08/05/2026
Monto Family Practice Patients:
We want to confirm a few helpful hints as we navigate and improve Doctor appointments for our community.
We are working hard with Queensland Health to provide our community with Doctors to provide Face to Face appointments.
Sometimes, due to demand, our doctor availability can change with little warning.
We are working hard to provide you with other options to see a Doctor.
To make this work smoothly, terminology and communication is very important.
◦ Telehealth appointments : You will present to the doctors surgery for this style of consultation.
You will have your consultation with Doctor via a camera, essentially, virtual “face to face”. The nurse on duty will check your observations (if required) and assist you or doctor as needed. You will see Doctor alone to protect your privacy. You can request nurse support but please ask for this so nurse time is allocated. The Doctor can securely access your medical record to ensure that decisions, medication changes or advice is based off your current health record and history.
◦ Telephone consults: Your doctor will ring you at home or on your mobile at a pre arranged time. Please understand, like the “waiting room”, this may not be right on time. This may be earlier or later.
Please be patient and be near your phone. Doctor will also access your clinical record and will manage your needs to the best of their ability over the phone. You may need to present to the practice for follow up, observations or clinical care. Again, please communicate with the practice staff to ensure nurse or admin time is allocated.
◦ Not all patients can be seen via telephone consult due to restrictions around scope of practice / prescribing and clinical examinations.
◦ 1300 Health is an option for Heath Care access, but these Doctors cannot access your clinical records at the practice. This service is very much worth using if we have been unable to see you. Please let us know if you are unable to access care.
◦ ALL of our Telehealth or telephone consult doctors are employed by Rural Health Group not, Queensland Health.
Concerns, compliments or complaints are to be directed to Monto Family Practice. We have a strict process to deal with concerns, complaints or compliments, so please let us know.
The Telehealth or telephone Doctors are often working in other practices or towns and doing their best to help our local workforce challenges. They are experienced and professional medical practitioners.
◦ Drivers Medicals - these can only be done by a face to face doctor. This is a legal requirement and best practice. Please book your drivers medical appointment well ahead of time.
◦ Drivers medicals are legally required for those over the age of 75 years and those with some medical conditions.
◦ Please check when your annual drivers medical form and physical drivers licences EXPIRE. If these are expired, you are not approved to drive. Do your very best to identify this EARLY and book for a renewal. Your physical licence needs to be renewed and recorded by the Department of Transport. Our staff can guide you with this process.
◦ If you are faced with cancelled appointments due to medical officer availability or lack of available appointments to get your Drivers Licence renewed, please ensure our staff are well informed, so we can look at alternative options.
◦ Eye tests for Drivers Medicals - please try to see an optometrist before you come in for your drivers test. However, sometimes this is not possible, so book time with our nurse prior to seeing the Doctor. The nurse will conduct a formal eye test and document this for doctor.
◦ Health Assessments are recommended for all patients over 75 years old.
This needs additional nursing time booked with your drivers medical or at a separate time.
This is a excellent service to support you as you age and to manage your health e.g: early diagnosis of bone density issues and memory concerns, falls risk, preventive health and access to My Aged Care and Advanced Care Planning.
Health Assessments are available for our First Nations and disability patients and for preventive health care in the 45-49 year age group. There is also additional national screening programs we can access.
◦ GP Management Plans (Care Plans) - We still offer this service at Monto Family Practice. This is a nurse led clinic and you will see the doctor to confirm management, referrals and medications.
If you have a chronic disease or condition lasting longer than 6 months, you are eligible. Please ask our reception staff to book your appointment. This type of preventive health management improves ALL health outcomes. Note: You will also see a doctor.
Rural Health Group offer mental health services. You can self refer via our Website or ask your nurse or GP to refer you. You can also refer via Medicare Mental Health. 1800595212.
https://ruralhealthgroup.com.au/services/mental-health/
◦ We are a bulk billing practice. However, under Medicare, we CANNOT bulk bill insurance or workplace medical examinations or Commercial Drivers Licences. This is the case for all RHG practices.
◦ Reminder: If you have chest pain or are so unwell that your health is immediately at risk, call 000 (every time) or, if able and safe to do so, present to hospital.
◦ If your health issue is something that is not urgent, ring the practice to ask for an appointment. If we are unable to help you in a timely manner, we will advise you how to access care.
◦ Stay informed when your scripts or health care follow ups are due and book well ahead. Again, if appointments change, we will do our best to give you alternatives. Please understand we are trying to do our very best in challenging times. We want to know if your health is at risk.
◦ If you have had a rescheduled appointment or results that have not been followed up, and you feel this has been overlooked due to sudden staff changes, contact the practice staff to ensure this is rectified. We have appointments available with our Telehealth, Telephone Consultation Doctors and face to face Doctors.
◦ Communication is the key.
◦ Your Health is important to us. We must to navigate this together.
Have a lovely weekend,
The Monto Family Practice Team and Rural Health Group.
Rural Health Group is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving healthcare in rural communities in Central Queensland. We provide a wide variety of allied health services, GP practice management, and healthcare advocacy.
