It depends a bit on where you work- many practices have some weekend component (not all do, though, and not everyone participates), but it varies depending on where you work, who covers what, etc. Some practices aren't open on weekends at all, whereas some are open 7 days a week.
A typical day is 8.30am – 12.30pm in the morning, a 1-hour break (where the practice is closed and you have to go outside) and 1.30 – 5pm in the afternoon.
You can get help from your GP surgery for free, but you'll usually need to make an appointment.
Normally, if you are bulk-billed, your Medicare card will be swiped and you sign a form. You do not have to pay anything — the doctor recovers 85 or 100 per cent of the Schedule fee directly from Medicare as payment for his/her services — currently $36.30 for a standard GP consultation.
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend.
Book an appointment
15-minute appointment - £79. 30-minute appointment - £140. 45-minute appointment - £200. 60-minute appointment - £250.
The pandemic saw GP practices shift to online booking systems and phone consultations, some of them almost overnight. For older, poorer and less technologically savvy patients, this presents a barrier to accessing medical advice as they may lack the knowledge or resources to navigate the process.
If you're away from home and need to see a GP, you can contact any GP surgery nearby. You can receive emergency treatment from a GP surgery for up to 14 days – for example, if you fall ill while on holiday.
If you need urgent medical attention, you can go directly to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of a hospital without a referral from your GP. Not all hospitals have A&E departments. Some hospitals have minor injuries units instead, where you can go without a GP referral.
Charges for fit notes
There is never a charge from a healthcare professional for providing a fit note if you're off sick from work for more than 7 days. For sickness of 7 days or less, your GP practice may charge you to provide a private medical certificate.
Key facts. Everyone in Australia with a Medicare number is entitled to free treatment in a public hospital. If you have private health insurance, you can choose to have treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, or as a private patient in a private or public hospital.
No, it's possible to seek private treatment from a consultant or specialist without being referred by your GP. However, the British Medical Association (BMA) believes that, in most cases, it's best practice for patients to be referred for specialist treatment by their GP.
Based on our latest GP salary survey (December 2021), the average GP salary in Australia is $253,000 for GPs who work 7 or more sessions per week (full-time). The annual General Practitioner salary for part-time GPs, working 6 sessions or less per week, amounts to an average of $194,000 pa.
How much does a Gp make in Australia? The average gp salary in Australia is $150,000 per year or $76.92 per hour.
In reality, the vast majority of GPs earn somewhere between £70,000 and £100,000 – salaries much more in line with other specialists and consultants.
Practices have the right to ask for a patient to be removed from their list. In cases other than violence and abuse, the decision to remove a patient should only be made after careful consideration. Many patients who are misusing services can change their behaviour if it is brought to their attention.
You do not need to register with a GP surgery in the area you live.
Your GP will only refer you to a specialist if they believe that specialist assessment or treatment is necessary. If they do not think it is, they do not have to refer you – either privately or on the NHS.
If your GP still isn't listening, make an appointment with another doctor in your practice. It's important to have good communication with your GP, so if this is a regular occurrence, consider changing your doctor or your practice.
Rather than having a specific specialist area, GPs can diagnose many illnesses or ailments, and determine whether a patient needs to see a doctor with more specialist training. They are also increasingly responsible for the management and monitoring of complex chronic illnesses.
The primary disadvantage of being a salaried GP is that the remunerations are lower than a locum GP and you generally have to work harder affecting your work life balance. A GP Partner will share responsibility for the running of the business and gives you the most control over how the practice develops.
NHS England is responsible for paying GP Practices for their services. GP practices are paid on the basis of the number of patients on their list.
Life as a GP
You'll care for people with chronic illness and long-term conditions, aiming to keep them well and in their own homes. A full-time working week usually comprises of eight sessions, which equates to four days.
In the 12 months to June 2022, 14.3 million appointments have been missed in England. This is less than the 15 million per year recorded in January 2019, which were estimated to cost the NHS £216m.