Welcome to My Practice

How I work, what to expect and how we can get the most from your care

Choosing a GP is about more than finding someone who can treat an illness or write a prescription.

A good GP relationship is built over time. It should help you understand your health, make informed decisions and prevent problems where possible.

This guide explains how I work, what you can expect from me and how we can work together.

My approach to general practice

I aim to provide care that is thorough, practical and focused.

The issue that brings you to the appointment is important, but it may not be the only issue worth addressing. A GP visit can also be an opportunity to review prevention, screening, medicines, vaccinations or other health risks.

I believe prevention is better than cure.

Many chronic health problems can be improved through changes to diet, physical activity, sleep, stress, smoking, alcohol and weight. Medicines remain important, but they often work best as part of a broader plan.

Education is also a key part of my care.

I want you to understand what may be happening, what your options are and what you can do next. The aim is not simply to give advice. It is to help you make informed choices and manage your health with more confidence.

What to expect at your first appointment

New patients should usually book a longer consultation.

The first visit is a chance to establish rapport, understand your main concerns and begin building a clear picture of your health.

We may discuss your medical history, medicines, allergies, family history, screening, vaccinations and current priorities.

We may not solve every issue at the first visit. Complex care is often safer and more effective when it is planned across several appointments.

If you have several concerns, a short list can be very helpful.

We will usually prioritise the most important or urgent issues first. We can then decide what can be addressed together and what may need a separate visit.

Sometimes several concerns are connected and can be managed as part of one plan. At other times, an issue may need more time than either of us expected.

Routine or online appointments are not suitable for medical emergencies. Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent assessment.

Tests, scans and treatments

I use clinical judgement, current evidence and the details of your situation when recommending tests or treatment.

More testing is not always better.

Large “shotgun” panels can produce incidental or unclear results. This may lead to more anxiety, cost and unnecessary investigation.

I am willing to consider your concerns and discuss tests recommended by another practitioner. However, I will not routinely repeat low-value tests when there is little reason to expect the result to change.

My aim is to use healthcare resources carefully while still investigating symptoms properly.

The same principle applies to medicines, scans and specialist referrals. I will recommend them when the likely benefit justifies the cost, risk and inconvenience.

Prescriptions and medicine reviews

For established, stable medicines, I generally provide the maximum safe number of repeats for your convenience.

New medicines, mental health medicines and treatments that require monitoring may need an earlier review.

Sometimes blood tests, blood-pressure readings or another assessment should be completed before further prescriptions are issued.

The plan will depend on the medicine, your health and how long we have worked together.

Results and follow-up

I do not use the phrase “no news is good news”.

When we expect results to be normal and no further action is needed, I will often send a brief confidential text confirming that I have reviewed them.

Results that need explanation, treatment or further investigation are usually handled through a follow-up appointment. This may be face to face or by telephone, depending on the issue.

When a follow-up will be needed regardless of the result, I will usually tell you during the original consultation so you can plan ahead.

If you were expecting a result and have not heard within the agreed timeframe, please contact the practice so we can check that nothing has been missed.

Referrals and chronic care

General practice plays an important role in coordinating care.

When I refer you to a specialist, I aim to provide a concise and useful clinical summary.

For a new problem, the referral may be more detailed. For ongoing care, it may be shorter. Relevant blood results, imaging and previous specialist reports may also be included where helpful.

I generally send the referral to the specialist and provide you with a copy.

Medicare also offers several useful services through general practice. These may include:

• GP Chronic Condition Management Plans and reviews
• eligible allied health referrals
• health assessments
• Mental Health Treatment Plans.

Where you are eligible, I try to help you obtain the best practical value from the Medicare services available.

This is not about creating paperwork for its own sake. The goal is to use these services to support clear goals, coordinated care and better follow-up.

My experience and clinical interests

I have worked in medicine across South Africa, Canada and Australia.

My background includes general practice, emergency medicine and intensive care. I hold specialist GP qualifications in both Canada and Australia.

That experience has shaped me into a broad generalist.

I founded Mingara Medical and remain closely involved in the management and development of the practice. I am proud of the team and the service we have built.

My clinical interests include:

• preventive health and healthy ageing
• chronic disease management
• lifestyle medicine
• men’s health
• sports and musculoskeletal medicine
• joint injections and minor procedures
• skin cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

I aim to be the kind of GP who has a broad base of experience, stays current, uses the available tools with care and always puts the patient’s healthcare needs first.

Fees and appointment time

I am a private-billing GP.

Fees reflect the time and complexity of the consultation, with reduced fees available in some circumstances.

Current fees are available through the practice or booking system.

I do my best to run on time. Booking enough time for complex issues helps both of us make the appointment more useful.

Please bring anything that may help, such as:

• forms
• medication lists
• home readings
• specialist letters
• questions or concerns.

Forms, complex reports, procedures, mental health concerns and multiple problems may require a longer appointment.

How we can work well together

Healthcare works best as a shared responsibility.

I will give you honest advice, even when it is not the answer you expected. I am direct, but I aim to be respectful and explain the reasoning behind my recommendations.

You do not have to follow every recommendation without question. I welcome questions and discussion.

What helps most is being open about your concerns, asking questions when something is unclear and working with me on a plan that is realistic for you.

You do not need to be perfectly healthy or get everything right.

The aim is to make informed decisions, take an active role where you can and follow through on the plans we agree are worthwhile.

The bottom line

My goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based care that looks at both the problem in front of us and the wider opportunities to improve your health.

Bring your questions. Be honest. Come prepared. Expect the same honesty and preparation from me.

Together, we can make each appointment useful and build a long-term plan that helps you stay healthier for longer.

Explore the Q Health Library

The Q Health Library contains practical guides on prevention, tests, medicines, screening, chronic disease and common health concerns.

You may receive a link to a relevant Q Guide before or after your appointment. These guides are designed to reinforce what we have discussed, help you understand your options and make the next step clearer.

They are designed to complement a consultation, not replace individual medical advice.