In this highly stressful time, BHWC remains committed to your health and the health of our staff.  Currently we are not taking online appointment bookings. Please call reception on (03) 9819 4044 so we can work out the best way for you to be assessed.  Options include a regular appointment, assessment at hospital, or a phone or telehealth appointment.  

People who meet the following criteria may be eligible for a focused and potentially bulk billed phone or telehealth consultation:

• people isolating themselves at home on the advice of a medical practitioner or in accordance with guidance issued by the AHPPC;
• people who meet the testing guidelines for COVID-19 (see below);
• all people aged over 70;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50;
• people with chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised; 
• parents with babies under the age of 12 months, and women who are pregnant.

People who do not meet one of these criteria can still be offered a phone or telehealth appointment, and will be charged a private fee (with no Medicare rebate):

• <10 minutes $40
• 10-20 mins $70
• > 20 mins $100

Other terms and conditions:

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. We would not usually practice medicine in this way, however minimising face to face contact is essential to reduce community transmission, and keep our doctors healthy and at work on the front line. Phone and telehealth consultations obviously have their limitations, and as a result our doctors and staff do not accept responsibility for any misdiagnosis or complication that arises due to an inability to perform a clinical examination. 

In certain circumstances, you may still be required to attend the Practice in person, or present to hospital, if deemed necessary by the treating Medical Practitioner.

Phone or telehealth appointments are available until 30/9/2020, unless withdrawn earlier by either Medicare or BHWC management. 

We thank you for your understanding and patience.

Patients that fulfil any of the following criteria, are required to attend a fever clinic for swabbing by staff who have the appropriate protective equipment available:

A. Patients that have clinical and epidemiological criteria, which means: fever or acute respiratory infection AND international travel in the 14 days before onset of illness, or close contact in the 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Please note that casual contact is no longer a trigger for testing.

OR

B.   Patients that have severe community-acquired pneumonia (who are critically ill) and no other cause is identified, with or without recent international travel.

OR

C.   Patient is a healthcare worker with direct patient contact who has a fever (≥ 37.5) AND an acute respiratory infection (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat).

COVID-19 clinics have been established at the following hospitals. Please call the listed number ahead of presentation.

Box Hill Hospital / Eastern Health
• You MUST NOT present to the Emergency Department. Enter the Screening Clinic via ENTRANCE D on Thames Street Box Hill through the transit lounge
• Phone 1300 342 255

The Alfred Hospital
• Enter via Emergency Department as a separate clinic has been set up there
• 55 Commercial Road Melbourne
• Phone 9076 2000

The Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Enter via the Emergency Department
• 300 Grattan Street, Parkville
• Phone 9342 7000

Monash Hospital, Clayton
• 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton
• Phone 9594 6666

The Austin Hospital
• 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg
• Phone 9496 5000

For additional information and advice, please contact the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398

We thank you for your patience and understanding