Homeland Communities - weekly visits
Our Health Service uses an outreach model of primary health care, and our Clinical and SEWB teams visit all communities every week, including to Arlparra. These visits are important to drop off medications and to check in on the health and wellbeing of the communities.
Emergencies
If your condition requires urgent medical attention please tell reception staff on arrival at the clinic. Emergencies will be dealt with as quickly as possible. If you have a life-threatening emergency contact the clinic on call nursing staff on the free call after hours number: 1800 069 875.
You can also call 000 if you wish to report an emergency.
Feedback including Complaints
Feedback or complaints are welcomed and a flexible approach to communicate with us, is offered to meet the needs of our patients. Feedback or complaints can be written and put into the suggestion box in our waiting room or alternatively verbal feedback and complaints can be made to the CEO, or Clinic Manager. You may also choose to email us, and addresses for the CEO and Clinic Manager are below:
CEO: ceo@urapuntja.org.au
Clinic Manager: clinicmgr@urapuntja.org.au
We are very interested in receiving your feedback. Please provide your phone number if you would like a call back.
Every effort is made to resolve complaints, however should patients feel a complaint is unresolved, they may wish to contact the NT Health Complaints Commission. You can call them on 088951 5818 or you may contact them by mail at PO Box 5818, Alice Springs. Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Darwin office:
Address:
5th Floor, NT House
22 Mitchell Street
Darwin, NT 0800
Postal Address:
GPO Box 4409
Darwin, NT 0801
Office Hours:
8.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday
Phone:
(08) 8999 1969
Toll Free Phone:
1800 004 474
Fax:
(08) 8999 6067
Email: hcscc@nt.gov.au
Clinic Hours
Mon Tues, Wed, Fri 9am – 4.30pm
Thursday 9am to 12 noon
After hours service for emergencies only
Tel 08 8956 9994
We have a permanent Medical Officer / GP, Dr Peter Fitzpatrick, who is available Monday-Thursday at the main clinic, every week.
Dr Peter fitzpatrick, at our annual general meeting, november 2022
Management of Personal Health Information
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. You can obtain a copy of our Management of Health Information Policy by asking at reception. We also comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
All patients accessing care at Urapuntja Health Service have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Urapuntja Health Service has a zero tolerance approach toward violence and aggression. Staff will be supported in refusing treatment to any patient who is aggressive or violent toward staff.
Telephone Calls
Incoming telephone calls are the main way for initial and subsequent communication with patients and most other people associated with the practice. Reception staff answer all calls and transfer to clinic staff as required to meet the caller’s needs. All calls are returned in a timely manner during normal business hours.
Results
All results are reviewed by our Medical Officer / GP and a flexible approach is taken to ensure patients receive results in a timely manner, generally via telephone, home visit or by follow up in clinic appointment with our Medical Officer, or a representative from the Clinical Team.
Confidentiality and Medical Records
Every effort is made to ensure patient confidentiality at all times is maintained and to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP). Patients’ medical records are securely stored and accessible to authorised staff only. If you wish to obtain a copy of your medical record you must sign a Medical Information Release form available at reception.
Reminder System
Our practice is committed to preventative care. Urapuntja Health Service will seek permission to include you on our reminder system. We may issue you with a reminder from time to time offering you preventative health services appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be part of the system please let nursing staff, doctor or receptionist know.
No Smoking Policy
Urapuntja Health Service has a ‘NO SMOKING’ policy and patients are asked to refrain from smoking at the clinic.
Fees and Billing
Urapuntja Health service is a fully bulk billing practice and patients are not charged a fee to access care.
Should a patient require a service with a fee associated this would be discussed in full prior with the patient prior to the service being completed.
