You can get an appointment through the following methods.

1. Call during open hours and leave a message. You must leave your full name, healthcard number with version letters, and return contact number.

2. Book online! Rostered patients have access to Dr Lam's online booking for direct access. We recommend online booking for predictable routine appointments. You can access booking at: https://dhklmedical.inputhealth.com/

3. If you have an urgent issue that needs same day attention, please call as early in the day as possible, as same-day slots fill up quickly. By afternoon, most of the slots have been filled, and we cannot guarentee a same day appointment at that time.

Everything medical should be completed in reasonable time. However certain situations will take priority over others. Some things can wait for a few days to a week to see the doctor, and other things are so important that it should go to the hospital immediately. Consider the following broad guidance when determining what type of issue you have. 

• ROUTINE: These are issues which can stand being assessed in the next few days or at worse the following week. Medication adjustments, review of bloodwork, form filling. Low level symptoms that have been present for a while, or come and go over this time. We would advise avoiding the use of the On-Call for these.

• URGENT: These are issues which are more concerning in their pattern or their severity. New infections symptoms, accidents and injuries, and similar. Each clinic day has a specific number of allotted urgent same day slots. Please call early in the day in order to secure such a spot. Calls later in the day may have to be addressed the following day.

• EMERGENCY: These issues need assessment immediately with equipment often held only in hospitals. This includes sudden constant chest pain, significant shortness of breath (unable to speak full sentences), Stroke symptoms (face drooping, arms weak, speech slurred), and injuries where significant fratures may be suspected.

When in doubt, consider giving us a call, and tell us "I'm not sure what to do?" The reception or doctor will guide you on what to do next.

Doctors operate in defined area of expertise. While there are many things that the doctor can do, there are a number of things that we cannot do, either due to lack of training or outside our scope of protected practice. The following are some examples of things that we may not be able to help you with.

1. Dental problems: Naturally you should see a dentist for anything tooth related. Dentists should be able to write their own prescriptions and provide you with abx if they deem it necessary.

2. Emotional Support Animal Letters:  Animals with certified training have the legal designation of 'Service Animal', and as such are legally allowed into locations where other animals are not. While we understand that our pets provide us emotional support and are a valid form of relaxation and therapy .This does not automatically made them safe animals. Service animals are trained not to react to provocation, not to defecate or urinate unless at designated locations (such as at home), and not to interact with other people or animals while on active duty. In declaring an animal 'safe' this also means shouldering any legal responsibility involved in training, maintaining, and defending an animal should they cause damage, injury, or death. Ultimately these responsibilities lie with the animal's owner and trainer, and not the doctor.

3. Power of Attorney and Lack of Capacity: All adults 18+ are deemed to have the mental capacity by default. Sometimes in certain specific medical situation that capacity might be affected, leaving the doctor to make a decision in the patient's best interest for that situation. However as we age or in some diseases this mental capacity can be eroded over time affecting overall function and decision making. In order to create a lasting power of attorney you would need to be assessed by an independent capacity assessor who is trained to do these assessments.