Appointments

Appointments

Information for Your Next Visit

Making an appointment is as easy as clicking here or calling us on 8579 6838. You’ll usually get to see a doctor on the day, especially if you book in the morning.

We’re a private billing practice that provides a high standard of healthcare and medical expertise. After deducting your Medicare rebate, all appointments attract an out-of-pocket fee, which is the final cost to you.

Please choose a topic below for an overview of our fees, appointment types, cancellations, and more.

Contact us if you’d like a more detailed explanation of any topics.

Patient and Clinic Info

Fees and Payments

Doctors of South Melbourne is a private billing practice.

For regular consultations, the out-of-pocket fee* for Medicare cardholders is:

Daylight Hours

$74.00 out-of-pocket: Monday – Friday (8.30 am – 5.30 pm).

Afterhours

$91.00 out-of-pocket: Monday – Friday (after 5.30 pm) and all day Saturday.

_____________________

We charge the same out-of-pocket fee for long appointments (30 minutes) and standard appointments (15 minutes). This encourages patients to book the appointment duration their GP needs to address their health concerns best.

It also helps the doctors run on time and not keep you or others waiting.

Not sure whether to book a standard or long appointment? Have a look at our ‘Appointments’ FAQ.

Telehealth Consults: Credit Card Required to Book

People making telehealth appointments must provide a credit card to secure their appointment.

Your card details are securely managed through HotDoc, Australia’s largest and most trusted medical booking platform, with 8 million active patients.

Payment will only be processed after your appointment, and we won’t know, keep, or store your credit card details.

How it Works

  • When you make an appointment, you’ll be prompted to enter your credit card details into HotDoc to secure your booking.
  • You have 90 minutes to do so before your appointment is canceled and offered to another patient.
  • Your credit card will automatically be charged the appointment fee once your appointment has finished.
  • We’ll then submit your Medicare rebate online. Medicare will refund to your nominated bank account.

Pregnancy (Shared Care) Consultations

For pregnancy care**, the out-of-pocket fee* for Medicare cardholders is the same regardless of the appointment duration. To provide the best quality care, all pregnancy consultations are 30 minutes long:

  • Monday – Friday (8.30 am – 5.30 pm): $96.00 out-of-pocket
  • Monday – Friday (after 5.30 pm) and all day Saturday: $113.00 out-of-pocket

Please look at our fact sheet for info on how Medicare rebates impact pregnancy (shared care) consultation fees.

Practice Nurse Fee

Due to Medicare rule changes, all nurse appointments now cost $32.00. No Medicare rebates are applicable.

This includes immunisation appointments to administer vaccines – including those on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. The usual costs of private vaccines and procedures are additional to the nurse fee.

We’ll waive this fee if you’ve paid to see a GP at the clinic on the same day as your nurse appointment.

The City of Port Phillip provides government-issued vaccines at no charge for eligible people.

General Info on Fees & Payments

Extra charges apply for services such as minor surgical procedures and travel vaccinations.

Fees for all appointments and services are payable after each consult. We accept Visa, MasterCard and debit cards.

We don’t accept cash, Amex, or direct debit/bank transfers.

If you don’t have a Medicare card, your appointment cost will depend on many factors. These include the reason for your appointment, how long you spend with your GP, and whether you have insurance. Please speak with our friendly receptionists for more information.

Medicare

At the time of your payment, we’ll credit your Medicare rebate to either your debit card or the bank account you’ve registered with Medicare.

If you’ve reached your Medicare threshold for the calendar year, your out-of-pocket costs will be less than those stated above. Visit Medicare’s website and search for ‘thresholds’ if you’d like more information.

* The ‘out-of-pocket fee’ is the final cost to you after deducting your Medicare rebate.
** Pre-pregnancy appointments are charged at regular consultation rates.

New Patients

New patients are most welcome. You’ll need to start with a long appointment (30 mins) to discuss your medical history and background – long appointments attract the same out-of-pocket cost as a standard 15-minute appointment.

Before your first visit, please submit the ‘New Patient Registration Form’. Don’t forget to bring your photo ID and Medicare card to your first visit.

To transfer your old medical records, please print and complete  this form, then hand it to your previous clinic.

We ask new patients to submit a credit card to secure their first appointment. Your credit card will only be charged once your appointment has finished.

For more information, please see this page’s ‘Fees and Payments’ section.

Companions

You’re welcome to bring a support person with you.

We want you to feel as safe and comfortable as possible when receiving care. Some people choose to be accompanied by a friend or family member.

We’ll welcome anybody who can assist you in getting the most out of your appointment.

Appointment Types

We recommend patients with more involved medical needs book a 30-minute long appointment. This includes people requiring a cervical screening test, multiple travel vaccinations or mental health discussions.

Regular patients with more straightforward needs can book a 15-minute standard appointment.

You can make an appointment below or by calling us on 8579 6838.

 

Special Fees

Patients without Medicare cards are most welcome, including international students and travellers. Please speak with our staff about fees.

We charge our usual rates for TAC or WorkSafe consultations, payable by the patient after each appointment.

We recommend patients take the receipt to their insurance provider for full or partial reimbursement – dependent on the provider’s policy terms.

We charge DVA patients, Health Care and concession card holders at usual rates.

Repeat Scripts, Test Results & Specialist Referrals

Script Repeats

We may be able to issue a repeat prescription without you needing an appointment.

This depends on a few factors, such as what it’s for and when you last saw your GP.

Please call us to request a script. One of our friendly receptionists will then forward it to your doctor and let you know when you should receive a response (most doctors are full with back-to-back appointments).

Your GP will spend time reviewing your medical records and history. If all is OK for a repeat script, they’ll ask our admin team to generate the documentation. There’s a $27 charge for this service.

Test Results

Test results, including blood tests, x-rays, and scans, are typically returned to us within 2-3 days of being taken.

In most cases, you’ll need to book an appointment to talk through the results. This way, we can ensure a consistently high level of care.

In some situations, your GP can send you an SMS if the results are normal – please speak to them about this option.

Specialist Referrals

As with repeat scripts, referrals depend on certain factors. These include what the referral is for and whether you’ve recently spoken to your GP about the same medical concern.

To request a specialist referral, please speak with our reception team. They’ll pass on your request and let you know when your doctor will respond.

Your GP will spend time reviewing your medical records and history. If all is OK to refer you to a specialist without a medical review, our admin team will then do the paperwork. There’s a $27 charge for this service.

Cancellations

We understand that you may need to cancel an appointment occasionally – it’s just the way it is.

If you need to make a cancellation, please contact us at least two hours before your appointment time. This will allow patients on the wait-list a chance to be treated.

You may be charged a fee if you cancel with less than two hours notice or don’t show up at all.

After Hours

Existing patients of Doctors of South Melbourne can take advantage of an after-hours home visit service through National Home Doctor Service.

Contact them on 13 74 25 or visit the National Home Doctor Service website for more information.

CALL 000 IMMEDIATELY FOR ALL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.

Useful Forms

Here are some handy forms for your convenience. Simply download, complete and bring along to your next appointment as required.

Local Pharmacies

  • South Melbourne Pharmasave
    103 Cecil St
    South Melbourne
    (03) 9690 5240
  • Chemist Warehouse South Melbourne
    310 Clarendon St
    South Melbourne
    (03) 9699 2042

Like to Know More About Our Services?

Take a look at the most popular services enjoyed by patients in and around South Melbourne.