COVID-19 Practice Policy
Updated 05/05/2022
Face to face consults
All patients coming in for a face to face consultation will be required to wear a mask. Please bring a mask with you for all face to face appointments. Please note we will not be making exceptions to this rule except for young children and infants. We strongly encourage children to also wear a mask where possible.
We kindly ask all patients to present alone unless a support person is required for medical reasons.
Patients with flu like illness
Anyone with fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath will be seen by video consultation or assessed via a telephone consultation. The need for a face to face consultation will be determined by the doctor. If a face to face consultation is to be scheduled, the patient will need to have a negative COVID test prior. This will be via PCR testing or through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Please call reception to discuss the practice procedures with regards to any face to face consultation (this will likely be a car consult due to the high false negative rate of RAT testing).
Telehealth consults
Ashford Avenue Family Practice will be offering video calls as our preferred medium of telehealth during this difficult time. Please ask reception if there are any further queries.
As per Medicare regulations, telehealth consultations are only available to those who have been to the practice in the last 12 months. It is also a requirement for the patient to be present during the consult. E.g. a consult for a child means the child will need to be viewed on the video.
Patients who are subject to COVID-19 public health orders requiring isolation or quarantine are exempt for this rule and can access a doctor via video consultation even if they have not been to the practice in the last 12 months or are a new patient.
A number of specialised consultations including mental health care plans will continue to be privately charged.
Updated 05/05/2022
Face to face consults
All patients coming in for a face to face consultation will be required to wear a mask. Please bring a mask with you for all face to face appointments. Please note we will not be making exceptions to this rule except for young children and infants. We strongly encourage children to also wear a mask where possible.
We kindly ask all patients to present alone unless a support person is required for medical reasons.
Patients with flu like illness
Anyone with fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath will be seen by video consultation or assessed via a telephone consultation. The need for a face to face consultation will be determined by the doctor. If a face to face consultation is to be scheduled, the patient will need to have a negative COVID test prior. This will be via PCR testing or through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). Please call reception to discuss the practice procedures with regards to any face to face consultation (this will likely be a car consult due to the high false negative rate of RAT testing).
Telehealth consults
Ashford Avenue Family Practice will be offering video calls as our preferred medium of telehealth during this difficult time. Please ask reception if there are any further queries.
As per Medicare regulations, telehealth consultations are only available to those who have been to the practice in the last 12 months. It is also a requirement for the patient to be present during the consult. E.g. a consult for a child means the child will need to be viewed on the video.
Patients who are subject to COVID-19 public health orders requiring isolation or quarantine are exempt for this rule and can access a doctor via video consultation even if they have not been to the practice in the last 12 months or are a new patient.
A number of specialised consultations including mental health care plans will continue to be privately charged.
