Referral Information

How to access/ refer to IDHS Allied Health, Mental Health & Community Services

You, your GP or other health worker can send all referrals (including internal referrals for these services) to:

• Email: referrals@idhs.vic.gov.au
• Fax: (03) 5431 7004 or,
• You can bring your referral in-person to IDHS reception desks

Referral

Please click here to obtain or complete a referral form. This form can be printed or can be completed directly into the form before sending to our referral email, fax or delivered to Inglewood Hospital front reception.

Copies are available at the main reception of the hospital and at the Gym/ outpatients reception if you do not have a printer or ability to complete an online referral.

Fees

Many programs are fully funded (no fee to the client).

Some programs attract a small co-payment fee as required by the funding body. These fees are minimal for health care card/ pension holders. Fees will be discussed on intake to our services.

If you have any concerns about the cost of your care, please call (03) 5431 7000 to discuss, and we would be happy to discuss further.

Failure to Attend and Cancellation Policy

We understand that things happen and life gets busy, but to help IDHS manage our waiting lists and to keep your care consistent, we require more than 24 hours’ notice if you cannot attend an appointment. Your circumstances will always be considered, but when people do not attend their appointments, it can delay your care and the care of those on the waiting list.

We offer free SMS reminders for all appointments. If you are not receiving them and you would like to, please speak with reception or your therapist.

Initial Needs Identification

Once we receive your referral, one of our intake workers may contact you to ask additional questions regarding your health. This is to help identify if there are any other services (either here at IDHS or another provider) that you may benefit from. This is a free service and is completed via telephone.

Medicare Rebates for Allied Health

General practitioners can refer eligible patients with chronic conditions to allied health professionals. Allied health professionals can claim Medicare benefits for some services.

Eligible patients can use 5 services per calendar year. The 5 services may be either:

• one type of service, for example 5 physiotherapy services or,
• a combination of different types of services, for example one dietetic and 4 podiatry services.

Patients are eligible for these allied health services if their medical practitioner has completed a GPCCMP and IDHS is able to provide these services for Diabetes Education, Exercise Physiology, Dietetics, Physiotherapy and for Mental Health Social Work.

For more information on Allied Health referrals under Medicare programs, see Services Australia.