+ Any patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms should not attend the practice. Please book a Telehealth consultation first.
+ We reserve the right to ban any patient who does not follow our appointment booking guidelines. They are implemented for the safety of the whole community.
Summary of critical updates
To safeguard the community and our team of doctors and staff, the majority of patients will need to first book Telehealth consultations before visiting the practice in person.
The practice will continue to be open, but you will not be able to come in to see your doctor unless you have had a Telehealth consultation and your doctor has determined that a face-to-face examination is required.
Some exclusions are childhood immunisations, whooping cough immunisations, flu immunisations, antenatal/postnatal care consultations and emergency presentations. Please click here for more information.
Any patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms e.g. sore throat, runny nose, fever, cough, should not attend the practice and first book a Telehealth consultation.
Face to face consultations for patients with respiratory symptoms will be available at the practice during specific times in the day if your doctor deems it necessary during your Telehealth consultation.
If you require a script or referral please book a Telehealth consult. Please click here for more information.
We have paused private flu vaccine clinics awaiting an update on private flu stocks which have experienced serious disruption.
Details of critical updates
Introduction of Telehealth for majority of standard consultations
The practice will continue to stay open, but you will not be able to come in to see your doctor unless you have had a Telehealth consultation and your doctor has determined that a face-to-face examination is required.
There are several specific appointment types that you can still book online (in addition to Telehealth):
Flu Vaccinations (Private) - Appointment to visit the practice for a flu vaccine clinic: prepayment of $20 for the vaccine is required at time of booking (currently paused while we confirm more stock)
Flu Vaccinations (Government) - Appointment to visit the practice for a free flu vaccine clinic, patients 65+ can also receive their pneumovax vaccine at this time
Childhood Vaccinations - Appointment to visit the practice for your child to receive their scheduled childhood immunisations
Antenatal Appointments - Appointment to visit the practice for pregnant women
Postnatal Appointments - Appointment to visit the practice for postpartum women (eg. 6 week checks, breastfeeding issues)
Boostrix Vaccinations - Appointment to visit the practice for patients requiring a whooping cough vaccine - e.g. pregnant women and close contacts of newborn babies
At this time you will not be able to book any other appointment types online.
For the safety of our community and staff, it is vital that any patients experiencing any respiratory symptoms do not book consultations to visit the practice for any of the above appointment types still available online. Please book a Telehealth consultation.
We are also requesting that well patients do not bring along any family members (e.g. children) who may have any respiratory symptoms.
Respiratory symptoms include any of the following: shortness of breath, cough, fever, runny nose or sore throat.
Scripts and referrals
If you require a script or referral you can discuss this with your doctor during a Telehealth consult. See further information here.
Cost
All eligible Telehealth appointments will be bulk billed.
Private Telehealth consultations are available for patients without Medicare. See further information here.
Flu Vaccines
We have experienced unprecedented demand for flu vaccines this year.
We correctly anticipated the increase in demand and ordered sufficient privatet vaccine stock. However, US customs is currently refusing to release a large volume of flu vaccine stock destined for Australia.
For now we have had to pause booking any more flu vaccine consultations while we await an update on vaccine stock availability in the weeks ahead. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience this may cause some patients.
Any patients with existing flu vaccine clinic appointments should attend their appointments as booked.
An email we sent to patients last Friday 20 March offered patients the choice to book a standard private appointment to get their flu vaccine. However, due to this unforeseen supply constraint, only patients that attend a dedicated flu vaccine clinic can receive a flu vaccine.
Emergencies
If you are experiencing an emergency we will be here to help. Accidents requiring wound care, patients experiencing asthma attack, heart conditions, anaphylaxis etc can continue to access immediate care at the practice but we ask patients to phone ahead where possible.
Coronavirus information
Coronavirus testing clinics are operating around Australia. To determine if you are eligible for Coronavirus testing, please review the guidelines below.
We are not currently undertaking Coronavirus testing at Double Bay Doctors.
The purpose of this privacy policy is to provide you with information on how your personal and health information is collected and used and the circumstances in which we may share your information with third parties.
Why and when your consent is necessary
When you become a patient of Bondi Doctors, you provide consent for our practitioners and administrative staff to access and use your personal and health information. Your personal information is only accessed by practitioners and staff in order to provide you with the highest level of healthcare. There are certain circumstances we may be required to share your personal information with third parties which are covered by this policy. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.
Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?
Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to provide you with a premium healthcare service and inform you about the healthcare services we offer. We also use it for activities directly related to the supply of healthcare services, such as Medicare claims and payments, clinic audits and accreditation.
What personal information do we collect?
For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, personal information may mean some, or all of the following: patient’s name, contact details, date of birth, other identification details, emergency contact details, medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, immunisations, social history, family history and risk factors; Medicare number (where available) for identification and claiming purposes; healthcare identifiers; health fund details; bank account and/or credit card details, and payment history.
How do we collect your personal information?
We collect your personal information in the following ways:
When you become a patient of Bondi Doctors you will be required to supply personal and demographic information, as well as health information such as allergies, health and family history.
In the course of providing you health services, we may collect further personal information relevant to the supply of healthcare services.
We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email or SMS, telephone us, make an online appointment or communicate with us using social media.
Personal information may also be collected from other sources when it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:
your guardian or responsible person;
other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services, and pathology and diagnostic imaging services;
your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).
Sharing your personal information
In some circumstances, we may be required to share your personal information. However, only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing healthcare services, or as otherwise described in this policy, Bondi Doctors will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.
We may be required to share your personal information in the following instances:
To liaise with other healthcare providers and prepare relevant healthcare documentation including but not limited to Shared Health Summary, Event Summary and My Health Record related to the supply of healthcare services to you;
In emergency situations to lessen or prevent a serious threat to you or another patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or if you are unable to act on your own behalf due to a health condition, we may need to discuss your health information with relatives or emergency contacts, to ensure you receive necessary care;
If required or authorised by law (e.g. Court subpoenas);
If needed to assist in locating a missing person;
To establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim;
For the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process;
If there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (for instance in the case of mandatory notification of certain diseases);
Where Bondi Doctors is required to work with third parties for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies, or information technology providers. All third parties are required to comply with Australian Privacy Principles and this policy;
We will not disclose your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.
How do we store and protect your personal information?
Your personal and health information may be stored in various forms, but is primarily retained in your secure electronic health record. Bondi Doctors maintains the highest level of confidentiality as is required for accreditation.
How can you access and correct your personal information at our clinic?
You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.
All requests for access to personal information must be made in writing via email, and we will respond within a reasonable time.
Bondi Doctors takes all reasonable steps to maintain the accuracy of your personal information and from time to time, we may ask you to verify that the personal information we hold about you is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to
How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled?
If you have any concerns about the privacy of your information, please send us an email outlining your concerns.
You may also contact the OAIC regarding privacy concerns. Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
Privacy and our website
Any information collected through our website is treated as confidential information and is stored securely.
