Vecare Health

Patient Information

Appointments

Appointments are available with our regular GPs. Where possible, we encourage patients to book with their usual GP, particularly for ongoing health conditions, medication reviews, test results and follow-up care.
If your usual GP is unavailable, another GP within your usual practice can access relevant information in your clinical record and continue your care as part of the same healthcare team..
Each patient and family member requiring a consultation should have their own appointment time slot.
If you are unable to attend, please notify reception as early as possible so that the appointment can be offered to another patient.
Walk-in patients may be accommodated where capacity allows; however, patients with booked appointments will be given priority.
Appointments should be made for Care Plans, Skin checks, Procedures, Childhood Immunisations, and Pap smears.
Please contact reception if you require a long appointment..
Appointments are available on the day and every effort is made to make the appointment with your doctor of choice.
Due to unforeseen or emergency cases, appointments can occasionally run overtime. We appreciate your patience and understanding if our doctors are not consistently on time and our staff will endeavour to inform you of delays when known.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 000 immediately. Urgent concerns presented to the practice will be clinically triaged, and same-day care will be provided where appropriate and available.
Standard appointments are up to 15 minutes and are generally suitable for one or two health concerns.
Long appointments are generally 15–30 minutes and are suitable for multiple or more complex health concerns.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible so we can offer your appointment to another patient who may require it. See our late or missed appointment policy below.

New Patients

Before your first appointment, please complete and return the new-patient registration form. We also recommend requesting a current health summary from your previous general practice so that your new GP has access to relevant medical history, medications and allergies.
Please return your completed new-patient registration form before your first appointment. Where possible, we also recommend arranging a current health summary from your previous general practice.
Please bring your Medicare card if you have one.
We welcome patients from Holbrook, Walla Walla, Culcairn, Henty, Morven, Woomargama, Walwa, Gerogery, and surrounding communities.

Test Results

All results are reviewed by a GP after they are received by the practice.
Reception staff cannot interpret or provide detailed clinical results.
Your GP or nurse may contact you by telephone, SMS or another approved method if your results require discussion, follow-up or an appointment. Some results may require a consultation so that your GP can explain them properly and discuss the next steps.
Please ensure that your contact details remain current and respond promptly to recall messages from the practice.

Medical Certificates

Medical certificates are legal documents and generally require an appropriate consultation with a GP. They cannot be backdated. The GP will determine whether a medical certificate can be issued based on the clinical circumstances.

Referral to Specialist

A consultation with a GP is generally required before a specialist referral can be issued. This allows the GP to assess your condition and include relevant clinical information in the referral.
Specialist referrals cannot be backdated. Please ensure that you have a current referral before attending your specialist appointment.

Travel Vaccination

Please book an appointment at least 6 – 8 weeks prior to travel to discuss your individual requirements and allow time for any immunisations to be administered and become effective. Some vaccines may require more than one injection.

Telephone and Email Access

Please call the clinic if you need to contact your GP by phone. The reception staff will send a detailed message to your doctor, who will return your call at their earliest convenience.
Email should be used only for non-urgent administrative enquiries. Patients should not use email for emergencies, urgent medical concerns or appointment changes.
Please do not send sensitive clinical information through unsecured email. Where health information needs to be transferred, the practice may use secure messaging, fax, post or arranged collection.
Emails are generally answered within two to three business days. If you do not receive a response, please contact the clinic, as your email may have been directed to our junk folder.

Reminder and Recall System

Vecare Health uses SMS, telephone calls and letters to contact patients about recalls, reminders and recommended follow-up care.
Please ensure that your contact details are current. Tell reception if you do not wish to receive routine SMS reminders. Significant clinical recalls may still require the practice to contact you using another appropriate method.

House Calls

House calls may be available for established patients requiring chronic, palliative or residential care, at the treating GP’s discretion. Wherever possible, patients should attend the practice because the clinic has access to appropriate examination facilities, medical equipment and nursing support.

After Hours

In cases of emergency, please ring 000 for an ambulance or

proceed to your nearest hospital.

Holbrook Multipurpose service, 30 Bowler St, Holbrook. NSW 2644

Phone: (02) 6036 2522

Albury Base Hospital, 201 Borella Rd, East Albury NSW 2640

Phone : (02) 6058 4444

Culcairn Multi-Purpose Service, 51-55 Balfour Street, Culcairn. NSW 2660.

Phone: (02) 6044 6100

Alternatively, for assistance:

Health Direct on 1800 022 222
NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
Murrumbidgee Local Health District region Accessline - 1800 800 944
POISON INFORMATION LINE: 13 11 26

Medical Records and Privacy

All medical records are strictly confidential and the contents cannot be disclosed to anyone without your consent or where justified by law.
Vecare Health handles personal and health information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
Personal health information is accessible only to authorised team members who require it to perform their duties.
A copy of our Privacy Policy is always available at reception. Please feel free to ask our Receptionist if you would like a copy — or click the button below to read it now.

Fees and Charges

Vecare Health is a bulk billing practice for all NRA item numbers only (Non-Referred Attendance).
This means there are no out-of-pocket fees for standard GP consultations, care plans, health assessments, when you present a valid Medicare card.

BULK BILLING AND ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFIT CONSENT

Eligible standard GP consultations may be bulk billed for patients who hold a valid Medicare card.

To receive a bulk-billed service, patients must complete and sign the Medicare Assignment of Benefit form for each eligible consultation. This confirms that the patient assigns the Medicare benefit directly to the treating doctor.

For face-to-face appointments, the Assignment of Benefit may be completed at the practice.

For telehealth appointments, patients may receive an electronic consent request by SMS or another approved method.

The Assignment of Benefit form must be completed within the required timeframe. If the form is not signed or the patient does not provide the required consent, the consultation may be charged as a private service and the patient will be responsible for paying the applicable fee with no medicare rebate.

Kindly Note: Bulk billing applies only to certain eligible Medicare services.

PROCEDURE AND SKIN CHECKS

All procedures and Skin checks are privately billed for all patients except DVA Gold card holders.

Where a Medicare rebate applies, the full private fee is payable on the day. We can submit the Medicare claim on your behalf, and Medicare will pay the applicable rebate into your nominated bank account. The difference between the fee and the Medicare rebate is your out-of-pocket cost.

Please update your bank account details with Medicare for smoother reimbursement.

Doctors will charge a private fee if you cannot produce a valid Medicare card.

The total amount is payable on the day.

The following services are generally not claimable through Medicare and may attract a private fee:

Workers Compensation
CTP (Compulsory Third Party)
Travel Vaccine Consults
Injury Management
Pre Employment Medical
Commercial Driver's License Medical
Travel vaccinations
Q fever testing and vaccination

Please contact our friendly reception team if you have any questions about practice fees or expected costs when booking your appointment.

LATE NOTICE & MISSED APPOINTMENT

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please notify the practice at least four hours before the scheduled appointment time.

A fee of $50 or more, depending on the appointment length, may apply if you do not attend or cancel with less than four hours’ notice. This fee is not claimable through Medicare.

An invoice will be sent to you and is payable within seven days. The practice may be unable to provide further non-urgent services until outstanding accounts have been paid.

Repeated missed appointments or late cancellations may result in the practice reviewing whether it can continue to provide non-urgent care. Patients will be notified in writing if this occurs.

We understand that unexpected emergencies can arise. Exceptional circumstances will be considered individually.

Trusted Healthcare in Holbrook and Walla Walla

Welcome

We Bulk Bill all NRA item numbers

Online Appointment Bookings

Or Manage your appointment via the Automed connect app

Locations

Holbrook

Walla Walla