Patient services

Please visit the  billing and fees section of this website for an indication of the costs of consultations at this practice.

This practice has a contract for payment arrangement with Bankmed, Bonitas, Discovery (excl. Keycare), Fedhealth, GEMS, Momentum, Medhsield and Polmed and members of these medical schemes will not be responsible for co-payments.

For members of other medical schemes the practice may require a R200.00 co-payment for a follow-up consultation. And Bestmed members will responsible for a R300.00 co-payment.

For a first consultation, this practice will require the patient to pay a part of his / her consultation fee prior to the consultation, which may be claimed back (in part / in full) from the medical scheme. This amount will never exceed R3400.00.

Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) are benefits that can be applied for from your medical scheme for certain medical conditions, for which the medical scheme will pay for certain benefits (like psychotherapy) from another fund and not from your day-to-day benefit or medical savings. PMBs are limited to 15 outpatient consultations (shared between psychiatrist and psychologist) and / or 21 days in-hospital days. [Outpatient visit = 1.5 In-hospital days]

Medical aids only pay for certain conditions under the chronic medicine benefit. That is, a predefined list of medications -- this is available from your medical aid. Generally a chronic medication application will have to be done to access this benefit. In most cases this entails a form to be completed by both the patient and the doctor. Any medication that is used on a chronic basis is therefore not necessarily eligible for cover under the chronic medicine benefit. E.g. mood stabilisers may be covered but sleeping tablets or sedative medications will not be.

Yes, in general it is good practice to see your general practitioner first before consulting with a specialist. The reason for this is that your GP may be able to treat you successfully at a lower cost and in less time. If not, he / she has the expertise to refer to the appropriate specialist.

Members of the following medical aids require a specialist referral number from their general practitioner before a claim can be made with their scheme: GEMS, Bonitas, Discovery Keycare, Commed, Sasolmed, Medshield, Keyhealth, Medihelp. This number is generally valid for 6 months. Without such a number the member remains liable for the consultation fees, regardless of PMB registration.

This practice admits patients for inpatient care exclusively at Zwavelstream Clinic. Admission to hospital is always arranged in consultation with a doctor or after consultation with a patient. Admissions are therefore always prearranged. For emergencies a patient must visit his / her nearest emergency / casualty department.

This practice does not offer an emergency- or after hours service as there is only one practitioner who cannot be available on a permanent basis. It is advised that patients or their family contact their general practitioner or nearest casualty department in case of emergencies. During office hours we will endeavour to assist as soon as possible with enquiries.