Frequently Asked Questions

When you book online, you can select a specific consultation type (eg a flu vaccine or a cervical screen), a 15-minute general consultation or a longer consultation. We recommend a longer consultation if you have several issues or a complex problem.

Medical examinations for your driver’s license and other purposes require special bookings with the doctor or nurse. When booking online, please select the appropriate option, or if booking over the phone, explain the type of medical exam to our receptionist. Bring any necessary forms with all relevant sections completed in advance, along with a form of identification such as your driver’s license and, if applicable, your glasses. 

Procedure appointments may be deferred to another time based on the doctor’s assessment. Your doctor will advise if this is necessary, and will advise of any fees that may be incurred. 

While the practice is committed to scheduling appointments at realistic intervals, there may be an increased waiting time due to one of the following:

• More complex problems than anticipated, which cannot be dealt with within a standard appointment of 15 minutes. For this reason, we suggest all patients book a longer consultation when they have a list of issues.
• Unplanned appointments: Despite the best planning, the nature of general practice is that sometimes patients require immediate attention and an “unplanned” appointment. We will ask for your patience or, if the wait time would be too long or you prefer, staff will re-schedule the appointment.
• Emergency calls: The GP on stand-by to a nursing home or hospital may be called in case of an emergency. In this event, staff will make every effort to re-schedule your appointment.

Ives Family Practice Doctors are independent practitioners and they bill privately. This means patients will be charged a fee that is higher than the Medicare rebate for their consultation, in other words the Medicare rebate patients receive after paying their bill will only cover part of the total cost. These billing arrangements apply to both face-to-face and telehealth (video and phone) consultations.  For more information regarding the billing policy, please click on the following link. 

Cancellations:  If you are unable to attend your scheduled doctor or nurse appointment, please contact us as early as possible to reschedule or cancel. We require at least 2 hours’ notice for cancellations.

Doctors:

• A fee of $100 will apply for standard (15-minute) appointments. 
• A fee of $200 will apply for long (30-minute) appointments.
• A fee of $300 will apply for long (45-minute) appointments.

Nurses:

• A fee of $40 will apply for standard (15-minute) appointments. 
• A fee of $80 will apply for standard (30-minute) appointments. 
• A fee of $100 will apply for standard (45-minute) appointments. 
• A fee of $120 will apply for standard (60-minute) appointments. 

These charges apply to late cancellations or missed appointments and are not eligible for the Medicare rebate.

If you are running late, please call us to check if it is possible to fit you in or to arrange another suitable time. Our staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, but being late can be unfair to other patients who may be delayed as a result.

Please schedule an appointment if you need referrals, medical certificates, or repeat prescriptions. Doctors at Ives Family Practice have a duty of care to ensure that any repeat medications or referrals remain appropriate, which requires a short consultation. Urgent appointments can generally be made for the same day. Please note that doctors cannot backdate medical certificates under any circumstances. 

 Please click on the transfer of medical records link and submit it to your current practice. 

We adhere to all professional and statutory privacy obligations. Any information you provide to our practice, whether to your GP or staff, is strictly confidential and will not be shared with any third party unless you request it or it is required by law. Sharing your health information with other health professionals will always be discussed with you first. Your information is stored securely, and all staff are trained in managing health information and confidentiality. If you wish to access your health information, please discuss it with your doctor. 

We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to ensure your medical and personal data is handled securely and confidentially.

Our cybersecurity systems are regularly updated and monitored to protect against unauthorised access, data breaches, and cyber threats.

Tips to stay safe online:

• Access our patient portal only through our official website,
• Never share your login details or passwords used for Automed/hotdoc, 
• Be cautious of suspicious emails or messages claiming to be from us,
• Contact us directly if you're unsure about any communication.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us on (03) 9999 1212 or email reception@ivesfamilypractice.com.au.  For additional information regarding our privacy policy, click here. 

We welcome your feedback. Please click here for further information. 

Street Parking available. Indoor parking available behind IGA Bruce. Drive through the entrance adjacent to the loading dock for free undercover parking. We are opposite Cafe Momo.

The closest bus stop is Thynne Street, opposite Earderly Street.

This medical practice has zero tolerance for abusive and/or threatening behaviour towards our team members. This includes shouting, swearing, aggressive actions, threats, inappropriate gestures and name calling. Please treat us as you would like to be treated yourself. If you are abusive or threatening, you will be required to leave the clinic and transfer your care to another practice. Refusal to leave will result in the police being called. 

When our clinic is closed, you can still access quality medical care through  CALMS.