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
FluVax Update! Barton Lane Practice has now surpassed 3000 flu vaccinations in 2020.
* We have an excellent supply of the vaccine designed for people aged 65 and over. It's free and not avaliable at pharmacists.
* We have a good supply of all other public vaccinations. Book in now.
* For those not eliligble for a government funded vaccine can pre-order a self-funded vaccine at www.bartonlanepractice.com.au/…/influenza-vaccinat…/
Remember August / September are peak flu season.
Have you spoken to your doctor lately? Barton Lane Practice offers telehealth consultations via phone or video chat. Under the current Government funding arrangement these appointments are bulk-billed for concession cardholders and those vulnerable to COVID.From early April to early May, 1 in 6 (17%) adult Australians used a Telehealth service. For more, see ow.ly/HzTH50zP7K1
Patients vulnerable to COVID-19 by the Department of Health definition include a person who: is required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with guidance issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in relation to COVID-19; or is at least 70 years old; or if the person identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent—is at least 50 years old; or is pregnant; or is the parent of a child aged under 12 months; or is being treated for a chronic health condition; or is immune compromised; or meets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection. ama.com.au/gp-network-news/bulk-billing-incentives-expanded-covid-19-vulnerable-patients
Moving your body effectively and efficiently is vital to our health and how we interact with the world. Our bodies are primed to adapt to challenges we set it, and remarkably, it is moving that makes you better at moving.
The words ‘movement’, ‘exercise’ and ‘fitness’ conjure all sorts of images from bodybuilders 💪🏻🦸🏻 to marathon runners 🏃🏻♀️. The truth is that these images are often the extremes of a single aspect of fitness. Going to these extremes is amazing but neither required for health nor represent the spectrum of physical activity.
Movement and fitness include the general physical skills of cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. Fitness, and therefore health is improved as we develop across all these domains. If you’re good at some, take time to work on others.
🚶🏼♀️🚴🏻♂️Long-distance walking, running and cycling improve cardiovascular and respiratory endurance and stamina. Shorter distances improve power and speed. Rowing and swimming use more and different muscles. These activities improve insulin sensitivity, help maintain weight, and reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
🏋🏻♀️👨🏻🌾Resistance training with weights, body weight and resistant bands improve muscular strength. Physically active jobs and activities like gardening will also develop strength. Over time this improves bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
⚽️🎾Various sports improve coordination and agility, as well as having significant social and mental health benefits. They naturally incorporate high-intensity impulse training in a fun and engaging manner.
🧘🏻♀️🤸🏼♂️Yoga and gymnastics improve flexibility and balance.
Consistency is important. Be active on more days than not - 3-6 sessions a week, lasting 30-60min. Good technique keeps it safe. Be smart about loading or difficulty. If you’re not sure ask a professional fitness instructor or exercise physiologist. Routine is the enemy of adaptation. Mix it up. Challenge yourself.
Being intentional about moving today, will help keep you moving tomorrow, the next day, and into the years to come.
Big congratulations to our practice manager Bek Hooley for being awarded a Fellowship of the Australia Association of Practice Managers. Kinda a big deal... 🏆🎆🎉
Well done Bek!! Well deserved 😀
What a great accolade! Congratulations 🤗
Best medical practice. Congratulations Bec.
Congratulations Bek - great achievement! 🙂
Strength to strength Barton Lane with excellent management. 👏🏻
Congratulations Bec 🎊
Congrats Bec💐💥
Congrats Bek. Well done.
Congratulations Bek 👏👏
Congratulations 🥳
Congratulations Bek 🎉
Congratulations Bek!
Well done....
Congrats Bec
Congrats
Well done Bek!!
💓This World Family Doctor Day, we celebrate all of our GPs and family doctors. As the first point of call for many, your work keeps our community safe now more than ever. Thank you! #WorldFamilyDoctorDay
Thank you to all our wonderful doctors and your care of us.
Thank you to all doctors in the practice for your caring of us
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 Timothy Igbenije
Dr Ben Gaunt
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