Qualitas Medical Practice North Sydney

We are a mixed billing practice. Depending on the length of your appointment, the number of concerns you have, and the type of service required, the appointment type and fees may change.

• Monday to Friday: The standard consultation fee is $105, and the long consultation fee is $160.
• Saturday before 1pm: The standard consultation fee is $110, and the long consultation fee is $170.
• Saturday from 1pm, and Sunday: The standard consultation fee is $120, and the long consultation fee is $180.
• All fees are inclusive of practice fee for payroll tax
• Bulk Billing of standard consults will continue for Children 0-15, Age, Pension, Concession, Health Care Card, and DVA Gold card holders. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health will also remain Bulk Billed. Even if you are eligible for bulk-billing, surgical procedures may involve additional fees.
• Please ensure that you update your health care cards with our reception team to avoid any accidental charges.
• Private fees will apply for Skin Checks and other procedures. Medicare rebates are available in these instances.
• Please note that there may be fees associated with services we refer you to (consultations, pathology, radiology). We suggest contacting them before booking to inquire about their charges.
• Payments are required at the end of your appointment.
• We pass on transaction fees for card and digital payments: 2.0% for American Express and Diners Club, 1.5% for Visa and Mastercard (credit), and 0.7% for Visa and Mastercard (debit), with no surcharge for EFTPOS or cash payments. We do this in line with the RBA rules.

We have a neurologist, Dr Louise Rigney, who provides patients with neurological needs at Qualitas Medical Practice North Sydney.

Areas of interest:

• Headache disorders, including migraine.
• Pregnancy related neurological conditions.
• Hyperhidrosis and botulinum toxin treatment – underarms, palms, feet, Frey’s syndrome.
• Stroke.
• Epilepsy.
• Neuro-ophthalmology.
• Neuromuscular disorders.
• Peripheral neuropathies.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Neuroimmunology, including myasthenia gravis, autoimmune encephalitis.
• Dizziness.
• Tremor and other movement disorders.
• Functional neurological conditions.
• Nerve entrapment syndromes including carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome.

We also have a fully registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority, Adena Silverstein, offering our patients 15 minute appointments

Areas of Interest:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Grief and Loss
• Life transitions
• Workplace functioning
• Migrant adjustment
• Weight and healthy lifestyle
• Relationship concerns
• Family matters
• Parenting
• Stepfamilies

To make a booking with either Adena or Dr Rigney, please contact Reception.

CANCELLATION AND NON-ATTENDANCE FEE

We understand situations may arise where you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment. If this occurs, we respectfully ask you to provide a minimum of 2 hours’ notice before your appointment by cancelling your appointment via our online booking system or phoning our practice. We will happily reschedule your appointment.

If you cancel within the 2 hours or do not attend your scheduled appointment, a non-attendance fee $45.00 will apply.

For Doctor Louise Rigney, appointments require 48 hours’ notice for cancellation or rescheduling:

• Less than 48 hours’ notice: $250 cancellation fee
• Same-day cancellation or non-attendance: full consultation fee charged

If you have a cancellation fee, it will require payment before you can schedule another appointment.

Our doctors want to be available for your needs and the needs of all our patients. When a patient does not attend a scheduled appointment, another patient loses the opportunity to be seen.

Thank you for being a valued patient and for your cooperation with this policy.

We ask that patients make a booking ONLINE when possible, though every effort will be made to fit patients in when possible.

Our standard appointment types have specific time allowances, so please book a longer consultation if required to be fair to other patients. This approach helps us maintain our commitment to providing each patient with the attention they deserve. Additionally, we appreciate your punctuality for appointments. Please note late arrivals may not be seen during busy periods.

We do standard 10-minute appointments. Some services like pap smears, health assessments, skin checks, or if you have a number of complex concerns to discuss with your GP, may need longer appointments.

Test results are only given to the patient concerned by a doctor. However, you will generally be asked to make an appointment with your doctor to follow up.

Medical Certificates can be provided by your doctor following a consultation, unfortunately they cannot be backdated. Please try to present early in your illness should you require this service.

If you have visited our practice in the past twelve months, you can book a telehealth consultation. Please do so ONLINE. New patients must have a face to face consult with one of our GP’s in the first instance.

The practitioners adhere to the AMA code of Ethics regarding Privacy and Confidentiality, please be assured that your medical records and consultations are kept in the strictest confidence.

Please ask the reception team for a ‘transfer of medical records’ request. This can then be provided to your previous practice / doctor.

All pathology tests require a referral from your GP. We encourage you to have this ready when appearing at the pathology collection centre for your pathology test. Some pathology tests, such as pregnancy glucose tolerance testing, require you to book with pathology.

Work cover patients will be treated the same as regular patients. Please notify your employer before your first consultation so they may provide you with a claim number related to your current case.

If you do not have a claim number the patient will be required to pay for the consult, to then claim the amount back when the claim number is approved.

Specialists typically require a referral letter from a GP. Please make an appointment with a GP first to ask about a referral letter; your GP will advise you accordingly. Please note, specialist referrals cannot be backdated, and you will need to discuss with your specialist any charges with them directly.

Our communications Policy details how and when we receive and return telephone calls and electronic communication.

We will not disturb a doctor during a consultation. We will let the doctor know if a patient has contacted the practice for them and will respond appropriately.

Please note emails are there for administrative purposes. We will not disclose personal information over email and will not use this method to book or cancel appointments.

We may get in touch with you via SMS or email to update you with general information about our practice or health services for your information. Any generic email communication to you is done using only a name and email, for the purposes of these communications, please be advised that no further information is stored.

If you are unsatisfied with any aspect of our practice or your consultation, complaints can be made by completing a ‘feedback form’ available in the waiting room, completing a formal ‘complaints’ form available at the reception desk, discussing your concerns directly with the Practice Manager, via the feedback form in the contact us link below or contacting the NSW Health Services Commissioner on (02) 9219 7444.