor may explain at the time of your consultation that if you don’t hear back from us it’s because your results are “normal”.
• We will re-call you by letter or phone if your results require a non-urgent review with your doctor.
• In the case of urgent results, we will contact you directly to make a follow-up appointment.
• Some results cannot be given over the phone under any circumstances (eg, HIV, Hepatitis C) and in such cases all patients will be asked to make a follow-up appointment.

To provide safe, thorough, and high-quality care, our clinic has adopted a one problem per consultation policy as part of our transition to a fully bulk-billing practice. When multiple issues are raised in a single short appointment, it can lead to rushed consultations, increase the likelihood of important or serious health concerns being overlooked, and extend waiting times for other patients. Doctors also require adequate time to carefully evaluate symptoms, formulate an accurate diagnosis, detect early signs of serious conditions, and complete detailed clinical notes for ongoing management. Limited resources and time constraints mean that focusing on one problem per visit allows the doctor to give each patient the attention and care they deserve.

If you have more than one concern, we recommend booking a longer appointment or scheduling separate consultations for each issue. This ensures every concern receives a thorough assessment, appropriate advice, and follow-up care without compromising safety or quality. Our reception team is happy to help you determine the best way to schedule multiple issues efficiently.