Our services
Charlton Medical offers a full range of general practice consultations including investigations prescriptions, referrals, treatments and procedures.
General consultations are 15 minutes but you may book a longer time slot if you prefer. You will generally require a longer consultation if you are a new patient, you are having a health assessment or care plan, you require mental health counselling or are having a surgical procedure. Please speak to a reception if you think you may need more time.
This page details some of the services that require further information or preparation allowing you to be fully informed before your visit.
Vaccinations
Cost to you
Bulk billed during vaccination clinics
Same as consultation at other times
Charlton Medical encourages you to maintain an up-to-date vaccination status for annual vaccines such as influenza, childhood vaccinations such as MMR and Infanrix and travel vaccinations such as typhoid and Hepatitis A.
Vaccination clinics are conducted on an annual basis for large volume vaccination programs such as influenza and COVID-19. These consultations are bulk billed and are restricted to the vaccination process. You are not able to request additional services at these clinics.
Opportunistic vaccination can be undertaken on an individual basis or you can proactively book a consultation to update or maintain your vaccination status at which time normal consultation fees will apply.
If you have any questions relating to vaccination, our doctors are happy to discuss these concerns in greater detail than a normal vaccination clinic would permit. Please note that, generally speaking, medical staff are pro-vaccination but are willing to engage in a healthy discussion concerning the risks and benefits related to vaccination.
Minor Surgery
Cost to you
As arranged prior to treatment
Dr Webb has been performing both simple and complex ‘lumps and bumps’ skin surgery for more than three decades. He has a long standing interest in this area of rural general practice & enjoys a good reputation for the quality of his work both in the community and with the plastic surgeons in Bendigo with whom he frequently liaises in relation to more challenging cases.
Procedures can vary from simple – such as punch biopsies, standard – lentiform excisions, and complex – flaps and grafts. These three different types of surgery attract three different fee levels of $50, $100 and $200 respectively. In addition to this there is a $35 equipment fee for consumables which is payable in cash at the time of surgery and returned to the hospital in the event that the surgery has taken place in the urgent care minor ops theatre.
We will obtain your informed consent prior to any surgical intervention and this requires a consultation with the doctor to review the best surgical management options, the need to alter any medication, particularly blood thinning treatments, and the most mutually convenient time for performing the surgery. The usual surgery time is 7 o’clock in the morning as this is one of the few times available for 1 to 1 1/2 hours of uninterrupted surgical time.
If you have any concerning skin lesions we would encourage you to come and have them checked out to determine whether surgical intervention is the most appropriate management.
Telehealth
Cost to you
Bulk billed
Charlton Medical is pleased to be able to offer telehealth consultations, either by phone or audiovisual (A/V) connection. We have the capacity to do audiovisual consultations by Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
Currently these services are bulk billed for patients who have attended for a face-to-face consultation within the last six months. We therefore encourage you to present for a face-to-face clinic appointment once every six months or so to maintain your eligibility for Telehealth consultations. Currently, Medicare funds consultations of up to 20 minutes by telephone, and video consultations for a maximum of 45 minutes.
Fun fact: It may interest you that a few years after his arrival in Manangatang in August 1994, Dr Webb conducted four video telehealth consultations by dial-up 64-bit modem connection between his Manangatang medical practice and the community centre in Patchewollock resulting in the diagnosis of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) which was subsequently excised. The consultations formed the basis of a poster presentation delivered in Toowoomba to a Rural Health Conference in 1998. Extensive research at that time seems to indicate that these consultations, undertaken some months before a rural GP in Wales performed the same type of GP to patient consultations, were, in fact, the first telemedicine GP to patient consultations conducted anywhere in the world. It is likely that NASA can claim the first genuine Telemedicine linkup between their astronauts and health professionals as early as the late 1960s but Dr Webb can still claim to have the first GP to patient Telehealth consultations on Earth.
Scripts
Cost to you
Same as a consultation in person
Bulk billed by telehealth
$20.00 independent of a consultation
Generally renewing your prescriptions is best done as part of a normal consultation where your doctor can review your current health and ensure that your medications remain appropriate. If you have been seen for a consultation in the previous 6 months you may also choose to take advantage of a Telehealth consultation to renew your scripts without visiting the practice. Telehealth consultations are bulk billed and your prescription can be sent to you digitally as an e-script or directly to your designated pharmacy.
A non-rebatable $20.00 fee applies to services independent of a consultation. This includes requests for repeat prescriptions by phone or by request of reception staff. You will need to have been seen in person for a consultation to request a repeat prescription using this method.
Cervical Screening
Purpose
Looks for HPV (a common infection spread during sexual activity) which can increase the risk of cervical cancer
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
The cervical screening test replaced the old Pap test in December 2017. The test looks for evidence of the human papilloma virus (HPV) which can lead to cervical cancer.
The test looks and feels similar to the old Pap test but is only required every 5 years if your result are normal.
Cervical screening is suggested for all women aged 25-74, two years after your last Pap test. The test requires a double appointment so please let reception know when you book your appointment.
