Politics, Clear as Mud — and What You Can Learn from a Mud Kitchen-Good Medicine takes time- Not rushed 6 minute medicine

We love watching children play in our front garden with our mud kitchen. It’s a wonderful reminder that good things take time — just like good medicine.

Unfortunately, recent government changes to Medicare are pushing towards shorter, rushed consultations — often called “six-minute medicine.” These rebates simply don’t cover the true cost of providing high-quality, personalised care.

At Eleanor Clinic, we believe your health deserves time, attention, and genuine care — not rushed consultations. Under the current Medicare system, the rebate per minute actually decreases for longer appointments. This affects complex consultations such as chronic disease management, women’s health, and mental health care — precisely where time and understanding matter most.

Providing High-Quality Care Takes More Than a Few Minutes

Delivering safe, comprehensive medical care involves many essential costs, including:

• Highly trained contract doctors, nurses, and reception staff
• Modern medical equipment, technology, and clinical supplies
• Rent, electricity, insurance, and administrative costs

Why We Charge a Gap (Out-of-Pocket Fee)

Charging a gap allows us to:

✅ Provide longer, more thorough consultations
✅ Maintain a safe and welcoming environment for patients
✅ Continue offering a wide range of services, including:

• • Chronic disease management
  • Preventative health checks
  • Mental health support

Making Healthcare Accessible

We understand that rising living costs are putting pressure on families. That’s why we’re committed to offering:

• Online repeat script and referral requests
• Telehealth appointments for busy days
• Bulk billing for most Care Plans and Health Assessments
• Quick bulk-billed consults for same-day medical certificates

By registering for MyMedicare, we may also be able to bulk bill you for certain items in the future.

Our Promise to You

Our goal is simple: to continue providing safe, high-quality, and compassionate care for every patient — now and into the future. Because your health deserves care without compromise, not “six-minute medicine.”

Advocating for a Better-Funded Primary Health System

At Eleanor Clinic, we strongly believe that all Australians deserve access to quality, timely, and comprehensive primary healthcare.

We call on the government to:

• Increase Medicare rebates for longer and more complex consultations
• Provide better funding for mental health care and chronic disease management
• Support community health providers such as Cohealth, who care for our most vulnerable patients

We encourage you to contact your local Federal Member of Parliament to share how these Medicare changes affect you. And please speak to your GP about whether you qualify for a Care Plan to help manage complex or chronic conditions.

Fina bulk billing clinic’s in the area.

We’ll continue to advocate for a healthcare system that values both patients and the clinicians who care for them.

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.
Together, we can keep delivering the high-quality care you deserve.