Compassionate care meets medical excellence
General Practice care for you in Tamworth, NSW
Currently accepting new patients
WELCOME
Welcome to Tallowwood Health, where compassionate care meets medical excellence. Our dedicated team is committed to providing comprehensive and personalised care for individuals and families. From routine check-ups to chronic disease management, we prioritise your health and well-being in a warm and welcoming environment.
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pm
For urgent medical concerns outside these hours, please contact the on-call doctor on the after-hours phone number. Please note this is a service only available for current regular patients only. Fees apply for phone advice and call outs.
Please note:
The practice is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Ph: 02 67666166
Fax: 02 67666341
After hours on-call doctor: 0407 255 321
For all emergencies please call an ambulance on: 000
121 Johnston Street
(Tamwell Building, Ground floor) Tamworth, NSW 2340
OUR TEAM
DOCTORS
Dr Matthew Chan
General Practitioner / Director
Dr Nicola Hicks
General Practitioner
Dr Roveena John
General Practice Registrar
Dr Ephraim Leynes
General Practice Registrar
Dr David Lockart
General Practitioner / Director
Dr Viswanathan Narayanan
General Practice Registrar
Dr Matthew Nguyen
General Practitioner
Dr Kim Rogers
General Practitioner
Dr Saman Shaker
General Practice Registrar
Dr Emma Simmons
General Practice Registrar
Dr Sarah Spencer
General Practitioner
NURSES
Alison
Nurse Team Leader / Registered Nurse
Deanne
Enrolled Nurse
Leanne
Registered Nurse
Rachel
Registered Nurse
Sarah
Registered Nurse
Sarah
Enrolled Nurse
ADMINISTRATION
Bek Hooley
Practice Manager
Kylie Barnes
Office Manager
Victoria Chan
Executive Assistant
SERVICES
Childhood Checks and Immunisations
Spirometry
Minor Procedures
Driving Medicals
Mental Health
Chronic Disease Care
Women’s Health Checks and Cervical Screening
Preventative Health Checks
Travel Vaccination and Advice
Worker’s Compensation
Pregnancy Planning and Care
Men’s Health Checks
Ear Wax Removal
Wound Care
INR Testing
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Health Assessments
Q Fever Testing and Vaccination
Iron Infusions
Skin Checks
EXCELLENCE
At Tallowwood Health (formerly called Barton Lane Practice), we strive that everything we do is defined by excellence and we are thankful for the recognition we have received in this area:
2025 – Finalist – Quality Business Awards –Excellence in Customer Service in Health Services
2022 – Winner – RACGP – National General Practice of the Year
2022 – Winner – RACGP NSW & ACT (State) – General Practice of the Year
2022 – Finalist – Quality Business Awards – Excellence in Small Business
2022 – Nominee – Quality Business Awards – Excellence in Customer Service in Health & Well Being
2022 – Nominee – Regional Business Awards – Excellence in Small Business
2022 – Finalist – PHN Primary Care Quality and Innovation Awards: Primary Care Leader – Organisation category
2021 – Finalist – Quality Business Awards – Excellence in Customer Service in Health & Well Being
2019 – Finalist – Quality Business Awards – Excellence in Customer Service in Health & Well Being
POLICIES
In the care we provide, committing to ethical and compassionate practice. By acting with kindness, honesty, respect for others and self, and in doing so being responsible, reliable and accountable for the work we do.
For further information including our Privacy Policy and Feedback information, click here
Tallowwood Health
Tallowwood Health is a fully accredited, modern general practice providing high-quality, patient-centred care. Proudly serving the Tamworth region since 1892 with experienced GPs and a friendly, experienced team.
🩺 When was your last skin check?
Dr Visu Narayanan is one of our GPs with a strong interest in skin cancer medicine. He graduated from the University of Newcastle and has trained across Gosford and Wyong Hospitals, as well as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Dr Visu holds a Certificate of Dermoscopy through the Skin Cancer College Australasia and provides full body skin checks, dermoscopy, and minor procedures including biopsies and excisions.
Skin cancer is very common in Australia, and regular skin checks are important for early detection. Many skin cancers are highly treatable when found early.
