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Medicare Bulk Billing for all eligible patients· Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm· Muswellbrook Fair, Tenancy 16–17, Rutherford Road· (02) 6530 7404
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All Medicare-eligible consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card. Some items, including privately purchased vaccines and consumables, attract a fee.

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Weight and lifestyle support,without the lecture.

Most people already know what they are supposed to do. What is usually missing is a plan that fits shift work, a farm, a family and a budget — and someone to review it when it does not work.

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What to know
Book the right lengthTell reception what it is about so enough time is set aside.
No referral neededThis is general practice care — you can book directly with us.
Ask for who you preferMale and female GPs are available. Say who you would like when you book.
One practiceYour history in one place, so nothing has to be explained twice
Longer if you need itAsk reception for a long appointment when there is more than one thing
Bulk billedStandard consultations, for everyone with a valid Medicare card
Medicare Bulk Billing PracticeStandard GP consultations are bulk billed for everyone with a valid Medicare card.
What it coversIn plain languageHow it works hereStep by stepQuestionsThe things people askBookMake an appointmentRelatedOther services

A plan that survivesa bad week.

Weight is influenced by genetics, medicines, sleep, stress, hormones, mental health and circumstance, not just willpower. Treating it as a character problem is both inaccurate and unhelpful, and it is one of the main reasons people stop coming to the doctor at all.

Practical support here means looking at what is actually driving things — including medicines that cause weight gain, untreated sleep apnoea, thyroid problems and depression — and then building something realistic. Care plans give access to Medicare-subsidised dietitian and exercise physiology sessions, which is where most of the useful detail happens.

Bring the real week, not the ideal oneShift rosters, what is actually in the cupboard, the drive times, the budget, who cooks. A plan built around a fictional week fails in the first fortnight.
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Do I have to be weighed?

Only if you want to be. Some people find it useful and some find it counterproductive. Waist measurement and how you feel are both legitimate measures.

What if I have tried before?

Almost everyone has. Most plans fail because they were never built for the life the person actually lives — shift work, a farm, small children, a tight budget. That is a design problem, not a willpower problem.

Are weight loss medicines an option?

Medicines are one part of the picture for some people. What is suitable is an individual clinical decision made in a consultation, and Australian law does not permit us to advertise or name prescription medicines. Bring it up at your appointment and it will be discussed honestly.

Where we start

Medicines

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Where we startMedicines

Several common medicines cause weight gain. Sometimes there is an alternative.

Where we start

Sleep

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Where we startSleep

Untreated sleep apnoea makes weight loss much harder, and it is very common in the Hunter.

Where we start

Thyroid and other causes

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Where we startThyroid and other causes

Bloods rule out the medical contributors before anything else is assumed.

Where we start

Mood

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Where we startMood

Depression, anxiety and stress all affect eating, sleep and activity. Treating them helps.

What helps

Subsidised allied health

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What helpsSubsidised allied health

A care plan brings in dietitian and exercise physiology sessions at reduced cost.

What helps

Regular review

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What helpsRegular review

Plans need adjusting. Coming back when something is not working is the point, not a failure.

Small and repeatable beats big and brief.The plan that survives a bad week is the one that works.

Longer appointment,then a plan.

Start with a long appointment so there is time to look at the whole picture rather than the number.

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Is it bulk billed?

Consultations are, with a valid Medicare card. Subsidised allied health sessions may still have a small gap.

How often should I come back?

Regular short reviews work better than occasional long ones. Every four to eight weeks is a common rhythm.

Will I be judged?

No. If you have had that experience elsewhere, say so — it is more common than people admit and it changes how we approach things.

1A long appointmentTime to look at medicines, sleep, mood, bloods and circumstance.First
2Rule out the medical causesThyroid, blood sugar, sleep apnoea and medicine effects.Tests
3Build something realisticAround shift work, family, budget and travel. Small and repeatable.Together
4Review and adjustEvery four to eight weeks. Adjusting a plan is the process, not a setback.Ongoing

Weight & lifestyle support

Subsidised dietitian

Exercise physiology

Care plans

No lectures

Shift-work friendly plans

Regular review

Bulk billed consultations

Weight & lifestyle support

Subsidised dietitian

Exercise physiology

Care plans

No lectures

Shift-work friendly plans

Regular review

Bulk billed consultations

Weight & lifestyle support

Subsidised dietitian

Exercise physiology

Care plans

No lectures

Shift-work friendly plans

Regular review

Bulk billed consultations

Weight & lifestylequestions, answered.

Do I have to be weighed?

Only if you want to be.

Is it bulk billed?

Consultations are, with a valid Medicare card.

Can I see a dietitian?

Yes, and a care plan makes sessions subsidised.

What about exercise if I have joint pain?

Exercise physiologists specialise in exactly that. A care plan gives access to subsidised sessions.

Could a medical condition be causing this?

Sometimes. Thyroid problems, sleep apnoea, some medicines and depression all contribute, and all are checked.

What about weight loss medicines?

That is an individual clinical decision made in consultation. Australian law does not permit advertising prescription medicines, so bring it up at your appointment.

How often should I come back?

Every four to eight weeks tends to work better than occasional long gaps.

What if I have tried everything?

Then the useful question is which plans failed and why. That is usually informative rather than discouraging.

General information onlyThis page is general health information for anyone who finds it useful. It is not advice about your own situation and it does not replace a consultation with a doctor who knows you. If you are worried about a symptom, book an appointment or call (02) 6530 7404. In an emergency, call 000.

Relatedservices.

All servicesThe full list of 38 services offered hereDiabetes careIncluding prediabetes and remissionAllied healthDietitian and exercise physiologyMental health careBecause mood and eating are connected
No surprises

Know the costbefore you come in.

Bulk billed with a valid Medicare card · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm · Muswellbrook Fair, Rutherford Road.

Book online → Call (02) 6530 7404

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