COVID-19 update: current processes and policies

During this current pandemic, our absolute priority at Hawthorne Clinic is to keep our staff and our patients as protected as possible against the risks of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

To achieve this, it has been necessary to implement significant changes to how we serve your healthcare needs. Among the most noticeable changes are:

• A bulk-billed ‘Telehealth’ consultation (either video or phone) is the initial step in ALL interactions with a GP. In many cases, this will be sufficient to meet the patient’s requirements. If not, the GP will arrange for the patient to attend the practice for a face-to-face consultation. (All face-to-face consultations, including Respiratory Clinic visits, are billed privately as per our usual billing policy).

• For patients who do attend the practice, you will notice that we are limiting your entrance inside the practice until absolutely necessary.

We appreciate that these changes, along with our other infection control processes, can be somewhat onerous and inconvenient.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused; however, we remain committed to doing what we believe to be necessary to keep our people and practice community safe.

We acknowledge that everyone is under heightened levels of stress and pressure as this pandemic rolls on. We’re all committed to doing our best to serve you in a polite and efficient manner.

Likewise, we ask that our community commits to treating our doctors and staff with respect and tolerance in your interactions with us.

Together, with patience and understanding, we can navigate our way through these uncertain times.

Kind Regards,

Lucas Down

Practice Manager