New patients: New patients are currently being accepted at both our Dover and Geeveston medical centres. Contact us on 03 6124 2505 to register.
Patient contact: GPs and clinical staff receive and return telephone calls and messages between patient appointments or after surgery, depending on urgency.
Referrals: Doctors in this practice are competent at handling common health problems. When necessary, they can use opinions from specialists. You can discuss this openly with your doctor.
It is your responsibility to ensure you follow up test results, particularly when practice staff or your doctor stress that you do this. Ask reception staff about the best way to go about it.
Reminder system: Because our practice is committed to preventative care, we may send you an occasional reminder regarding health services appropriate to your care. If you wish to opt out of this, please let us know.
Feedback and complaints
We strive to improve for your benefit. Please direct any queries or complaints to the Council’s Manager Medical Services by telephoning 03 6264 0364 or emailing hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au.
You can also contact the Health Complaints Commissioner:
Health Complaints Commissioner and Ombudsman
GPO Box 960
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 1800 001 170
Translation and accessibility services
For patients who speak languages other than English, the Translation and Interpreter Service (TIS) is available.
For patients who are deaf, information is provided through the National Relay Service (NRS).
Privacy and your health information
Medical record confidentiality
Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain the security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised members of staff. We abide by the Privacy Act.
How we use and disclose your information
Your personal health information is used or disclosed only for purposes directly related to your health and the health providers who are involved with your care.
There may be some circumstances when information may be disclosed without the patient’s consent. These include:
- Emergencies
- Providing Medicare, Hobart Pathology, Regional Imaging and private health providers with information for billing and rebate purposes
- By law, doctors are sometimes required to disclose information for the public interest, such as mandatory reporting of communicable diseases
- It may be necessary to disclose your personal health information to fulfil medical indemnity insurance obligations
Your details, medical records and consultations within Huon Valley Medical Services are kept strictly confidential. Generally, your health information is only accessed by authorised personnel and will not be released without your written permission. Only de-identified data may be used for research purposes.
Data security
Your personal health information is securely stored and only accessed when necessary for your care. Your consent is required when transferring to another practice. Your new doctor will arrange this with you.
Your records are held for a minimum of seven years after your last attendance, or up to the age of 25 years for your child.