About the Practice

 

 

THE PRACTICE

The Macleay Street Medical Practice has been a general practice for over 60 years.  We aim to provide quality comprehensive medical care with strong ties to local health services such as St Vincent's Hospital, local specialists and other community services. Our emphasis is on traditional general practice with a confidential, personal and approachable service.

 

SERVICES

The practice has four GP’s, a Registered Nurse, a pathology collection  centre  and a  Psychologist. The GP’s have an interest across a broad spectrum  general practice. We can provide home visits and visits to nearby aged care facilities.

 

 

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

 

Dr David Townson MBBS- Dr Townson has been living and working in Potts Point for 30   years, 25  years at this practice.   

 

Dr Erin Crumlin MBBS- Dr Crumlin has been at the practice for  22 years. 

Dr Crumlin is now working 2 days per week on a limited basis and otherwise is lecturing medical students.

 

Dr Jeremy Smith MBChB, FRACGP-  joined the practice full time in 2009 and has been a GP since 2000. 

 

Dr Karley Heyworth MBBS  FRACGP  commenced work at the practice in 2014 and is an experienced GP and her interests include women's health.

 

PSYCHOLOGISTS

Helen Crossing

 

PRACTICE NURSE

 Ruan Cuaton is a registered nurse   and is available for health assessments ,immunizations and general nursing duties .

 

RECEPTIONISTS

Our  receptionists are   Joan  and  Leisa.

 

PRACTICE HOURS

Mon-Fri     8.30am- 6 pm  ( Fri 5  pm)

Saturdays,      Sundays and Public Holidays-closed

 

AFTER HOURS COVER

Sydney Medical Service Ph 1300 131 450

Sydney wide,bulk billed

Weekdays 6pm to 8am, Saturday from 12 noon, Sundays and public holidays 24 hrs

 

 

Appointments

The practice operates under an appointment system however we will also endeavour to see drop in patients and will accommodate any urgent problems. Please let the receptionist know if you need a longer appointment. There are a variety of types of appointments available depending on time and  clinical need, for example standard and long appointments, vaccinations, procedures.

Telephone/telehealth appointments are arranged by calling reception and booking an appointment..

Billing Arrangements

Health Care card holders and children may  be Medicare bulk billed. Otherwise the practice is private billing and the fee is dependent on the complexity of the consultation. Consultation   fees are displayed on the reception counter.  We are able to claim your Medicare rebate online at the time of your payment. There may be small extra charges for dressings and vaccinations.

After Hours and Home Visits

Urgent after hours home visits are provided by Sydney Medical Service, Ph  8724 6300  or the phone number can be obtained from our after hours  recorded message. 

Hours- weeknights 6p to 8am, Sat from 12pm,Sundays and public holidays  24 hours.

Office hours home visits are available to patients of the practice,  to local residents and  when possible.

Repeat Prescriptions and Referrals

Our policy is to provide these during a booked consultation.

Privacy

Medical records are securely kept and no information is released to a third party without consent. Patients are able to obtain a copy of their health record on request. The full privacy policy is available from reception and on the website.

Feedback and Complaints Mechanisms

Please feel free to offer feedback verbally or use the suggestion box. Complaints can be made through a receptionist or one of the doctors and will be responded to. The Health Care Complaints Commission can be contacted on 1800 043 159.

Reminder and Recall Systems

The practice may participate in national or state health reminder systems and would seek informed consent.

Transfer of Medical Records

To aid continuity of care and protect privacy we request that the new  doctor sends a written signed request and the file will be transferred.  There may be a small fee incurred from the previous doctor.

Communication with the Practice

Apart from phone calls the staff and doctors can be contacted via email at reception@macleaystmedical.com.au

Test Results and Telephone Calls

You may be asked to ring for results or be asked to come for another consultation. Please do not assume results are normal if you are not contacted.

The doctors can be contacted during normal office hours however if the doctor is with a patient a message will be taken and the call returned by the end of the day.

By arrangement  results may be sent via email or SMS.

 

The practice does not refuse access to new patients on the basis of age, sex ,religion, sexual  preference or medical condition.  The practice considers patients’  rights, beliefs and religious and cultural background  when providing healthcare.

 

 

 

 

Sydpath pathology collection centre is open from 8.30am to 12pm Monday to Friday. All pathology referrals are accepted.

 

Patient survey 2026-thank you to those who participated in the survery.Your feedback is always welcome. The survey results was given to each staff member for their comments.  From the feedback we would like to highlight that home visits are available,please discuss  with reception,  and that after hours home visits are arranged by calling Sydney Medical Service Ph  8724 6300  .

