Get Appointment Ready

We are an appointment-based centre. Our online and phone booking systems makes it easy to book with your preferred doctor, make a booking with the first available doctor or visit as a new patient.

While we do keep a small number of appointments free for on-the-day emergencies it’s still necessary to call and book.
Please let us know if you are calling about a sick child, we will do our best to make sure they are seen as soon as possible.

If your preferred doctor is not available we will do our best to offer you an appointment with another doctor.
To secure an appointment with your doctor Book Online or call 03 5441 8622

Please note not all of our doctors are available for online booking.
If you do not see your preferred doctor please call 03 5441 8622

Some health funds offer a rebate for some allied health services up to an agreed limit.
It’s best to check with your fund before you make your appointment.

Your rebate will be paid directly into your bank account at Bendigo Primary Care Centre when you pay your patient account.
Please bring all private health details including your member card to your appointment.

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 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, licence 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 Administration team.

Our doctors and Administration 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 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 release forms.
• Have all your relevant results and information with you.

• A current Medicare card
• Private health fund details
• Your concession cards including Health Care Card, Eligible Veterans Affairs (DVA) card or Pension card.
• Any relevant test results or referrals from another clinic or specialist

If you are unable to make your appointment please provide us with at least one hour notice so that we can offer your time to someone else.
If you fail to attend an appointment without providing sufficient notice you may be billed for non-attendance.

Fees are based on the time you spend with the doctor, The number of issues you discuss and how complex those issues are.
Some of our doctors are independent licensees so your fee will be dependent on which doctor you see.
Private fees apply for most procedures. If you want more information about your doctor’s fee structure please speak with our Administration team or with your doctor.

We offer bulk billing for:

• Children under 16 years of age
• Health Care Card holders
• Eligible Veterans Affairs (DVA) Card holders
• Pension Card holders

A patient who is bulk billed does not incur any out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, your doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for their service.

Please bring your Medicare Card and relevant concession card/s along with you to your appointment. If we cannot verify your status you may be charged for your appointment.

Patients who are not bulk billed will be issued with a patient account.

If you hold a current Medicare card you will be able to claim a portion of your fee back through Medicare. The refund amount is called a Medicare benefit. The portion of the fee you are responsible for is known as your gap payment.

The amount of Medicare benefit you receive is determined by Medicare.

Medicare benefits are paid directly into your bank account. You can claim your Medicare benefit immediately at Bendigo Primary Care when you pay your account. You can also claim through Medicare Online, via the Medicare mobile app or by standard mail.

For more details visit www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/medicare

If you are tranfserring your care to Bendigo Primary Care Centre, your previous clinic will need to release your medical records.

If you require an interpreter for your appointment or you have a communication impairment please speak to our Administration team prior to your appointment with us. Alternatively you can ask our Administration staff to organise the transfer of records, ensuring you have provided the signed Consent to Release form.

Bendigo Primary Care Centre offers high quality education and clinical placement for medical undergraduate students, GP registrars in training and allied health and nursing students.

We are committed to training the future health providers in this region and are indebted to our patients who allow our student learners to be involved in their medical care.

You will be asked for your consent to have a student present in your consultation. You are freely able to deny this request.

Health care research provides valuable insights and benefits to everyone.
We are actively involved in the ASPREE and STAREE projects and an innovative project on Advanced Care Planning.

All research participation requires patient consent and appropriate ethics approvals. During your appointment you may be asked for consent to be involved in primary health care research. You are freely able to refuse this request.