At Barton Lane Practice we seek to provide you with the very best in health care, empowering you to improve your health, and we have been doing so for the Tamworth region since 1892.
Our responses to COVID-19
In response to COVID-19 we have made a range of changes to help care for you and our community at this time. Many appointments are now available by phone or video consultation. This helps keep you safe at home and helps us make sure that it is as safe as possible for people who need to see us face to face. You can also book phone and video appointments online. You can find out more about some of our changes below.
We’ve spread some things out to give you more space
We have …
- removed some chairs and spaced them further apart
- spread out our appointments times
- moved some appointments to Saturdays
- set up options for phone and video appointments
… so that when you visit us we can keep you as safe as possible
Updates on Telehealth
Phone and Video appointments are a great tool to help you get the care you need without coming into the practice. This helps us make sure the waiting room is as safe as possible for those who need something cared for face to face.
When you book a video appointment you will be sent an email close to your appointment with instructions on how to connect.
Childhood health checks and immunisations
With COVID-19 threatening to stress our health system, it’s more important than ever to be up to date with your child‘s immunisations. We are setting up special clinics for children’s health checks and immunisations to help you avoid a crowded waiting room.
If you attend our Saturday Childhood Health Check and Immunisation Clinic you will be shown to one of our consultation rooms when you arrive at the practice. The health check and immunisation will be done in this room. You can come, have the health check, immunisation and the observation time after the immunisations – all without needing to sit in the waiting room.
To book your child into this clinic call the practice on 02 6766 6166.
Do you have cold or flu symptoms?
Given the spread of COVID-19 in our community, we will be seeing everyone who has cold or flu symptoms with a video or phone appointment. Most of the time we will be able to care for you and organise any medications, tests or certificates you need without you needing to come into the practice.
So, if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or other flu like symptoms, book a phone or video appointment with one of our doctors today.
More visits bulk billed
To help in this difficult time, we want to make sure you can receive the care you need in an accessible way. We are pleased to share that we have extended bulk billed appointments to all people under the age of 16 years and to all concession card holders. We hope this temporary measure helps reduce the impact of COVID on your health care.
Flu immunisations
To keep up to date with when you can book your flu vaccine, please click the link above.
With the importance of physical distancing we will be doing our flu clinics a little differently, including a separate entry for this clinic. So make sure you look for the Flu Clinic signs to direct you as you enter the building. We also ask that you arrive at your appointment time to avoid a longer wait in the building, and that you bring a pen with you.
We will only be able to take bookings based on stock.
To keep up to date, you can sign up for emails
If you have cold or flu symptoms please phone the practice on 02 6766 6166 before your appointment to help us care for you and our other patients well
With the current local and global concerns for coronavirus we want to assure you we are seeking to maintain our care for you, our practice and our community. To do this we are making changes to what we will ask you when your appointment is booked. There are also increased infection control measures when you arrive at the practice, so please make sure you read the signs at the entry when you come to us. For some situations, we are also using phone calls to help us provide the right health care for you.
If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, please call the practice on 02 6766 6166 to get further advice. Our team will work with you to make sure you get the care you need, either by phone or in person.
Our team is being updated daily with information from the local Public Health Unit, which is putting in a great effort to help us prepare for any changes related to coronavirus.
We understand that this is a stressful time for many. With careful preparation and by following the advice of the Public Health unit, we believe our health care system will be better able to respond to this threat. We thank you for your assistance in these measures in the coming weeks and months.
If you have questions about coronavirus specific to your health situation, we welcome you to book an appointment with one of our doctors.
121 Johnston Street
(Tamwell Building, Ground floor) Tamworth, NSW 2340
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 11:30am
For urgent medical concerns outside normal hours, please contact the on-call doctor on the after hours phone number. Charges may apply.
Ph: 02 67666166
Fax: 02 67666341
After hours on-call doctor: 0407 255 321
For all emergencies please call an ambulance on: 000
There are more appointments available by calling the practice on
(02) 6766 6166
during our normal business hours
#behealthytomorrow
These last few months have been a whirlwind with the comfortable patterns of school, work, and daily life blown away. Not your average Tamworth autumn (despite gorgeous weather). In the midst of this, what’s concerning is how we’re going to come out the other side....
Should I have a regular GP?
I hate getting sick. Aches, pains, fevers and not being able to do anything. I also have small children, and the idea that daddy needs to have some time to rest just does not cut it with them. So, whenever I am unwell, I just want to get better as quickly as possible....
Getting the most out of your appointment
Have you ever walked out at the end of a doctor’s visit only to realise you forgot to ask a question, or forgot part of what the doctor talked to you about? Planning ahead can help you get the most out of your visit to the practice, and here are some tips to help you....