Skin Checks
Purpose
Checking for abnormal skin lesions that may require removal
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
Charlton Medical has access to handheld illuminated dermatoscopic magnification devices for close examination of suspicious skin lesions utilising both LED white light, polarised light and red blue and green light-sources for varying depth penetration. A dermatoscope attachment to a high quality digital camera may also be used to take standardised serial photographs to identify suspicious lesions that require surgical management compared with those that can be managed with more conservative techniques such as liquid nitrogen cryotherapy or pharmacological immunotherapy.
Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Holter monitors and Event monitors
Purpose
Electrical check on heart function.
Cost to you
Depends on the purpose of the recording
ECGs can be performed and reported at Charlton Medical as well as continuous heart monitoring. A 24 hour Holter monitor makes a continuous ECG recording looking for changes in heart rate or rhythm that occur sufficiently often that they are expected to happen within one day. For less frequent anomalies, an Event monitor can be used that continuously records, but also ‘dumps’ the data after about five minutes delay. When the event button is pressed the last five minutes is retained along with a further five minutes or so of recording, thus a 10 minute section of time centred on the moment the event button is activated is retained for uploading over the internet to our cardiology provider – InClinicTesting – who issue a report on the recording within a few days.
There are costs involved with these investigations depending on whether they are screening tests or investigations of an abnormality of some kind, in which case most, or possibly all of the costs are covered by Medicare.
Please wear clothing to allow easy access to your chest. Excess hair will need to be shaved. Usually the practice nurse or doctor will do this test with you lying down.
Pulmonary Function Tests – Spirometry
Purpose
Physical check on Respiratory function – part of ‘The Works’
Cost to you
Depends on the purpose of the test
This measures the amount of air moving in and out of your lungs and its rate, and is performed as a healthy baseline in‘ The Works’, or to assess the degree of illness with asthma & COPD. Usually the practice nurse, or doctor will do this test with you sitting down.
Spiriva should be withheld for 24hrs prior to testing and other inhalers for 12hrs prior to testing. (If you become acutely unwell or short of breath, please take your prescribed inhalers and let the clinician know).
Please avoid vigorous exercise within 30 minutes of appointment. Do not smoke for at least 1 hour or drink alcohol within 4 hours.
Notify us if you have any of the following: recent surgery, aneurysms, coughing up blood, respiratory infections, COVID-19, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, or unstable cardiac function/chest pain.
Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Purpose
Determine whether blood pressure is adequately controlled over a 24 hour period
Cost to you
Bulk Billed
An ambulatory BP monitor records BP measurements frequently throughout the day (and less often at night as it can be a bit unsettling). Currently this is not funded by Medicare so you will need to pay the full cost of the investigation, however, it has been flagged as a new item to be added to Medicare funding in the near future.
Charlton Medical has several automatic BP monitoring machines which we are happy to lend to patients at no cost. You can record your readings on an Excel spreadsheet that has been specifically developed for this purpose and can be downloaded from the link below. Entering data into this spreadsheet which automatically averages your BPs and printing it off prior to your consultation makes reviewing your BP readings from home monitoring a much faster and more accurate process.
Antenatal Shared Care
Purpose
Ensuring that all is progressing well for you and your baby
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
Optimal health and well-being starts with pre-pregnancy planning and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle comprising an appropriate balanced diet with particular nutritional supplements and regular exercise. Pregnancy is a normal physiological state and we encourage you not to overly medicalise this natural biological phenomenon.
We encourage you to present to the clinic relatively early on to allow for your pregnancy planning with an early obstetric scan for accurate dating and appropriate blood tests usually undertaken by week 12 of pregnancy. At this stage we will arrange referral to the obstetric service of your choice either through the local public hospital system in Bendigo or to one of the privately practising obstetricians. Depending on the choices you make we will be involved to a greater or lesser extent in the regular interval antenatal checks to ensure that all is progressing well with both you and your baby.
There is a mountain of literature available for new (and experienced) mothers to read detailing what you might expect in the way of changes in your body and the anticipated demands that accompany the arrival of a new small person! To help you with this sometimes overwhelming choice we have curated a shortlist of the literature that we believe is most useful and are pleased to provide you with a copy of a book that has perhaps answered many of the questions that most young couples seem to be seeking answers to. When you attend for your 12 week antenatal check up please remind us and we will be only too happy to furnish you with a copy of ‘On becoming Baby Wise’ to allow you to begin reading before time seems to rush by as all the home preparations are made for your exciting new arrival.
The works - Annual Health Check
Purpose
Screening physical health check & bloods to keep you well.
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
Charlton Medical encourages you to have an annual ‘roadworthy’ known as ‘The Works’ for health screening.
Health screening involves testing for a condition before symptoms begin. The Works includes: fasting blood test, blood pressure, height, weight and other measurements, lung function (spirometry), ECG, diabetes risk assessment tool, discussion & kit for bowel cancer screening, breast screen, pap test & immunisation status check.
You must fast from 10pm, bring an early morning urine sample from when you get up, take your normal morning medications with water only, and wear clothing that allows for ease of access to your torso . Ladies should avoid wearing full-length stockings.
