FAQs

Unfortunately we have been overwhelmed with demand for our GPs.

At this stage, there are limited opportunities for new patients.

- Those wishing to discuss keto/low carb diets, circadian health, mitochondrial or metabolic health are welcome to book in to see Dr Carolyn Harris

- Those wishing to discuss menopause, midlife, women's health and PCOS are welcome to book in with Dr Julie Mencel.

- Dr Gareth Boucher is available to see patients already known to him, and existing Thrive patients.

- Four of our GPs are taking on endometriosis and pelvic pain patients. Please see the question and answer below.

Our practice is one of 22 clinics nationally recognised as pelvic pain and endometriosis care centres.  Please see www.thriveendoclinic.com.au for more information.

Drs Macrow, Booth, Minns and Leung are seeing pelvic pain and endometriosis patients.

Unfortunately our books are full for new patients until 2025. If you'd like to go on a wait list, please send an email to reception@thrivefamilypractice.com.au.

Unfortunately Dr Caroline Foreman's books are closed and she is unable to take on new patients.

If you have a GP referral to Dr Foreman but have not seen her before, you will need to talk to your GP about referring you to a different specialist.

Tip: A list of South Australian Allergy Specialists is found here: https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist/sa

If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, or fever, please let us know when booking your appointment. We ask that you wear a mask to your visit and complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to entering the clinic. Depending on your symptoms, you may be asked to wait in your car or in a private room to reduce the risk of infection for other patients and staff. 

Tip: we recommend purchasing a "QuadRAT" which tests instantly for Flu A, Flu B, RSV and Covid-19. This can provide your doctor with helpful information to help manage your infection.

If you are seeing us at Thrive and would like to have your notes transferred from your previous practice, please download the form from www.thrivefamilypractice.com.au/downloads complete and sign and pass on to your previous practice.  

If you are moving on from Thrive and would like to have your records transferred, please discuss with your new practice.  We are happy to send on a health summary on receipt of a signed request.  Due to administrative costs. if you require more detailed notes, we are happy to download your complete file and send to your new practice, however please note that fees apply.

Our doctors regularly check our results and we will get in touch swiftly if there are results that need to be urgently discussed.

If we check your results and are happy that you don't need to see us to discuss, we annotate these as 'no action'.  If you have notifications enabled through HotDoc, you should receive a 'no action required' message.  If you would like to discuss your results anyway, you are more than welcome to make an appointment.

Sometimes our doctors will send you a direct SMS to relay results, if there is something simple to be communicated.

If we feel your results merit a more complex discussion, you will receive a notification via hotdoc asking you to make an appointment.

Our doctors are generally happy to give you a copy of your results during an appointment.

We encourage you to discuss any queries you have about your results directly with your doctor.

Tip: You can also usually access test results via your My Health Record.  These should be available to view on your My Health Record 7 business days after they are released to your doctor.

Our doctors are bound by complex rules and regulations and are responsible for following up the tests we order, and are also responsible for any tests that attract a medicare rebate. Our doctors may only legally order the tests they deem to be clinically relevant, and must operate independently.

Tip: If you have a naturopath who would like specific tests ordered, please ask them to order these privately for you.

We do our best to run on time, but unfortunately there can be unforeseen circumstances causing our doctors to run late.

Our staff will endeavour to let you know if there is likely to be a significant delay for your appointment. 

Tip: if you have the HotDoc app, you can use this to check in when you arrive at the practice for your appointment (or are within 100m of the practice).  Once you've checked in, you can see your place in the queue (how many patients are waiting to see your doctor before you). 

If you are a regular patient and require a script for a regular medication or an existing specialist referral, you may be able to order a script from your doctor via HotDoc. Please see www.thrivefamilypractice.com.au/repeats for more information.

At Thrive we do our best to strike a balance between providing the best care and attention while maintaining the wellbeing of our clinical and admin staff.

We made the decision to switch off our phone service from 4pm on weekdays to allow our staff time to complete the day's tasks at a reasonable hour.

If you urgently need to get hold of us, (eg if you are running late for an appointment scheduled after 4pm), please send an email to reception@thrivefamilypractice.com.au

Tip: Our online booking system is available 24/7: https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/glenelg-south-SA-5045/thrive-family-practice/doctors

We are not able to offer bulk billing for usual consults.

Bulk billing means that a practice or doctor accepts the scheduled Medicare rebate as the entire fee for the consult.  Due to inadequate indexation of Medicare rebates over many years, unfortunately, these fees are insufficient to cover our costs.

We do bulk bill a limited number of consults, being:

- appointments for children 5 and under

- care plans and health assessments

- DVA patients.

If you feel that the current Medicare rebates are inadequate to support quality primary care, please discuss with your local Federal MP.

Tip: if you are a regular patient with ongoing or chronic health challenges, attending your quarterly care plan appointment with your nurse and doctor is a good way to access coordinated, planned, high level care, without needing to pay a gap for those appointments.