About Us
Suite 1, Level 1 / 9 Charles Street, West Lakes SA 5021
Monday to Friday
8.30am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday & Public Holidays
Closed
From 1 July 2026, changes are being introduced to the process of bulk billing patients.
It will now be mandatory for clinics to obtain explicit patient approval for the Assignment of Benefit (AoB) of the Medicare rebate for bulk billed accounts from the patient to the practice. Without your express consent, we cannot claim payment for bulk billed consults.
AoB can be achieved in two ways:
■ On the TYRO terminal at the reception desk after your consult.
■ Via an SMS or email link sent following your consultation.
We request that all patients present to the reception desk after your consultation so that AoB can be processed on the TYRO terminal.
If you instead opt to receive the SMS or email, please ensure you complete your approval as promptly as possible. Failure to approve your AoB within 24 hours may result in you being charged a private fee for the consultation.
For more information, visit health.gov.au.
Due to strong demand for appointments, our GPs are currently experiencing high workloads, and waiting times for routine appointments are longer than we would ideally like. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and would like to thank you for your patience and understanding.
We are actively working to recruit additional GPs to ensure we can continue providing timely, high-quality healthcare to our community. We are pleased to announce that Dr John Varona will be joining our practice on Wednesdays & Thursdays from July, and we are currently in discussions with several other GPs regarding future opportunities.
In the meantime, to help improve appointment availability and reduce waiting times, we are expanding our telehealth capacity for non-urgent matters. Patients will be able to access telehealth appointments with:
■ Dr John Varona – Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
■ Dr Ranindu Abegunawardene – Mondays and Wednesdays
We appreciate your continued support as we work to increase capacity and improve access to care for all members of our community.
Are you aged 45-49, 75 years or over, or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?
If so, you are eligible for a free health assessment with one of our friendly nurses. The aim of these health assessments is to identify any current or potential future health issues so that your GP can best help to prevent or reduce the symptoms.
The following patients with a Medicare card will be bulk billed:
+ Patients 15 years of age or under
+ Patients over 65 with a DVA Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (excludes white Seniors Card)
+ Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients
Health Assessments and Care Plans (excluding Mental Health Treatment Plans) will continue to be bulk billed for all patients.
The following fees apply to all patients not eligible for bulk billing. Patients are required to pay the full amount on the day of consultation (payments via EFTPOS* or EFT only). For patients with Medicare, we will process your Medicare claim instantaneously and the Medicare rebate will be refunded to your nominated bank account, typically within 24 hours.
*Merchant fees apply to payments made via EFTPOS, debit or credit card.
A practice administration fee of $5.50 inc. GST (payable to the practice) is included in all private fees listed.
Saturdays Before 1pm
Saturdays After 1pm / Sundays – Higher Medicare Rebates Apply
Please advise our reception staff as early as possible if you need to cancel or change your appointment as this will allow other patients access to a doctor. This is especially important during busy peak times such as winter cold and flu season and busy periods at the start and the end of the week.
A did-not-attend (DNA) fee of $50 will apply where you fail to notify us of your non-attendance prior to your appointment. You will be required to pay this fee before making any further appointments. We reserve the right to not allow future appointments to be made if more than 3 appointments are missed without notification.
In the event our clinic is closed, your call will be diverted to the National Home Doctor Service. The direct number for this service is 13-SICK or 13-7425.
Suite 1, Level 1 / 9 Charles Street, West Lakes SA 5021
Monday to Friday
8.30am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday & Public Holidays
Closed
"At West Lakes, we’ve built an incredible team of practitioners and support staff that support one another and genuinely enjoy working together. While our focus professionally is always on delivering the highest quality patient care, we also place a strong emphasis on developing a fun, relaxed and collaborative culture that creates a positive environment for both staff and patients. If you’re a GP looking for a workplace where you can thrive professionally while enjoying a great team dynamic, this is the clinic for you."
