Number of available bulk billing Gympie doctor clinics becoming rare
With wait lists and some charging more than $100 in new patient fees, finding an affordable doctor is becoming more difficult. See the full list of practices and who bulk bills.
Gympie
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There are 18 general practitioner clinics in the Gympie area, but only five offer across-the-board bulk billing services for their patients.
With a rising cost of living, increased Medicare fees, extended wait lists and a rise in the population, finding and keeping a good doctor is becoming harder than ever.
The Gympie Times has spoken to every GP clinic in Gympie and surrounding areas to find out who is taking on new patients, who is bulk billing, and what the wait times are to see a doctor.
The Gympie Clinic
The Gympie Clinic does not bulk bill, but does offer concession discounts.
Five doctors (including two females) take on new patients with around a week wait.
A standard appointment will set you back $89, while a long appointment is $154.
Henry St Medical Centre
Henry Street Medical Centre’s two doctors do bulk bill.
Unfortunately, because of their size the clinic is not currently taking on new patients.
The Medical Centre Gympie
With one female doctor taking on new patients, The Medical Centre Gympie offers standard consults for $40 (or $20 with a concession card).
The centre usually has a one to two week wait for new patients.
Doctors @ Goldfields Plaza
Doctors @ Goldfields Plaza is a mixed billing surgery, meaning children under 16, concession card holders and Indigenous Australians enrolled in Close the Gap are bulk billed.
The surgery takes on new patients with around a week wait time, and most of the doctors speak multiple languages.
Medical on Mary
Medical on Mary is also a mixed billing surgery, but offer discounts for concession card holders.
The surgery’s six doctors (two female) all see new patients with a fairly short wait time.
Channon St Medical Centre
Channon Street Medical Centre is not taking on new patients and does not bulk bill.
Quality Family Care Clinic
Quality Family Care Clinic is one of the few clinics still bulk billing in Gympie, but will be changing in the near future.
There is currently a two week waiting list for new patients and the practice does not see children.
Gympie Central Medical Centre
Gympie Central Medical Centre is privately billed and only has one doctor, who is not currently seeing new patients.
Southside Medical Centre
Southside Medical Centre does not bulk bill but are currently taking new patients.
Reception staff advise the current wait time is in excess of three weeks.
Cooroora Family Health
Cooroora Family Health has three doctors, but getting in to see one for the first time will incur an initial fee.
The clinic is a mixed billing practice.
Pomona Family Medical
Pomona Family Medical’s four doctors are not currently seeing new patients and the practice does not bulk bill.
Imbil Family Medical
Imbil Family Medical is seeing new patients.
They also have one female doctor, however she only works on Thursdays and Fridays.
The practice is mixed billing, and a standard consult will set you back $85 (before Medicare rebate).
New patients are advised to book a long consult however, which costs $125.
Cooroy Family Practice
Cooroy Family Practice offers a mixed billing model.
The clinic is accepting new patients, but an initial consult will set you back $45 out of pocket after the Medicare rebate. Wait times for a new patient average a week.
Maple St Surgery
Maple St Surgery in Cooroy is also a mixed billing practice.
A standard 20 minute consult will set you back $80 before a Medicare rebate is applied.
New patients will always be booked for a 30 minute consult, which is billed at $130 (before rebate).
Cooroy Family Medical
All new patients at Cooroy Family Medical will incur a new patient fee up to $180, before Medicare rebates.
The clinic does not bulk bill, but is accepting new patients with an average wait time of a week.
There are male and female doctors available.
Cooloola Coast General Practice (Cooloola Cove, Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay)
With practices in Cooloola Cove, Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach, Cooloola Coast General Practice is a popular spot for new patients.
All three practices offer across the board bulk billing services for any patient who holds a Medicare card.
The clinics are seeing new patients with around a week waiting time, and female doctors are available.
The Cooloola Cove and Tin Can Bay clinics also operate on weekends with limited hours.
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