Bedford Street Medical Cen­tre opened its doors recently, offering vital medical services to Brighton area residents. With many doctors closing their books to new patients, Bedford Street Medical Centre is focused on providing affordable, same-day appointments with minimal waiting time.

How many doctors do you have at the clinic and what can patients expect there? At present, we have one doc­tor, Dr Harpreet Kaur. We are accepting walk-ins, so it’s super easy for the new patients to see the reception staff and fill out the registration form. They will register the new patient on the spot and book the appointment with Dr Kaur on the same day if required.

How much are the fees? It is a mixed billing practice where the standard consult fees are $85 (the Medicare rebate is $39.75), so out-of-pocket will be $45.25. Children under six years old are bulk billed, as are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Why is the new clinic  important for the Brighton area? We heard the community was struggling to find a local GP in the Brighton area and some­times they have to travel into Hobart to see a doctor. Also, the waiting time to see the doctor can be very long. Some patients are unable to find a doctor as many clinics are not taking new patients. We are trying our best to support the community as much as we can. Call the clinic on 03 6246 7855, or visit at 1 Bedford Street, Brighton or online www.bedfordstreetmed­ical.com.