Season's greetings from GAALS

“As the end of the year approaches I would like to wish all my patients and referring GPs a peaceful Christmas and new year”

— Dr Amy Arnold

Holiday closure

We are taking the opportunity to have a short break over the Christmas and new year period.

GAALS will be closed from midday 23 December 2020 and will reopen on 4 January 2021.

Online bookings

The best way to book an appointment is to use our online booking form — you can browse and book the appointment that suits you best. When you book, you can also let us know if you’d like to be placed on a waiting list for an earlier appointment.

COVID-19 — screening before appointments

Prior to all appointments in our consulting rooms, our staff will call patients to ask a few questions before their appointment is confirmed.

You should not visit our consulting rooms if:

• you are currently unwell (irrespective of the origin of the illness), or

• you have been issued a self-quarantine notice because:

  • you have been overseas

  • you are an exempt person and have arrived in Queensland from a COVID-19 hotspot

  • you are an exempt person and have moved to Queensland from interstate

  • you have been in close contact with someone who already has COVID-19.

Please contact us to:

• check whether your appointment can proceed through telehealth, or

• reschedule your appointment.

COVID-19 — appointments

Recently we posted information about the measures we are taking to promote the health of our patients and practice staff.

“We are continuing to make appointments with some additional options, precautions and recommendations”

Telehealth

The government recently expanded telehealth (video conferencing and phone consultations) to all Australians, where treatment can be safely delivered by phone or video conferencing.

Generally, when an appointment does not require a physical examination, we are pleased to offer telehealth services to patients. Please contact us to check whether your appointment can be offered through telehealth.

Social distancing

In addition to the measures we have already implemented to promote social distancing, we ask that patients attend their appointment at our consulting rooms without any additional visitors. We do understand that some patients prefer to bring another person (for example, a partner or parent) to their appointment for support, and we are happy to accommodate individual patients’ needs.

We also ask that parents DO NOT bring any children under the age of 18 to our consulting rooms, unless the child is the patient.

Please contact us if you need to reschedule your appointment, or to ask whether your appointment can proceed through telehealth.

COVID-19 — changes to elective surgery

Recently the government made a decision to suspend all non-urgent elective surgery in public and private hospitals.

“Only elective surgery categorised as ‘Category 1’ and some ‘Category 2’ procedures will be allowed to continue”

• Category 1 procedures are for patients needing treatment within 30 days.

• Category 2 procedures are for patients needing treatment within 90 days; this includes treatment for conditions that cause pain, dysfunction or disability.

• Category 3 procedures are for patients needing treatment at some point in the next year. All Category 3 procedures will be temporarily suspended.

We will be in touch with patients who are currently booked for surgery to let them know whether their procedure can go ahead. There may be delays for patients who have not yet been booked for surgery.

Please contact us by email or phone 07 3067 7086 with any questions.

-Amy

COVID-19 — what we are doing

Recently we have implemented changes due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) to promote the health of our patients and practice staff. While we expect COVID-19 will have some impact on our services, we are continuing to book appointments and operations in line with current advice from the government and Greenslopes Private Hospital.

We regularly review the recommended advice and are monitoring the health of our practice staff and have plans in place should they become unwell.

Before appointments

Prior to all appointments in our consulting rooms, our staff will call patients to ask a few questions before their appointment is confirmed.

At appointments

We ask that every patient uses the hand sanitiser we provide when they arrive for their appointment. We are wiping down door handles and bench surfaces as a precaution after every patient. As an additional precaution, we have arranged our waiting room to allow sufficient 'social distancing' between chairs. 

Operating

Greenslopes Private Hospital advise that operating will continue with some additional measures to minimise risk to hospital patients, visitors and staff. This may include screening every person prior to entry, and limitations on the number of visitors that patients may have.

Prior to all operations, our staff AND Greenslopes Private Hospital will call patients to check their operation can go ahead as planned.

I appreciate your patience during this difficult time. I would like to assure you that the health and safety of our patients and practice staff is a very high priority.

Please call us on 07 3067 7086 or contact us by email if you have any questions.

- Amy

Happy holidays from GAALS

After another busy year at GAALS, thank you to my patients and referring GPs for your continued support.

“Season’s greetings and best wishes for the new year”

— from the team at GAALS

Holiday Closure

GAALS will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from 5PM on 24 December 2019, and will re-open on 6 January 2020. During this time, our voicemail service will be available, patients can email, or use our our real time booking platform for appointments in January.

- Amy

New online real time booking platform

Recently we launched a new real time booking platform. This gives patients more choice when finding an appointment time that suits them.

Making a booking is easy:

1. New patients, click “Initial Consultation”, existing patients click “Follow Up Consultation”.

2. Select a date and time for your appointment.

3. Fill in your details.

4. Click “Book”.

We will email you to confirm your booking.

You can access the platform book your appointment at any time, but if you’d prefer, you can always call us during business hours.

- Amy

Season's Greetings from GAALS

As the holiday season approaches, I would like to thank all my patients and referring GPs for making 2018 such a successful year. GAALS has continued to grow throughout 2018 with an increase in the number of patients attending appointments during the year.

Next year promises to be a busy year at GAALS; we will be expanding the practice and providing more options for appointment availability, and will implement an online booking system for current and new patients.

“Season’s greetings and best wishes for the new year”

— from the team at GAALS

Holiday Closure

GAALS will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from 24 December 2018, and will re-open on 7 January 2019. During this time, a voicemail service will be available for patients who wish to leave a message. We will return your call when we re-open.

There are additional appointments available in January. Use our Book Now form to make an appointment.

See you in 2019.

- Amy

Returning from leave and appointment availability

This week I returned from a short period of maternity leave following the birth of my son in mid-July. I'm pleased everything went well and I'm now ready to re-commence consulting and operating at Greenslopes Private Hospital.

I have some appointments still available over the next couple of weeks, and I am going to open up a few additional consulting sessions to make sure patients have some choice and availability of appointments.

New or existing patients can ask my receptionists to be placed on a waiting list, and we will contact you if an earlier appointment becomes available.

Call us on 07 3067 7086 or use the booking form to make an appointment.

I'd like to thank everyone for their well wishes and also their patience during my leave.

-Amy

Taking maternity leave

This week I commenced maternity leave for the birth of my second child. After a short break I will return to GAALS on 28 August 2018.

While I am away my receptionists will be able to take messages and arrange appointments for my return.

If current patients need more urgent attention and cannot wait for me to return, I have arranged for a few colleagues at Greenslopes Private Hospital to provide care while I am away. Current patients can call my rooms on 07 3067 7086 and my receptionists will be able to make arrangements for them to be seen more urgently. In an emergency, patients should always present to their closest hospital emergency department.

New patients can contact my rooms by phone 07 3067 7086, by clicking Book Now or by emailing reception@gaals.com.au and my receptionists can either make an appointment as soon as possible after 28 August 2018, or recommend another gynaecologist who will be able to see them in the meantime. If new patients wish to see one of my colleagues, they can use the referral that is addressed to me (it is not necessary to have a referral addressed to the other doctor).

I want to thank my patients for their understanding while I am away. Since I established GAALS in 2016, I’m pleased to have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients about their care. I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

- Amy