Bulk billing eases the pain on patient's hip pockets

JACARANDA Health had become Grafton’s only 100% bulk-billing clinic because it realised the whole community was doing it tough.

Jacaranda Health Clinic Grafton. Photo: Debrah Novak/The Daily Examiner. Picture: Debrah Novak

JACARANDA Health had become Grafton's only 100% bulk-billing clinic because it realised the whole community was doing it tough, its managing director said yesterday.

"We've been discussing the idea for some considerable time and unanimously came to the conclusion that there really needs to be an all-inclusive bulk-billing clinic so the whole community can have affordable and efficient health care," managing director Patricia Tracey said yesterday.

"We have always undertaken some bulk billing but we decided to advertise that anyone and everyone who comes in should not have to pay anything extra for good medical treatment.

"A lot of people in the region fail to realise just how many others are doing it tough at the moment.

"You don't need to be out of work or carrying a health care card to be struggling to make ends meet, and we realise that.

"Sure, there might be some financial loss to the practice but consider that as our contribution to the community."

The Pound St clinic currently has three GPs and also operates a bulk-billing skin cancer clinic, a pathology collection service and 24-hour phone help line.

Dr Ken Bhinder has been with the practice five years; Dr Meninder Ghotra four years and Dr Siva Muppala for 18 months.

Mrs Tracey said there were hopes of future expansion to bring more doctors to Grafton and the practice was in the process of recruiting a registered nurse to join the team.

Originally published as Bulk billing eases the pain on patient's hip pockets