About Northwest Health
Northwest Health was established in Tamworth in 2006. It began as a privately owned practice with one company director. Since then, the practice has grown from 1 general practitioner, 1 GP registrar, a nurse and a receptionist, to now having 11 general practitioners, 10 practice nurses, a dietician, an aboriginal health worker, a management team, as well as a team of support staff.
The multidisciplinary team environment of Northwest Health provides patients with general medical and allied health services. The practice sees a wide range of demographics including different ethnics groups and differing levels of socio-economics. We also have a large population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
We provide high quality, best practice general medicine to families and individuals within the greater Tamworth and Werris Creek communities. We also provide outreach services to local residential aged care facilities. Werris Creek is a neighbouring small rural town with a population of 1500 where access to care is limited.
Consultations are by appointment, and we endeavour to see urgent cases on the day. If you require an urgent appointment, please phone the surgery at 8:30am. It may not be possible to see your usual doctor for urgent appointments.
We are a QPA accredited practice, meaning that we meet a high standard regarding clinical services, internal administration, safety, patient rights, sterilisation and infection control, risk assessment and continual quality improvement.
Northwest Health is a rural general teaching practice providing quality teaching to students in a caring and safe environment.
We provide general practice training through relationships with GP Synergy, a regional training provider of Australian General Practice Training and Rural Vocational Training Scheme, and The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM).
The college sets and upholds standards for best practice provision of rural and remote medical care. Northwest Health provides training opportunities to overseas-trained doctors that hold limited registration and require a supervised placement to maintain registration until successful completion of the fellowship examination, as well as hosting nursing students.
The provision of quality healthcare requires a doctor-patient relationship of trust and confidentiality. Consistent with our commitment to quality care, this practice has developed a policy that protects patient privacy in compliance with privacy legalisation and principals of the RACGP. Patient notes are stored accordingly. The practice keeps electronic records that are regularly backed up. Only authorised staff have password access to patient files. Please let reception staff know if you would like to allow a family member, career etc. to have access to your health information and appointments and you will be provided with a form authorising this.
Your health is important to us, and we want to provide the best service that we can. All attempts are made to make this practice run efficiently, with courteous and friendly staff and pleasant and comfortable surroundings. Any suggestions toward improving our service are appreciated and can be given verbally or in writing to any member of this practice. Should there be a complaint, it is hoped that this can be dealt with directly and in person with the member of the practice involved.
If needed, you can contact the Health Care Complaints Commission on 1800 043 159.
We endeavour to see urgent cases on the day. If you require an on the day appointment, please phone the surgery at 8.30am. You may not be able to see your usual doctor for on the day appointments.
Northwest Health is open 8:30am to 6pm weekdays. For care outside these hours, Northwest Health patients are able to access the after-hours Doctor by calling (02) 6768 3222. Please be aware that after-hours services are not bulk-billed and fees apply.
You can access Our Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) which is open from 12pm - 8pm on weekdays, and 9am - 5pm on weekends and Public Holidays. The UCC is a bulk-billed walk-in clinic and patients are seen according to urgency after being triaged by a Nurse.
If you require urgent medical attention, please present to the nearest hospital or call 000.
Northwest Health is an accredited teaching practice for undergraduate and post graduate training. Registrars or medical students may be present during consultations.
If you do not wish to be involved in a training consultation, please notify reception staff or the doctor. For those not aware, a registrar is a registered medical practitioner training to specialise in General Practice.
We have experienced nurses available at all times to help provide our patients with a wide range of health care.
Our nurses are available for childhood immunisations, women’s health checks, flu needle clinics, results and other health related enquiries.
As you are aware, doctors at Northwest Health have a very busy schedule. If you need to phone the doctor, you may leave a message with our reception staff and the doctor will return your call if able and appropriate to do so.
We cannot guarantee that the doctor will be able to speak with you via telephone. If the matter is urgent, please let the reception staff know at the time of calling. Alternatively, you may speak with one of our practice nurses who may provide the information you require.
Disabled Facilities
There are no stairs at the Calala, Southgate and Werris Creek surgeries. There is a disabled toilet located within the premises of all sites. Our staff are happy to direct you to these facilities.
Parking
On-site patient parking is available at all our surgeries.
Interpreter Services
These facilities are available for patients of a non-English speaking background or for patients with a speaking or hearing impairment. Staff are happy to provide further information about these services if required.
Consultation Fees
Fees are payable at the time of consultation. Some doctors in the practice choose to bulk bill to concession card holders and children under 16 years. Please see staff for more information.
- Surgery Consultations: Monday - Friday & Saturday
Before 1:00pm - Standard FeesConcession Card/Children
- Standard$101.40
- Long$140.10
- Extended$178.00
- After Hours: Saturday from 1:00pm & All Day Sunday
- Standard FeesConcession Card/Children
- Standard$113.90
- Long$152.45
- Extended$189.65
Consultations out of surgery hours / call outs:
Urgent After-Hours Attendance: $250
Concession Cards / Children's Fees: Apply to patients with a current: Pension Card, Health Care Card and Children 15 years of age & under
Consultation Fees as of 1st November 2023
Fees are payable at the time of consultation.
- WeekdaysPrivate FeeMedicare RebateGapConcession Gap
- Standard$101.40$41.40$60.00$30.00
- Long$140.10$80.10$60.00$30.00
- Extended$178.00$118.00$60.00$30.00
After Hours: Saturday from 1:00pm, all day Sunday and weeknights after 8pm
- After HoursPrivate FeeMedicare RebateGapConcession Gap
- Standard$113.90$53.90$60.00$30.00
- Long$152.45$92.45$60.00$30.00
- Extended$189.65$129.65$60.00$30.00
Vaccinations (listed under National Immunisation Program)
Medicare eligible health assessments
Chronic Disease Management Plans (GPMP+TCA)
DVA Gold Card
DVA White Card for nominated conditions
Children 17 years and under
Patients 18 and older with a Commonwealth Concession Card
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
DVA White Card with a Commonwealth Concession Card for non-claimable conditions
Patients 18 and older without a Commonwealth Concession Card
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is the voice of general practitioners in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, they've supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.
Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine (ACCRM)
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine is accredited by the Australian Medical Council for setting professional medical standards for training, assessment, certification and continuing professional development in the specialty of general practice. They play an important role in supporting junior doctors and medical students considering a career in rural medicine.
Quality Practice Association (QPA)
Since their inception in 1999, QPA have provided certification services that empower general practices to deliver excellence to their patients and communities. With National coverage, they are the only provider to specialise solely in certifying general practices. They live and breathe general practice and have a deep appreciation of what is it like to run a practice.
