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Frequently Asked Questions

Our Fees

Consultation fees (1 July 2020):

As at 1 January 2021 Marketown Health does NOT take CASH  – EFTPOS or Credit Card only.

*Concession fee only applies to valid concession card holders.

Standard Fee Concession Fee* Medicare Rebate Standard Fee - Out of Pocket Concession Fee* - Out of Pocket
Level B (Standard)
$95.00
$73.50
$39.10
$55.90
$34.40
Level C (Long)
$135.50
$110.75
$75.75
$59.75
$35.00
Level D (Extended)
$173.50
$149.50
$111.50
$62.00
$38.00

Marketown Health is a Private billing medical practice. We do provide medical care for concession cardholders at a discounted rate.

The following surcharges apply:

  • $20.00 account fee if payment is not made on the day and account is taken

Please note that payment is expected at time of consultation. We accept EFTPOS, Visa & Mastercard only. A payment surcharge will apply please see details at reception.

New patients are required to pay at the time of booking – this fee is non-refundable if the appointment is cancelled within 24 hours of the consultation.

Our Fees

Consultation Fees (2 September 2024):

As at 1 January 2021 Marketown Health does NOT take CASH  – EFTPOS or Credit Card only.

Marketown Health complies with the RBA guidelines on payment card surcharges. Payment card processing fee are charged in addition to the Practice Fee as follows: 

Practice Fee MasterCard
Credit Surcharge 1.36%
MasterCard
Debit Surcharge 1.23%
Visa Credit Surcharge
1.35%
Visa Debit Surcharge
1.22%
EFTPOS Surcharge 0.64%
Short Consultation
$109.15
$1.48
$1.34
$1.47
$1.33
$0.70
Concession Short Consultation
$90.50
$1.23
$1.11
$1.22
$1.10
$0.58
Long Consultation
$172.75
$2.35
$2.12
$2.33
$2.11
$1.11
Concession Long Consultation
$145.85
$1.98
$1.79
$1.97
$1.78
$0.93
Extended Consultation
$232.75
$3.17
$2.86
$3.14
$2.84
$1.49
Concession Extended Consultation
$204.75
$2.78
$2.52
$2.76
$2.50
$1.31

*Concession fee only applies to valid concession card holders.

Please note that the EFTPOS rate is only available if you:

  1. You must INSERT your card and enter a PIN; and

  2. Payment MUST be made from a Savings or Cheque Account.

If you TAP your card it is treated as a MC/VISA debit transaction.

Failure to pay on the day of consultation will incur an account keeping fee.

In emergencies, telephone an ambulance – dial 000.

Urgent after-hours care is also available at the Emergency Department of the John Hunter Hospital or Calvary Mater Hospital.

If urgent problems arise after our business hours and you require medical attention, GP Access After Hours service can assist you on the surgery’s behalf. 

Please phone 1300 130 147 for telephone advice or an appointment. They will notify us of your visit to their service.

GP Access Clinic Hours
Weeknights: From 6pm
Saturdays: From 9am
Sundays and Public Holidays: From 9am

We are open 5 days Monday to Friday – 8am to 5.00pm

Sat & Sun: Closed
Closed on Public Holidays.

We are not open on Public Holidays.

On a Public Holiday, please seek urgent care at the Emergency Department of the John Hunter Hospital or Calvary Mater Hospital.

Alternatively, GP Access After Hours service is open from 9am on public holidays and can assist you on the surgery’s behalf. 

Parking is available onsite at level 3 of the Marketown East shopping centre accessed via Ravenshaw Street, Newcastle West. Parking level P2 is at the same level as our premises and is designated for patients and visitors.

Disability parking is on the same level and just outside our main reception door.

Travelators are located within our building as well as lifts that are large enough for ambulance trolleys, motorised carts, prams and wheelchairs.

Marketown Health has provisions for patients with disabilities to access our services and facilities through:

  • Wheelchair accessibility to our reception, toilets and consulting rooms;
  • Installed ramps and railings in common patient entry and access areas;
  • Designated parking in close proximity to the entrance;
  • Lifts for access from all car parking levels and ramps from street access;
  • Baby change facilities in specially designated baby change bathrooms within the shopping centre.

Upper Level S02
Marketown Shopping Centre
23 Steel Street
Newcastle West, NSW 2302

View the Marketown centre map: www.marketown.com.au/centre-map

If you cannot attend your appointment we request that you cancel the appointment via telephone or the AutoMed booking System.

If you cancel your consultation less than 12 hours prior to your appointment you will be charged a cancellation fee of $50.

If you do not attend for your consultation at your scheduled time, you will be charged a cancellation fee equal to the full consultation fee. 

Our practice runs by an appointment system, which requires you to book an appointment for all consultations and procedures. 

We are unable to make appointments via email and patients are encouraged to use the AutoMed booking system to book appointments.

The duration of a standard consultation is 15 minutes. If you feel your consultation will take longer, or if you are getting a procedure done, please book a double appointment. As much as we try to maintain appointment times, it is not always possible, as some problems take a little more time to deal with than others. We do not like to keep you waiting, however please understand that delays may occur due to unforeseen emergencies and complicated medical problems. We ask for your patience and understanding.

If you are attending the practice as a family or couple, in order to provide the best possible care and to help us run on time please ensure you book an appointment for each person needing medical attention.

In our practice, we work as a team. Our nurses play a huge role in helping us provide quality medical care. At times, the doctors utilise the services of the nursing staff prior to their appointment. The doctors and nurses work together on chronic disease management, diabetic Care, and immunisations and patients will be directed to surgery-run clinics appropriate to their needs. The nurses also take height, weight & blood pressure measurements, perform INR testing and blood sugar level readings, triage patients, provide wound care, remove sutures, and update patient records as well as assist to perform procedures and attend health assessments.

Patients are required to make an appointment by telephone or the AutoMed System with their Doctor for consultations.

If your matter is urgent, please contact the practice by telephone to speak with one of our staff.

This practice is committed to providing comprehensive General Practice care to all individuals and families in this community. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your personal health information. Your medical record is a confidential document and it is the policy of this practice to maintain security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised members of staff.

We schedule patient consultations at approximately 15-minute intervals. Some complex problems end up needing more time than anticipated. If you feel this might be the case for yourself, please consider booking a double (30 minute) appointment. 

To help us to help you, if you have multiple issues, or feel you need more time or you are a new patient please book a long appointment. The Medicare rebate for longer consultations makes them a very cost effective alternative for those patients wishing to discuss multiple issues with their GP.

For some administrative medical tasks such as; insurance forms, Centrelink, RMS driving certifications and medical certificates, please book an appointment and outline the type of document required when making the booking. This will enable the appropriate appointment to be made.  

Where alternative care arrangements are not available, we provide a home visit service during business hours for established patients of the practice, within the CBD area and surrounds.

Patients will be contacted via Marketown Health regarding their test results once the result has been seen by the doctor.

We regret that calls cannot be transferred to doctor.

Your doctor will discuss referrals with you when necessary, and welcomes enquiries about referrals to specialist medical or paramedical facilities.

We aim to provide the highest standard of professional care to our patients at all times, please tell us of any suggestions or complaints, so we can improve our service.

You may speak to us directly or email informationofficer@marketownhealth.com.au, however, if you wish to speak to an external body, you can contact the NSW Health Care complaints commission on:

1800 043 159 (toll free in NSW) or hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au