One of the questions we are asked most often is "what am I actually paying $250 for?" Fair question. Here is a line-by-line breakdown.
What is included in the $250 + GST
- Full consultation with a doctor — history, examination, clinical decision-making.
- Vital signs and basic in-clinic investigations — blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood glucose, basic urine dipstick.
- Standard advice and discharge plan — written or verbal, depending on complexity.
- Onward referral — to your GP, specialist, imaging provider, or ED if needed.
- A letter to your GP — sent the same morning so your regular doctor knows what we did.
- Tetanus booster, if indicated — the vaccine itself is included.
- Up to two scripts for prescription items — covered in the consult fee; the medication itself, if dispensed on-site, is itemised separately.
What is extra (and why)
| Item | Why it's separate | Indicative |
|---|---|---|
| Suturing kit (per repair) | Single-use sterile consumables | $40–$80 |
| Plaster or pre-formed splint | Material cost | $30–$70 |
| Specialist dressing (e.g. silver, foam) | Material cost | $15–$45 |
| Slit lamp examination kit | Per-use disposables | $10–$25 |
| Foreign body removal kit | Per-procedure sterile pack | $25–$50 |
| Medication dispensed on-site | Drug cost passed through at cost or slight markup | Item dependent |
| External pathology (sent to local lab) | Charged separately by the lab | Lab dependent |
| External imaging (sent for X-ray next day) | Charged separately by the radiology provider | Provider dependent |
A typical visit walkthrough — with rough costs
To make this concrete, here are three real-world examples (de-identified, indicative figures):
- UTI in a 38-year-old female. Consultation + urine dipstick + script for nitrofurantoin + letter to GP. Total: $275 inc GST. Pharmacy fills the script at the patient's regular chemist.
- Simple laceration on the forearm (3 cm) needing four sutures. Consultation + suture kit + tetanus booster (if due) + dressing + letter to GP. Total: $275 + ~$60 sutures + ~$15 dressing = ~$350 inc GST.
- Acute UTI in pregnancy at 22 weeks, dipstick positive, no fever. Consultation + urine dipstick + script for cefalexin + tetanus check + letter to GP and to obstetrician. Total: $275 inc GST. Patient instructed to follow up with obstetric team in the morning.
How we keep the bill transparent
- Every additional item is quoted before consent — we don't open a sterile pack until you have agreed to the cost.
- You receive an itemised receipt at the end of the visit.
- Payment is by EFTPOS, debit, credit or contactless — no invoicing in arrears.
- If we decide to send you to ED instead of treating, we waive the procedural fees — you pay the consultation only.
The disclaimer — why we may refer onward
We are a Cat 4 and 5 clinic with limited on-site resources. If, after our assessment, we judge that your condition needs hospital-level care (imaging, surgical intervention, IV therapy, observation, resuscitation), we will refer you on to Box Hill or Austin ED. The consultation fee remains payable, because the clinical assessment occurred. Our full clinical disclaimer is on the fees page.
How payment works
For phone-triaged visits, we send a secure payment link by SMS or email during the triage call. Payment must be cleared before treatment commences. For walk-in patients, payment is taken on arrival before we open the consultation. Either way, you know the number before any clinical decisions are made.