Practice Policies
Our Appointment System
We believe in ensuring our patients can make an appointment when it is convenient for them. You can make an appointment online at www.littlehamptonmedical.com or phone our reception team for Bug Hub appointments, immunisations, procedures and care plan appointments as these require further information.
Our standard appointment to cover 1 or 2 complaints is 15 minutes.
A long appointment will be required for 3 or 4 concerns.
An appointment is required to see a GP.
Please note that repeat prescriptions, referral letters and sick certificates require an appointment.
Recalls and Results
We encourage our patients to be part of our national recall system for screenings such as Breast Screening, Pap smears and Faecal Occult Blood Screening. Our nurses will contact patients to arrange appointments for ongoing diabetes and chronic disease checks and regular health check-ups.
For all test results, we encourage our patients to make a follow up appointment with the GP who ordered the test.
Please contact our clinic nurse if you have any queries on the follow-up of your test results.
Our Opening Hours
For your convenience we are open extended hours as follows:
Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 7.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday 8.30am – 12.45am.
For all care outside of these hours please call the Emergency department at Mt Barker Hospital on 83931777 or dial 000. This is a 24 hour service for urgent medical care
Home Visits – the need for this service can be discussed with your GP.
Aged Care – We do have GPs who regularly visit Aged Care facilities in our immediate area. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Can’t Attend Your Appointment?
We understand that there are times you are unable to attend your booked appointment.
We do require two hour’s notice if you need to cancel.
Please note there is a fee for non-attendance of $40.00 + GST.
Our Communication System
Due to strict privacy legislation, we do not communicate to patients regarding personal health care via email. Messages for GP’s can be left with our reception staff, they will advise you if an appointment will be necessary.
For those who speak little English or are hearing impaired, we offer the services of a translator. Please inform us at the time of making your appointment.
We Welcome Your Feedback
We do our utmost to ensure that your visit to our clinic has been a pleasant and professional one. We appreciate feedback to assist us in improving our service and your experience.
Our staff will endeavour to assist you in any way possible and our Practice Manager is happy to discuss your feedback and/or concerns at any time. Feedback forms are available at the reception desk.
If you feel that we are unable to assist with resolving any concerns that you may have, please feel free to contact the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner on 8226 8666 or visit http://www.hcscc.sa.gov.au
Your Privacy
It is essential that we ensure your privacy at all times. Our clinic strictly adheres to the privacy legislation as set by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Please feel free to visit their website at https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law. Your personal and clinical information is stored securely and privately. We will not release any information relating to your personal health record including information on upcoming appointments to a third party unless we have received signed consent from you directly.
If you wish to access any information from your health records, please ask your GP. We are more than happy to help.
Contact Us: 89 North Terrace Littlehampton 5250
Email: manager@littlehamptonmc.com (do not forward clinical information by email)
Web: www.littlehamptonmedical.com
You can view our full privacy policy here, or download as a PDF.
Fee Payment
All consultations are to be paid for in full at the time of your appointment. Littlehampton Medical Centre uses the Medicare Easy Claim system, which allows you to pay your account and receive your Medicare rebate back into your bank account.
Phone consultations and BugHub appointments incur normal billing fees.
Phone consultations can be made online.
Bughub appointments are only available for our regular patients and need to be made by phone with our reception staff.
Payment details for Phone and Bughub appointments are requested through Hotdoc our appointment booking system when you make your appointment.
A standard appointment will be billed at the completion of your consultation. If your appointment is not a standard gap fee our reception staff will contact you prior to your account being billed. No fee will be deducted if you are Bulk Billed.
Double appointments – If you have several issues you need to discuss with your GP, please make a double appointment to allow time for your concerns to be addressed.
Billing Information(Changes 6.2.23 – Children 6-15 yr )
We take pride in delivering professional, comprehensive, high quality care to our valued patients.
In order to continue the provision of quality services you will be billed privately for your consultation.
This includes children 16 years and older.
A reduced fee will apply to Pensioners, Healthcare card holders and Children aged 6 – 15.
All Children 5 and under and 6 yr to 15 yr olds with a concession card will be bulkbilled for standard appointments.
Bulk Billing support will be provided to patients who have a GP Management plan for Chronic disease when they attend for their yearly care plan or care plan review.
See our information bench in the waiting room for details on how to reduce your costs through the Medicare Safety Net.
The Treatment Room Fees remain unchanged and are based on the procedure performed.
All billings must be paid on the day of consultation.
This includes all fees and gap payments.
An information sheet on the fee changes is available at our reception desk.
Return to Work SA & Third Party Claims
If you have a work injury, please make sure you let our receptionist know when booking your appointments. You will be need to bring your claim number with you. All invoices for work injuries or third party claims will be forwarded to the relevant insurance body.
SMS Reminders & Recalls
Our clinic sends SMS reminders for all appointments via the HotDoc Online Booking and Reminder Service.
We also send SMS to notify patients of required Recalls for important medical reasons. You can setup a personal profile to receive reminders on the HotDoc APP provided in the SMS sent by us.To confirm your appointment by SMS simply reply Y (or follow the link provided) once received and we will expect you on the day. To make an appointment directly from a Recall SMS, simply follow the link provided in the message or call us.
If you do not already have this SMS reminder/recall service in place and would like to, please approach reception to complete a consent form.
Your Health Care
Your optimum health care is important to us, therefore, all patients have a right and are encouraged to participate in decisions regarding their health care at all times. Please feel free to raise any concerns with your GP at the time of consult.
