MediCo News
Important Health Update: Increased Bat Activity & Safety Reminder
NSW Health has issued a warning following a sharp rise in bat bites and scratches across regional and coastal areas (including our neck of the woods in Hunter New England and the Mid North Coast).
Why is this happening?
Experts from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) note that food shortages are causing flying-foxes to stay in backyard trees during the day rather than returning to their larger colonies.
Key Safety Tips:
- Never touch a bat: Assume every bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus, which is closely related to rabies and very dangerous to humans.
- Leave rescues to the pros: If you see an injured, distressed, or grounded bat, do not touch or try to rescue it. Only vaccinated, trained wildlife handlers should interact with them.
- If scratched or bitten: Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes, apply an antiseptic like Betadine, and SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY.
Need to report a distressed bat? Call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or your local wildlife rescue group. Read the full NSW Health fact sheet here: NSW Health
How we process your Medicare bulk billing is changing. We need your signed agreement to bulk bill your appointment. Here’s what to expect. In order for us to bulk bill your appointment you will need to provide consent for Medicare to pay your doctor directly. This is called Assignment of Benefit and from 1st July 2026, consent must be obtained at every visit. Consent can be collected digitally or on paper and a new consent is required for each bulk-billed visit. Verbal consent is no longer accepted. At our practices, we will continue to use paper forms at the front desk and SMS consent will be sent for telehealth appointments. If you receive a text message from us requesting consent after you have had your consultation, we would appreciate it if you could please reply as quickly as possible. This will ensure your doctor is paid in a timely manner. If you don’t complete the Assignment of Benefit form, we can’t bulk bill your appointment and private fees will apply. As we attempt to reduce the amount of paper we need to use to print these consent forms we will expand our use of the text message system and in time may implement an kiosk system in the waiting room.
The free RSV vaccination for over 75s, pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 60 are available. Call us for more information
Keep up to date by following us on Facebook – GloucesterMediCo.
Gloucester MediCo would like to remind you that if you are an existing patient at our practice you may be eligible to request repeat prescriptions or referrals online. Head to the Make a Booking tab on the home page on our website to access this service or download the AMS Connect app on your device. Eligibility criteria must be met and you must have a debit/credit card for prepayment.
- Using technology we are hoping that the community is appreciating quicker and greater communication with the use of text messaging to relay messages to our patients. Please know too that if you do not have a mobile phone or don’t have mobile service, we will be in contact with you via another method, if necessary. You are always welcome to call the practice to check on your results. We do ask that you take the time to read your text messages carefully, as they will tell you exactly what you need to do.
- You will have noticed too when you come to the Gloucester medical centre that there is an intern assisting doctors with their consultations. We are lucky to be part of an important Junior Medical Officer programme which we are hoping will encourage young doctors to become rural general practitioners. The JMO will spend their 10 weeks between the medical centre and the hospital. Each JMO we’ve had to date has thoroughly enjoyed their time at Gloucester and have appreciated how welcoming the patients and the staff are at both the hospital and the practice.
- Thank you for treating the staff at MediCo with respect. We have zero tolerance for abuse. Should you wish to make a complaint please speak with the practice managerp
