Important Patient Announcement

Childers Medical Centre
Billing & Practice Updates – Effective 1 January 2026

Bulk Billing Trial

From 1 January 2026, we will be trialing bulk billing for most standard consultations.

The following services will NOT be bulk billed:

  • Surgical procedures

  • Commercial driver’s licence medicals

  • Insurance paperwork

  • Legal or third-party reports

Private fees will apply and will be confirmed at the time of booking.
If unsure, please speak with our reception team.


Our Doctors

We are proud to have four dedicated doctors caring for our community:

  • Dr Zin Htike

  • Dr Angela Ratcliff

  • Dr Saim Waqas

  • Dr Bernard Hannemann

Their full bios can be viewed on our website and HotDoc.


Sustainability & Access to Care

Although government messages encourage universal bulk billing, medical clinics must still meet significant staffing and operational costs.

We must assess if these changes will enable us to continue offering high-quality, sustainable care for our community.


Appointment Guidelines

To ensure every patient receives quality care, our standard appointments run for 10 minutes and address one main concern.

If you have several issues you’d like to discuss, we kindly ask that you book a separate appointment. This helps us stay on time and provide the best possible care.

Please let your doctor know your most important concern at the start of your consultation.

We will continue accepting new patients, subject to availability, to protect access for our regular patients.


Medication Policy

Requests for opioid medications will be considered only at the treating doctor’s discretion, based on clinical assessment and current guidelines.

Any prescription requests will require an appointment with your treating GP.


Zero-Tolerance Policy

We have zero tolerance for any form of bullying, aggression, or harassment toward our team.

Respect and courtesy must be shown to all staff at all times.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment.


Results Policy

If you have any tests performed (including blood tests, imaging or other investigations), you will be required to arrange a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss your results.


Please Arrive On Time

To help our doctors run as close to schedule as possible, we kindly ask that you arrive on time for your appointment.

If you arrive late, you may need to reschedule your appointment to another available time.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us provide timely care for all patients.


We appreciate your patience during these changes.

Our team remains committed to providing the exceptional care you know and trust.

For questions, please speak with our reception team.