DR LINDA FORD
is an experienced Women’s Health GP in South Gippsland.
She has an interest in Integrative Medicine: wellness, lifestyle and nutrition.
Dr Linda’s passion is thorough, personalised care. New Patients Welcome.
Practice has a focus on providing care for long term, regular patients.
Dr Linda is caring, patient and open minded
She encourages patients to be well informed and to practice self care.
Dr Linda believes to be truly well, its important to have a “big picture view” of health and consider the lifestyle factors which can affect wellbeing.
Dr Linda is a solo GP. She has a non-hurried approach to consulting: her typical appointment is 30 minutes.
Her practice operates without a receptionist.
She embraces digital communication: to enhance patient engagement and to improve access to care.
Her patients have enhanced access: if they use simple technology such as Patient Portal and SMS
Phone: 03 8679 6532
Leave a detailed voice message for Dr Linda.
Existing Patients: need a timely appointment and cannot find an appropriate time? ............please leave a voice message and Dr Linda will return your call.
Its important that all new patients, read this page in full, to understand Dr Linda’s style of practice.
Dr Linda acknowledges, that her model of practice, with greater use of digital technology ......... might not suite everyone.
About Dr Linda Ford
MBBS (Hon) (Monash), DRANZCOG Adv., GDGM. MHlthSMgt.
Her special interests are Women's Health and Wellness, Integrative Medicine: Diet & Lifestyle.
She has additional GP training in Women's Health and Care of the Aged
In recent years, she worked as a GP Obstetrician in Berwick: providing pregnancy and delivery suite care at Casey (Monash Health) Hospital and St John of God.
She is a mother of five (now adults) and has a home in Inverloch.
New Patient Information
Fees: Traditional GP Care
PATIENT PORTAL: CLICK HERE more Info & to Log on
BREAST SCREEN: Portable Van is at Foster Hospital, from 23rd Aug - 24th Sept 2021. Free for women over 50 yrs. BOOK Ph 132050
Emergency & Important Contact Numbers
She has an interest in Integrative Medicine: wellness, lifestyle and nutrition.
Dr Linda’s passion is thorough, personalised care. New Patients Welcome.
Practice has a focus on providing care for long term, regular patients.
Dr Linda is caring, patient and open minded
She encourages patients to be well informed and to practice self care.
Dr Linda believes to be truly well, its important to have a “big picture view” of health and consider the lifestyle factors which can affect wellbeing.
Dr Linda is a solo GP. She has a non-hurried approach to consulting: her typical appointment is 30 minutes.
Her practice operates without a receptionist.
She embraces digital communication: to enhance patient engagement and to improve access to care.
Her patients have enhanced access: if they use simple technology such as Patient Portal and SMS
Phone: 03 8679 6532
Leave a detailed voice message for Dr Linda.
Existing Patients: need a timely appointment and cannot find an appropriate time? ............please leave a voice message and Dr Linda will return your call.
- Visits Tarwin Lower most Tuesdays
- Tele-health: Monday & Thursday (not via Tarwin Lower site)
- All patients are encouraged to book online.
- Patients use Patient Portal to message Dr Linda and to review their shared health information: eg results and specialist letters
Its important that all new patients, read this page in full, to understand Dr Linda’s style of practice.
Dr Linda acknowledges, that her model of practice, with greater use of digital technology ......... might not suite everyone.
About Dr Linda Ford
MBBS (Hon) (Monash), DRANZCOG Adv., GDGM. MHlthSMgt.
Her special interests are Women's Health and Wellness, Integrative Medicine: Diet & Lifestyle.
She has additional GP training in Women's Health and Care of the Aged
- Advanced Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Graduate Diploma in Geriatric Medicine.
- Member ACNEM : Australian College Nutritional Environmental Medicine
In recent years, she worked as a GP Obstetrician in Berwick: providing pregnancy and delivery suite care at Casey (Monash Health) Hospital and St John of God.
She is a mother of five (now adults) and has a home in Inverloch.
New Patient Information
- New Patients Welcome
- Mobile phone and email required. Book Online via this website.
- Patient registration must be completed online. A “very detailed” Medical History is also gathered at registration. Allow plenty of time to complete this detailed form. The registration email Link can be used multiple times to complete your form (part completed entries are automatically saved)
- Digital notifications (SMS & email) are sent from “Halaxy” (our medical software)
- Registration must be completed at least 72 hours before your first visit. Sorry, registration cannot be undertaken at Clinic.
- FAQ: How do I Register? Answer: a registration email (noreply@halaxy.com) will arrive shortly after booking. It contains a secure LINK. Click on the LINK and a online form opens. Its a very detailed form. It will take a few minutes to complete. No printer is required. Need assistance? Ph 03 8679 6532
- FAQ: What if I don't have internet access? Answer: public computer access is available at Venus Bay Community Centre & at Public Library in Inverloch
- FAQ: What can I expect at my first visit? Answer: Dr Linda has a very thorough new patient intake process. She feels its important to carefully review your overall health. If your a potential new patient, with just “simple GP request” and plan never to see Dr Linda again ........ we recommend booking at another GP clinic or with the Nurse Practitioner at Tarwin Lower Centre.
- FAQ: How do I cancel my appointment? Answer: phone 03 86796532 (Anytime) and leave a voice message.
- New Patient: sometimes a new patient appointment might be booked, circumstances might change and then the appointment is no longer required. We do expect courtesy ie at lease 48 hrs notice. If online registration is not completed and adequate notice to cancel is also not given (48 hrs): a $50 non rebatable fee may be charged.
- FAQ: Does Dr Linda excise skin lesions & lumps? Answer: No. She will evaluate your concern and if needed refer onto a local “GP Skin Cancer Clinic” or surgeon.