   

Reviewed August 2026

   

Macleay Street Medical Practice  Privacy Policy

Introduction

This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.

You can contact Dr David Townson at the practice regarding this policy.

reception@macleaystmedical.com.au

Why and when your consent is necessary

When you register as a patient of our practice, you provide consent for our GPs and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.

It is important to us that as our patient, you understand why we collect and use your personal information.

 

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?

Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you safely and effectively. This includes providing healthcare services,managing medical records, and ensuring accurate billing payments. Additionally ,we may utilise your information for internal quality and safety improvement processes such as practice audits,accreditation purposes , and staff training to maintain high-quailty service standards.

 

What personal information is collected ?

Name,DOB,address,contact details. Medical information such as medical history,medications,allergies,social and family historry and lifestyle factors. Medicare number and healthcare identifier numbers  ( where applicable) for identification and claiming purposes.

 

Definition of a Patient Health Record

An individual record for each patient that contains all health information held by the practice about that patient.

 

Each patient health record includes, where relevant:

   •        Patient identification and contact details

   •        Demographic information

   •        Next of kin and emergency contact details

   •        Records of consultations

   •        Clinical communications (e.g. specialist letters, investigation results)

   •        Documentation of follow-up of issues raised in previous consultations

   •        Relevant medical history, allergies, medications, and risk factors

   •        Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status

   •        Cultural background where relevant

 

 

Audio/audiovisual

The practice does not record or store audio/audiovisual consultations and does not use AI consultations.

Dealing with us anonymously

You have the right to deal with us anonymously or under a pseudonym unless it is impracticable for us to do so or unless we are required or authorised by law to only deal with identified individuals.

How do we collect your personal information?

Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

1.      When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information via your registration.

2.      During the course of providing medical services, we may collect further personal information.

Information can also be collected through electronic transfer of prescriptions (eTP), My Health Record, eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary.

We may also collect your personal information when you send us an email or SMS, telephone us .

 

3.      In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:

·       your guardian or responsible person

·       other involved healthcare providers, such as specialists, allied health professionals, hospitals, community health services and pathology and diagnostic imaging services.Via electronic prescribing ,My Health Record

·       your health fund, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).

·       Photo images taken for medical purposes

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?

We sometimes share your personal information:

·           with third parties who work with our practice for business purposes, such as accreditation agencies or information technology providers – these third parties are required to comply with APPs and this policy

·           with other healthcare providers

·           when it is required or authorised by law (eg court subpoenas)

·           when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent

·           to assist in locating a missing person

·           to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim

·           for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process

·           when there is a statutory requirement to share certain personal information (eg some diseases require mandatory notification)

·           during the course of providing medical services, through eTP, My Health Record (eg via Shared Health Summary, Event Summary).

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Other than in the course of providing medical services or as otherwise described in this policy, our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside Australia (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.

Your information may be used to improve our services

The practice may use your personal information to improve the quality of the services offered to patients through research,analysis of patient data and the information is stored within Australia. You can let reception staff know if you do not want your information included.

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Our practice has appropriate procedures for the stoarge,retention and destruction of record.

 

Your personal information is stored at our practice in  electronic records. There are some old paper files.

Our practice stores all personal information securely.

Your personal information is kept in a password protected  electronic format on computers.All computers have password protected screen savers. Staff members hve access to patient information according to their role. Each staff member has their own individual password.

 

 There are  confidentiality agreements for staff .

Document Automation

 

Document automation is where systems use existing data to generate electronic documents relating to medical conditions and healthcare.  

The practice uses document automation technologies to create documents such as referrals, which are sent to other healthcare providers. These documents contain only your relevant medical information. 

These document automation technologies are used through secure medical software, Best Practice Software 

All users of the medical software have their own unique user credentials and password and can only access information that is relevant to their role in the practice team. 

The practice complies with the Australian privacy legislation and APPs to protect your information. 

All data, both electronic and paper are stored and managed in accordance with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Privacy and managing health information guidance. 

 

 

 

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing and our practice will respond within thirty days..

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information.

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. We will then attempt to resolve it in accordance with our resolution procedure within thirty days. You can contact us by post at 48 Macleay St,Potts Point or email: reception@macleaystmedical.com.au

You may also contact the OAIC. Generally, the OAIC will require you to give them time to respond before they will investigate. For further information visit www.oaic.gov.au or call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.

Policy review statement

This privacy policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it is in accordance with any changes that may occur.  

Review July 2026