About Us

The Clinic

The East Bentleigh Medical Group (EBMG) has been providing family medical services to the local community since the mid-1950s. We pride ourselves on being a very professional organisation while preserving a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

The EBMG is accredited by the standards set down by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

EBMG has 16 GPs who consult from our rooms at 873 Centre Road, Bentleigh East. They are supported by a team of nurses and experienced receptionists. Also located in our rooms are a dietitian, a podiatrist, psychologists, a cosmetic doctor, an audiologist and a physiotherapist.

A full range of clinical services is provided, including family and general practice, residential care visits, on-site pathology and excellent connections with specialist medical services and local hospitals.

We welcome all new patients – call our friendly receptionists on 9579 2077 or book online. We have both male and female doctors available, and plenty of appointment times outside business hours.

New Patients

At East Bentleigh Medical Group, we warmly welcome new patients and families. Your first consultation with us is usually 30 minutes where we will discuss your medical history. After that, we can request a summary of your medical notes from previous surgeries.

We suggest our practitioners bulk bill children aged 5 years and under, and pensioners during the week. Some practitioners may choose to charge an out of pocket fee for complex consultations and some procedures are charged privately. Charges apply to all patients on weekends, public holidays and from 6pm. We are open on weekends and public holidays for your urgent medical problems, staffed by our caring doctors and friendly staff, so you will always see a familiar face.

Please call us on 9579 2077 to make your initial appointment. More information on our practice is available on our Practice Information Sheet, and you can also print our New Patient Registration Form and bring it completed to your first appointment.

We look forward to caring for you.

Skin Cancer College Accredited Doctor service

A comprehensive skin check is vital for early detection of skin cancer. Doctors displaying this symbol have undertaken very high level training and testing with the Skin Cancer College Australasia.

This easy to recognise symbol allows you to quickly identify doctors who have proven skills and knowledge in the diagnosis and management of skin cancer.

Handling Requests

After hours and emergencies

This practice provides 24-hour care for patients of the practice. A doctor can be contacted after hours by phoning 9579-2077. A recorded message will direct you to phone the locum service on 13 74 25 or for more information about National Home Doctor click here .

For a medical emergency, please dial 000 and ask for an ambulance.

Phone calls to your doctor

Doctors in this practice may be contacted by telephone during surgery hours. When your doctor is with another patient, the receptionist will take your message and, if considered appropriate, the doctor will return your call as soon as possible.

If you need the help of an interpreter, find out how at the Australian Government Translating and Interpreting Services website.

Obtaining pathology results

EBMG has an on-site pathology collection centre (Melbourne Pathology) for your convenience.

Pathology results are best given by a follow-up consultation. However, with prior arrangement with your doctor, some of the more ‘routine’ test results can be obtained by phoning the nurse at the surgery on 9579 2077 between 2.00pm and 3.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Requesting repeat prescriptions

You may request prescriptions only for long term medications. At the present time (i.e. while there are Covid-19 restrictions in place), these requests should generally be made via a Telehealth consultation. If you have not been seen for at least 3 months, then the receptionist will suggest a face-to-face appointment with your doctor.

Requesting repeat referrals

Referral requests follow a similar procedure to prescriptions. A referral will only be given without a consultation when it is for a routine specialist review. At the present time (i.e. while there are Covid-19 restrictions in place), these requests should generally be made via a Telehealth consultation.

Longer consultations

Appointments may be made by phoning 9579-2077 during practice hours or via our website by clicking the book online tab.

Longer consultation times can be arranged if required. It is best to check with the receptionist if this will be needed, but common reasons include:

Complicated or multiple problems
When lengthy counselling can be anticipated
Insurance or pre-employment medicals
6-week post-natal check
Cervical screening smear test

Home visits

Home visits are available if you are a regular patient of the practice and your condition prevents you from attending the surgery. You must also live within a reasonable driving distance from the clinic. When possible, phone the clinic first thing in the morning to arrange a home visit.

Computerised reminder system

With your consent, the clinic can remind you by letter or SMS when a planned clinical test or consultation is due.

Covid-19

While the risk of coronavirus continues, the doctors at EBMG are continuing to consult face-to-face but are able to provide Telehealth consultations if necessary. Bookings for either can be made with our receptionists or online via our website. Please note that our evening hours are slightly restricted during this time.

To minimise risk, some changes to our practice are currently in place until further notice:

If you are experiencing more significant respiratory symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing or other features of an acute ‘cough and cold’), please do a RAT test
Kindly do not present to the clinic without an appointment or earlier than your appointment time
Please phone our receptionists who will advise on making the appropriate appointment, including Telehealth
If you have a minor cough or cold but have been advised to attend the clinic, please wait in your car and phone us upon arrival – we also ask these patients to wear a mask while in the surgery.
Very stringent infection control measures have been put in place at EBMG so you can therefore be confident that we are doing our utmost to provide you with a safe and professional service during and beyond the Covid pandemic.

So you are Covid positive?

If you have had a PCR or RAT Covid test return positive, you may be wondering where to go from here. It is hard to keep up with the advice, especially when it changes so frequently. As your healthcare provider we are here to support you throughout your Covid 19 positive diagnosis.

Let your doctor know. Book a telehealth or video appointment with your doctor who will assess you, provide treatment and notate your status in your health record – please note, there may be a cost for this consultation. Together you will work out the level of care you require, you may have no symptoms or you may feel mildly unwell.

Treat your symptoms as you would any cold or flu – rest, paracetamol, fluids. And remember to wash your hands frequently.

You may wish to tell your social, household, and your workplace contacts that you are positive, so they are able to monitor themselves for symptoms.

It is important to keep on top of how you are feeling, so if your symptoms become worse, call us to have another chat to the doctor. If you develop severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain lasting more than 10 minutes, severe dizziness, if you become drowsy or confused, or are unable to stand – call 000.

Important information:

Seeking help if your symptoms worsen is essential when caring for yourself with Covid so if you need to you can call the surgery on 03 9579 2077 during business hours, weekend mornings and public holiday mornings.

On weekends and public holidays we are open: Saturday 9am to 12midday, Sunday and public holidays 9am to 11 am.

Outside of these hours you can call the home visiting doctor, 13SICK on 137425, or Nurse On Call on 1300 606 024.

If you need emergency help you call 000.