Question 1

Choosing the right appointment time

Accepted Answer

It’s important to book the right length of time for your appointment so your doctor can give your issue the attention it needs.
Standard appointments are 10, 15, or 20 minutes and are designed to discuss a single health issue. If you need to talk about a number of issues, or if your matter is particularly complex, please book a longer appointment.
Longer appointments are necessary for:
 • Mental health conditions (including Mental Health Care Plans and reviews)
 • Complex chronic health conditions (including GP Management Plans and reviews)
 • Travel health checkups/vaccinations
 • Health assessments
 • Insurance, license, and employment medical assessments
 • Medical reports
 • Cervical screening
 • Completion of Centrelink or workcover documentation
 • Implanon insertion or removal
 • Surgical procedures
 • Procedures where a nurse is required eg: ear syringe, dressing changes
If you are unsure speak to our reception team.

Question 2

What to bring to your appointment

Accepted Answer

• A current Medicare card (https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-card)
 • Private health fund details
 • Your concession cards include a Health Care Card,(https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/health-care-card) Eligible Veterans Affairs (DVA) card,(https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-treatment/veteran-healthcare-cards) or Pension card. (https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/who-can-get-pensioner-concession-card?context=22006)
 • Any relevant test results or referrals from another clinic or specialist

Question 3

Helping your appointment run on time

Accepted Answer

Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Providers and the Reception team do their best to ensure appointments run on time but there are a few things you can do to help with this.
 • Remember that a standard GP consultation is for 10, 15, or 20 minutes and is designed to discuss only one health issue. If you think you need more time book a longer appointment (see above).
 • Tell your doctor all the things you want to discuss at the start of your appointment. Your doctor may suggest a follow up appointment to discuss less urgent matters.
 • Try to be on time and allow extra time if you are bringing in medical records or release forms.
 • Have all your relevant results and information with you.

Question 4

Your medical records

Accepted Answer

If you are transferring your care to Bendigo Primary Care Centre your previous clinic will need to release your medical records.
Alternatively you can ask our reception staff to organise the transfer of records if you provide us with a signed Consent to Release form.
You can download the forms on our documents (https://bendigoprimarycarecentre.com.au/documents/)page.

Question 5

Communications assistance/interpreter

Accepted Answer

Some of our community have very limited or no English language proficiency. To make sure everyone can access our services we offer free interpreters.
TIS National (https://www.tisnational.gov.au/)delivers this free service on behalf of the Australian Government and offers access to over 3,000 interpreters in over 160 different languages. For more details visit our Interpreters page (https://bendigoprimarycarecentre.com.au/interpreter-service)or call reception on (03) 5441 8622(tel:(03) 5441 8622)
We've also added a website translation feature to our site. You'll find it in the top menu on each page. Simply select your preferred language from the drop down list.

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