Dear Patients
You may be aware that in July 2024, the government announced the increase in funding to general practice to be 4%, which is insufficient for us to meet the increasing expenses and staff wages to sustain our practice.
Regretfully, we will need to increase our fees for some services that we have previously been able to offer for a very low cost, or free of charge to patients. These include:
- CSC (Community Service Card Holders)
CSC holders will pay for other services in practice, e.g. Drivers Licenses, Bloods taken in practice, ECGs etc., however services will be at a reduced fee compared to a non-CSC holder. Please enquire with our reception team when booking a service if you are unsure.
- Flexicare for non-CSC Holders
If your GP/Nurse applies a Flexicare claim to help subsidise an extended appointment or an unexpected service, non-CSC holders will pay a co-payment of $40.
- Changes to charging for phone calls with nurses
Our experienced nurses provide excellent care and support to our patients. In particular they offer significant help through phone calls and triage.
From 14 October 2024, if you have called in to speak to a nurse their time on the phone with you may now incur a charge, depending on the length of time needed or complexity of the questions you have. Brief clinical advice given in under 5 minutes will continue to be free, so please do not refrain from getting in touch about your health needs.
If you have difficult financial circumstances, please advise us as optimising your health maintains our priority.
Below is an estimate of our charging guidelines:
| Time spent in the call with patients | Charge |
| Over 15 minutes | $40 |
| 10-15 minutes | $25 |
| 5-10 minutes | $15 |
| Under 5 minutes | Free |
Common questions about nurse calls:
What if a nurse has called me?
If one of our nurses has called you or we have requested that you speak with one of our nurses before booking an appointment—for example, to relay a message from your GP, or to triage you because you have an urgent concern —then a fee generally will not apply, as these calls should not take more than 5 minutes. However, if you then request further clinical advice from the nurse that extends the call, a fee may apply.
What if I speak with a nurse but they tell me I need a GP appointment anyway?
Our nurses will endeavour to triage you and advise you on whether you need a GP appointment or not as quickly as possible, so these calls should generally not take more than 5 minutes.
Can I get a medical certificate by speaking with a nurse?
No. You will need a phone or in-person appointment with a GP to get a medical certificate.
If I need advice from the nurse and I cannot afford to pay, what can I do?
The nurse may be able to apply for funding to assist you where appropriate, please advise the nurse at the time.
We appreciate your understanding of these difficult decisions that are necessary in order for Harley Street to remain operating as your general practice.
The Directors Harley St Medical