About Northwest Health
Northwest Health is a well-established medicare clinic and trusted doctor’s surgery offering comprehensive medical services to individuals and families across Tamworth and surrounding areas. Our team of experienced Tamworth doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals work together to deliver compassionate and reliable care tailored to the needs of our local community. Since opening in 2006, we’ve become a trusted general practice known for high-quality, patient-centred healthcare.
From humble beginnings as a small, privately owned doctor’s surgery, Northwest Health has grown into a multidisciplinary facility. We are proud to support a diverse patient base through the combined efforts of 11 general practitioners, 10 practice nurses, a dietitian, an Aboriginal health worker, and a dedicated administrative team.
Our Tamworth doctors provide general medical and allied health services to patients of all backgrounds, including culturally diverse and socio-economically varied groups. We’re particularly proud to serve a large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, with outreach services extending to nearby aged care facilities and the rural town of Werris Creek.
Appointments are available by booking, and urgent consultations are accommodated where possible. To request an urgent appointment, please call us at 8:30am. While we always aim to provide continuity of care, you may not be able to see your regular doctor for urgent visits.
Northwest Health is fully QPA-accredited, maintaining high standards in clinical care, patient safety, sterilisation, infection control, and ongoing quality improvement.
As a rural teaching practice, Northwest Health plays a vital role in training future healthcare providers. We offer a supportive and practical learning environment for medical and nursing students.
We work closely with GP Synergy, the Australian General Practice Training program, the Rural Vocational Training Scheme, and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). We also host overseas-trained doctors who require supervised placements as part of their registration pathway.
Through our commitment to rural medical education, we contribute to strengthening the future of general practice in regional areas.
At Northwest Health, we take your privacy seriously. Our policies are designed in line with current privacy legislation and RACGP standards to ensure your personal health information is handled with care and confidentiality.
Patient records are stored electronically, backed up regularly, and accessible only to authorised staff. If you wish to give permission for a family member or carer to access your information, please speak with our reception team and complete the necessary authorisation form.
Your health is important to us, and we want to provide the best service that we can. All attempts are made to make this practice run efficiently, with courteous and friendly staff and pleasant and comfortable surroundings. Any suggestions toward improving our service are appreciated and can be given verbally or in writing to any member of this practice. Should there be a complaint, it is hoped that this can be dealt with directly and in person with the member of the practice involved.
If needed, you can contact the Health Care Complaints Commission on 1800 043 159.
To book an appointment with one of our doctors, please contact us during clinic hours. For urgent medical needs, we recommend calling the surgery at 8:30am to check availability. In some cases, your regular doctor may not be available for same-day appointments.
Northwest Health is open 8:30am to 6pm weekdays. For care outside these hours, Northwest Health patients are able to access the after-hours Doctor by calling (02) 6768 3222. Please be aware that after-hours services are not bulk-billed and fees apply.
You can access Our Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) which is open from 10am - 8pm on weekdays, and 9am - 5pm on weekends and Public Holidays. The UCC is a bulk-billed walk-in clinic and patients are seen according to urgency after being triaged by a Nurse.
If you require urgent medical attention, please present to the nearest hospital or call 000.
Northwest Health is an accredited teaching practice for undergraduate and post graduate training. Registrars or medical students may be present during consultations.
If you do not wish to be involved in a training consultation, please notify reception staff or the doctor. For those not aware, a registrar is a registered medical practitioner training to specialise in general practice.
We have experienced nurses available at all times to help provide our patients with a wide range of health care.
Our nurses are available for childhood immunisations, women’s health checks, flu needle clinics, results and other health related enquiries.
Due to high demand, our doctors may not be available to take calls immediately. However, reception staff can take a message, and your doctor will return your call when possible. For urgent matters, please advise the receptionist when calling. Our practice nurses may also assist with your query.
Disabled Facilities
There are no stairs at the Calala, Tamworth and Werris Creek surgeries. There is a disabled toilet located within the premises of all sites. Our staff are happy to direct you to these facilities.
Parking
On-site patient parking is available at all our surgeries.
Interpreter Services
These facilities are available for patients of a non-English speaking background or for patients with a speaking or hearing impairment. Staff are happy to provide further information about these services if required.
Consultation Fees
Fees are payable at the time of consultation. Some doctors in the practice choose to bulk bill to concession card holders and children under 16 years. Please see staff for more information.
- Surgery Consultations: Monday - Friday & Saturday
Before 1:00pm - Standard FeesConcession Card/Children
- Standard$107.85
- Long$147.90
- Extended$187.15
- Did Not Attend Fee$65.00
- After Hours: Saturday from 1:00pm & All Day Sunday
- Standard FeesConcession Card/Children
- Standard$120.80
- Long$160.70
- Extended$199.20
- Did Not Attend Fee$65.00
Consultations out of surgery hours / call outs:
Urgent After-Hours Attendance: $250
Concession Cards / Children's Fees: Apply to patients with a current: Pension Card, Health Care Card and Children 15 years of age & under
Consultation Fees as of 1 April 2025
Fees are payable at the time of consultation.
- WeekdaysPrivate FeeMedicare RebateGapConcession Gap
- Standard$107.85$47.85$60.00$30.00
- Long$147.90$87.90$60.00$30.00
- Extended$187.15$127.15$60.00$30.00
After Hours: Saturday from 1:00pm, all day Sunday and weeknights after 8pm
- After HoursPrivate FeeMedicare RebateGapConcession Gap
- Standard$120.80$60.80$60.00$30.00
- Long$160.70$100.70$60.00$30.00
- Extended$199.20$139.20$60.00$30.00
Vaccinations (listed under National Immunisation Program)
Medicare eligible health assessments
Chronic Disease Management Plans (GPMP+TCA)
DVA Gold Card
DVA White Card for nominated conditions
Children 17 years and under
Patients 18 and older with a Commonwealth Concession Card
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
DVA White Card with a Commonwealth Concession Card for non-claimable conditions
Patients 18 and older without a Commonwealth Concession Card
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is the voice of general practitioners in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, they've supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.
Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine (ACCRM)
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine is accredited by the Australian Medical Council for setting professional medical standards for training, assessment, certification and continuing professional development in the specialty of general practice. They play an important role in supporting junior doctors and medical students considering a career in rural medicine.
Quality Practice Association (QPA)
Since their inception in 1999, QPA have provided certification services that empower general practices to deliver excellence to their patients and communities. With National coverage, they are the only provider to specialise solely in certifying general practices. They live and breathe general practice and have a deep appreciation of what is it like to run a practice.