The Works can be divided into Part 1 – fasting bloods, & Part 2 – remainder of tests and physical examination, if necessary.
Mental Health Plan and Counselling
Purpose
Optimisation of care for patients with mental health problems and preparation of a plan allowing the patient to qualify for counselling with a psychologist.
Cost to you
Same as consultation
Charlton Medical offers extended consultations (30-45 minutes) to prepare General Practice Mental Health Plans (GPMHP) for the purpose of claiming the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) rebate when attending a clinical psychologist for counselling therapy.
Due to the COVID lockdown restrictions, many people are experiencing increased levels of stress, and mental health problems are regarded as being far more prevalent at present as people face novel challenges in the domains of education and employment and their impacts on finances; and in interpersonal relationships. We are happy to facilitate preparation of a GPMHP and referral to a psychologist.
Due to the need for frequent attendance at the clinic during this stressful time, and in recognition of the fact that finances often play a part in creating the stress, we provide this service and subsequent mental health consultations for the Medicare bulk billed fee for up to 6 months, at which time the situation will be reviewed by your doctor.
Health Assessment - over 75 year old (annual)
Purpose
Partial physical & psychosocial checkup to keep you in your own home
Cost to you
Bulk Billed
This is an information gathering appointment that identifies problems that can be addressed or interventions to put in place to improve health outcomes and quality of life over the next year. An examination is performed and various questions are asked about your social circumstances, allowing development of a plan of care. Unmet needs can be identified and attended to through the referral process at subsequent appointments. Carers and family members can often assist and are welcome to be present.
Please bring a urine sample, your glasses and hearing aids (if used) to your appointment.
GP Management Plan (annual)
Purpose
Optimise the long term outcomes for complex care medical conditions – goals & care team setup
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
A GP Management Plan (GPMP) appointment involves the development, with your consent and assistance, of a detailed plan of care with individualised goals by the practice nurse and doctor, and the provision of a written plan of management.
This process empowers you to actively participate in the management of your illness and provides comprehensive & coordinated care for patients who have complex and/or long term medical illnesses including diabetes, arthritis, asthma and heart disease.
Team Care Arrangement (annual)
Purpose
Optimise the long term outcomes for complex care medical conditions by setting up a care team.
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
A Team Care Arrangement (TCA) appointment provides information and enables referrals to allied health professionals/specialists to assist in your care as part of the ‘Team’.
This process empowers you to actively participate in the management of your illness and provides comprehensive & coordinated care for patients who have complex and/or long term medical illnesses including diabetes, arthritis, asthma and heart disease.
GPMP & TCA Reviews (3 – 6 monthly)
Purpose
a regular review to check that your needs haven’t changed
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
Undertaken by the practice nurse & doctor, these provide follow-up to ensure your GPMP is being managed effectively and that referrals to allied health professionals and specialists have been acknowledged or actioned. They enable an holistic approach to your care to ensure that the best outcomes for you are being met.
Asthma Plan
Purpose
Optimise the long term outcomes for patients with asthma
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
An asthma plan appointment involves the development, with your consent and assistance, of a detailed plan of asthma care with individualised goals by the practice nurse and doctor, and the provision of a written plan of management.
This process helps you recognise worsening asthma and gives clear instructions on what to do in response.
A pulmonary function test may form part of the asthma plan.
Glucose Tolerance Test
Purpose
To determine whether you may have diabetes or pre-diabeties
Cost to you
Same as consultation
As a routine part of your annual health check (The Works) we test your fasting blood glucose level. If this proves to be elevated above the normal accepted range we will make arrangements for you to attend the clinic for a two hour Glucose Tolerance Test.
The GTT consists of an initial fasting blood test after which you drink a chilled 75g glucose drink. Your blood sugar levels will be checked one and two hours later to determine the function of your pancreas which produces insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
an abnormal GTT may indicate pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance in which case an annual follow-up glucose tolerance test will be undertaken to monitor any progression towards non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type II diabetes). If the GTT identifies the presence of diabetes, a general practice management plan (GPMP) will be undertaken to optimise and coordinate the team care of this complex management medical problem. You will also be encouraged to make an appointment for discussing and initiating appropriate medical management which may include medication or might consist simply of dietary modifications along with a regular healthy exercise regime.
Helicobacter Breath Test
Purpose
Determine whether you have H pylori present in your stomach
Cost to you
Same as a consultation
This radioactive urea breath test is for detecting Helicobacter pylori – a bacteria that is known to cause stomach ulcers and cause indigestion, with a long term increased risk of stomach cancer.
You must stop taking antibiotics for 4 weeks and stop taking PPI medication (for GORD) for a minimum of 2 weeks (eg Losec, Zoton, Somac, Pariet, Nexium). During this time symptomatic relief can be obtained with antacids (eg Mylanta, Quick-eze). If this does not work let the doctor know so that alternative treatment can be arranged.
You need to fast for at least 6 hours before the test, which consists of holding your breath for about 15 seconds then blowing into a foil bag. This is repeated 10 mins after taking a radioactive urea pill with water. We may also take a blood test.