- FAQ: Does Dr Linda offer routine free childhood or Influenza Vaccinations? Answer: No NP at Tarwin Lower Centre offers these free vaccinations.
- FAQ: Can a Mental Health Plan (MHP) be completed at my first visit? Answer: No. Generally two consults are required.
- FAQ: Does Dr Linda use email? Answer: No. Patient Portal is the best way to securely message Dr Linda for a non urgent issue. Patient Portal is also used to share results and correspondence.
- FAQ: Can my first or initial consult with Dr Ford be by Telehealth? Answer: Yes, however you will not be eligible for a Medicare Rebate, unless you have had an “in clinic” consult with Dr Ford in the last 12 months. Phone 03 8679 6532, leave a detailed voice message snf Dr Linda will return your call to arrange a “First Visit by Telehealth rather than In-Clinic”
- FAQ: Clinic Covid precautions? Answer: all patients must answer screening questions (via phone) and have a temperature check before entering the centre. A face mask must be worn by all persons (over 12 yrs age). If it appears, you might have Covid like symptoms, you will be referred onto the Wonthaggi Respiratory Clinic for Covid Screening.
- All information is confidential and managed according to Australian Privacy Laws. Further information see: OAIC
Fees: Traditional GP Care
- IN CLINIC : Tarwin Lower, Bulk Billing for Pensioners & Children U16 yrs. All Others: Co-Payment of $20. This is called Paying the Gap. There is no Medicare Rebate for the Co-Payment fee.
- FAQ What's a Co-payment? Answer: a part payment made at the time of consult. Medicare then completes full payment of the account.
- TELEHEALTH: Bulk Billed for Pensioners & Children U16 yrs. All Others: Co-Payment of $20 charged. Patients must have had an in person consult within the last 12 months with Dr Linda, to to eligible for a Medicare Telehealth Rebate.
- Patient Portal requests. Min Fee for a simple request is $30 (eg simple referral or certificate) Prescriptions request $30. Medicare Rebates not available for Patient Portal services. No charge to open or receive results via patient portal.
- Cancellation: non-attendance or late cancellation (less than 24 hours notice) may incur a fee ($50).
- Cancellation: New Patients: who fail to complete online registration (ie fail to confirm appointment) and also fail to contact the practice to cancel, may incur a $50 non rebatable fee.
- Private fees apply. No Bulk Billing. All Medicare Eligible Patients pay a Co-Payment is $60
- Telehealth may be suitable for general advice, medical certificates, referrals, prescriptions (not S8 or narcotic medication), minor illnesses, mental health counselling and ongoing management of stable pre-existing conditions.
- Telehealth is NOT suitable for life threatening emergencies. If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness, paralysis, severe bleeding or other serious problems, do not book a Telehealth. Phone 000 for an ambulance
- New patient Telehealth consults must be by Video
- Telehealth patients must have had an “in person or in clinic” consult with Dr Ford within the last 12 months to be eligible for Medicare Rebates.
- Existing Patients: Brief Telehealth (less 10 min) my be by phone or video. Longer Booked Telehealth consults: must be by Video (simple using your mobile phone). Medicare Rebates alter as of 1st July 2021: then long Telehealth consults must be by Video (not phone).
- Video Consults: two simple options. No software or Apps to install.
- GPConsult A SMS Link sent to your mobile phone at the time of your appointment. Click on the SMS Link to start video. (android or iPhone).
- Facetime (iPhone only, must be requested at the time of Booking Video Telehealth)
- Dr Linda does not prescribe regular S8 medications (except for cancer care )
- Dr Linda does not enrol new patients who already take regular S8 medication (except if a cancer patient)
- FAQ: Which medications are S8's? Answer: Opioid: e.g Pethidine, Fentanyl, Morphine, MS Contin, Kapanol, Oxycontin, Endone, Tapentadol (Palexia), Methadone. Strong sedatives: e.g Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), Alprasolam (Xanax) or regular Serepax.
- Dr Ford believes care, in these circumstances, is best undertaken within a group general practice.
PATIENT PORTAL: CLICK HERE more Info & to Log on
BREAST SCREEN: Portable Van is at Foster Hospital, from 23rd Aug - 24th Sept 2021. Free for women over 50 yrs. BOOK Ph 132050
Emergency & Important Contact Numbers
- Medical Emergency Ambulance Ph 000
- Nurse on Call (Advice 24/7) Ph 1300 60 60 24
- GP Helpline (Advice After Hours) Ph 1800 022 222
- Mental Health: Life Line (24/7) Ph 131 114 Kids Help Line (24/7) Ph 1800 55 1800
- Mental Health: Gippsland Psychiatric Triage Service (24/7) Ph 1300 363 322
- Headspace Wonthaggi (Youth Services) (M-F) Ph 0356715900
- Covid Hotline (24/7 Advice) Ph 1800 675 398
- Covid Vaccinations: at State Government Clinics Book Ph 1800 675 398. Web bookings: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/
- Covid Wonthaggi: Booking Online Appt for Covid Vaccinations OR Covid Testing at Wonthaggi Respiratory Clinic CLICK HERE. Clinic Ph 0492036568.
- Covid Vaccination Centre Wonthaggi Town Hall, Baillieu St E, Bookings and Walk in patient (walk in only > 60 yrs) Book Ph 1800 675 398
- Covid Vaccine Leongatha Hospital: Leongatha Hospital, IPCC Building 64 Koonwarra Rd. To Book: Ph 1800 675 398 (AZ & Pfizer) Bookings only, no walk in
- Covid Vaccination Centres Vic Map: Walk in Centres and Book Only https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres#find-a-vaccination-centre-near-you
- Bass Coast Health (Wonthaggi ) Emergency Department Ph 03 5671 3333
- Leongatha Hospital, Urgent Care (GP supported service) Ph 03 5667 5555