Regular skin checks are especially important for people who:
• Spend a lot of time outdoors
• Have fair skin or a history of sunburn
• Have a personal or family history of skin cancer
• Have noticed changing spots or new lesions
🩺 What to expect at your appointment:
• Discussion about your skin concerns and risk factors
• Full head-to-toe skin check
• Dermatoscope and/or imaging tools may be used
• You’re welcome to point out any spots or areas you’re concerned about
💡 Skin checks may involve examination down to underwear level to allow for a thorough assessment. Your comfort and privacy are always prioritised, and a chaperone can be requested.
🩹 If needed, Dr Visu may also perform biopsies, swabs, or cryotherapy (freezing treatments).
⏰ Appointments are generally 15–30 minutes depending on your needs.
📅 Book online or call (02) 6766 6166
✨ New patients welcome ... See MoreSee Less
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👃 Needle-Free Flu Vaccines for Kids – FREE for Ages 2 to Under 18
We now have FREE FluMist® nasal spray flu vaccines available for children aged 2 to under 18 years.
To help families access this option, we’ll be running a few convenient after-school FluMist clinics over the coming week while stock lasts, making it easier to fit vaccination in around school and work commitments.
FluMist® is a quick nasal spray — no injection needed — and is a great option for children who are nervous about needles. It’s simple, needle-free and highly effective.
Why vaccinate against flu?
✔ Helps protect your child from influenza
✔ Reduces the spread to family and friends
✔ Helps prevent serious illness and complications
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.
📅 Stock is limited, so book in early.
📞 Contact the clinic to book. ... See MoreSee Less
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Help your parents, grandparents, and loved ones stay protected this winter ❤️
If you have family, friends, neighbours, or relatives aged 60 and over, now is a good time to talk with them about RSV vaccination.
From 15 May, the RSV vaccine (Arexvy) will be FREE under the National Immunisation Program for:
✔️ Australians aged 75 years and over
✔️ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians aged 60 years and over
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common and highly contagious virus that affects the lungs and airways. While it may feel like a cold for some people, older adults are at much higher risk of serious illness, breathing difficulties, and hospitalisation.
Why are older adults more vulnerable?
* The immune system naturally weakens with age
* Existing health conditions can increase the risk of severe illness
* Immunity to RSV does not last for life
* Repeat infections can occur
RSV spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact, and is most common in Australia between April and September, making prevention especially important during winter.
Common side effects from the vaccine are generally mild and short-lived, including:
* Sore arm
* Mild fatigue or headache
* Redness or swelling at the injection site
These symptoms typically settle within 1–2 days.
A simple conversation could help protect someone you care about this winter. Encourage your loved ones to speak with their GP about the free RSV vaccine.
📞 To book, please give us a call on (02) 6766 6166 ... See MoreSee Less
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⚠️ Scam Awareness Notice ⚠️
We’ve recently been made aware of scam emails and text messages being sent to patients pretending to be from HotDoc, asking people to enter personal or banking details to receive a “refund”.
As a reminder, Tallowwood Health will never ask for your bank details via text message or email, and HotDoc/Medicare will not request sensitive information by email or SMS.
These messages can look very convincing, so we wanted to share a few things to look out for:
• Unexpected refund messages
• Links asking you to log in or enter bank details
• Messages creating urgency or pressure to act quickly
If you receive something suspicious:
• Don’t click any links
• Don’t provide personal or banking information
• Check directly through the official HotDoc app or website
• Delete the message if you’re unsure
We know scams like this can be unsettling, particularly for elderly family members or those less familiar with technology, so please feel free to share this information with loved ones as well.
Online bookings through HotDoc remain a safe and convenient way to book appointments when using official channels. If you’re ever unsure about a message you’ve received, our reception team is always happy to help. ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Birthday Kylie! 💛
We hope you have the loveliest day, you deserve it. Thank you for always keeping everything running so smoothly, lifting everyone’s spirits, and doing it all with such calm kindness.
Your warmth and dedication never go unnoticed. We’re so lucky to have you.
Enjoy being celebrated today 🎂✨
Your Tallowwood Health family 🤍 ... See MoreSee Less
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HotDoc, our online booking platform, will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Tuesday 28 April 2026 between 10:00pm and 12:00am AEST. During this time, the HotDoc website and app may be unavailable for up to two hours. This update helps ensure the system remains secure and reliable for both our patients and our team.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Updates will be available via the HotDoc status page, and services will resume as soon as the maintenance is complete.
If you need assistance during this time, please give your Tallowwood Health team a call on (02) 6766 6166. ... See MoreSee Less
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