Barton Lane Practice
News
On Monday (10/08/20) we are going to trial a COVID Marshall to meet you outside the practice. They will be collecting contact details, screen for symptoms and travel, and checking temperatures. This will include all people: patients, visitors, and support people. If possible come alone, and don't forget telehealth options. #staysafe
Q Fever – Treatable and Preventable - NDL Article
There are some great things about living in rural and remote Australia, but Q Fever isn’t one of them.
Q Fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella Burnetii which is spread from animals to humans. The disease has a wide range of severity, including significant impact on short- and long-term health.
The highest risk is from handling cattle, sheep, and goats. In particular handling birthing fluids, faeces, urine, and waste products. However, the bacteria can be blown in the wind through contaminated dust, or caught from other animals such as rabbits, kangaroos, or ticks.
It is thought that 6% of people living on farms and 3% of people living in rural areas will be exposed to Q Fever.
Classic acute Q Fever appears as a flu-like illness with high fever, headache, aches and pains, with lung and liver inflammation. In its severe form, it can affect the heart or appear as meningitis.
Five percent go on to develop chronic infection which may result in damage to blood vessels, heart valves, liver, or bones. Ten percent develop Q-Fever Fatigue Syndrome which can limit activity for months to years.
Prompt recognition, diagnosis and antibiotic treatment (generally doxycycline) can reduce the length of illness and the likelihood of complications.
Transmission is reduced by good hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (including P2 masks).
However, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and is recommended for those who work in, live in, or visit high-risk environments.
Two appointments are required for vaccination. The first includes a brief medical consultation and assesses for prior exposure by skin-prick and blood test. The second appointment confirms results and, if appropriate, a single lifelong vaccination is administered.
Barton Lane Practice offers options for personal or occupational vaccinations. Discuss your risk with your GP or phone Barton Lane Practice for further information (6766 6166).
Did you know nursing appointments are available Saturdays?👩🏼⚕️ This initiative improves access for our patients who are worried about attending the practice during busy times or when work makes workdays difficult. Appointments will be available for Immunizations💉, dressings🩹, and INR management💊. Some weeks will have options for health clinics🩺 and health assessments📃.
Good idea....
"Doctors are being asked to provide medical clearance to patients who have completed a 14-day period of self-isolation due to COVID-19.
NSW Health has provided advice stating that doctors are unable to issue ‘medical clearance certificates’ because there is no testing that can be conducted to predict whether or not patients will become unwell if they are currently symptom free (view NSW Health coronavirus FAQs).
The only type of ‘certification’ a GP can provide is to the effect that, on the day of assessment, the patient was symptom free (this relies on a patient history and the patient being honest) and had no clinical features to indicate a viral infection. These are relatively limited but would include normal temperature and heart rate, nil respiratory distress, clear chest, no rhinorrhoea or pharyngitis."
If a patient presents with the requisite travel history and provides the GP with a history of having been in isolation for 14 days, a doctor could write a letter to this effect:
I assessed … on … which they state is 14 days since their self-isolation.
On assessment today, they did not present with any clinical features suggestive of a viral infection.
The corresponding medical record will need to reflect a history and examination that supports this assessment and if relevant, the date on their travel documents regarding arrival in Australia."
www.avant.org.au/Announcements/Coronavirus/
So no Covid test with a 'Not detected' result?
New Patients
First of all – Welcome!
At Barton Lane Practice we strive to ensure all patients receive high quality, comprehensive health care.
To become a patient, contact the practice (02 6766 6166) to book your first appointment.
Before your first appointment we would like you to complete a Patient Registration form. You can download one here, or collect one from the practice. Please bring your completed form along to your first visit.
If possible, please also bring:
- An up-to-date health summary from your previous GP
- Copies of any GP Management Plans
- Any relevant letters or notes from specialists
- Any medications you take
Billing Information
Our goal is to provide you with high quality, comprehensive health care. As such we do not bulk bill as we cannot maintain our standard of medical care on the rebate available.
However, we do provide medical care for concession card holders at a discounted rate.
We also seek to provide care in innovative ways for people with a range of complex and chronic health care conditions. We are able to run many specific services for a range of common chronic health issues with little or no out of pocket cost to you. If you have a chronic health care need please talk to one of our doctors or other staff to learn more about what this could mean for you.
The current fee scale is displayed at reception. Please ask our receptionists for further details. We ask that fees be settled in full at the time of consultation.
Doctors
Dr Daniel Rankmore
Dr David Lockart
Dr Doug Rutherford
Dr Barb Moritz
Dr John Pearson
Dr Matt Chan
Dr Paige Darlington
Dr Darla Grace
Dr Laura Heal
Dr Ben Gaunt
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