Your Initial Appointment
If you have any enquiries or would like to make an appointment please phone (02) 4947 8177 or email admin@surgerycentral.com.au
What to bring to your initial appointment
Our doctors are all specialist surgeons therefore you will need a referral letter from your GP or another specialist in order to receive a Medicare rebate. Please bring this with you to your consultation or if this has been sent directly to us please call us prior to your appointment to make sure we have received this.
Also bring the following:
Medicare or DVA card
Health fund card
Any x-rays, ultrasound or CT scans especially if they relate to your current condition
Details of your current medications and any allergies
If this is related to Workers Compensation please call our rooms as we will require additional information prior to your appointment.
Things to remember
Before your first appointment:
Please don’t forget to bring a referral letter from your GP (if it was given to you).
Please bring all the relevant X-rays with you when you come to the Rooms for your appointment.
Before you leave the consulting rooms:
Remember to discuss with the doctor what to do with your normal medications before surgery.
If you are diabetic it is essential that you discuss with the doctor what to do with your Insulin or other diabetes medications before having any procedure.
When you come to hospital for your operation/procedure:
Always bring all your usual medications.
Please bring your X-rays.
Fees & Payments
Initial consultations are up to $250 and follow-up consultations are up to $150. The cost of your consultation will be confirmed when you receive your confirmation letter and our staff can confirm this information when booking your appointment. If it has been over 12 months since your last visit or you are returning for a new issue, the cost is the same as the initial consultation. Medicare rebates are available and can be completed in the rooms while you are here. Health fund rebates are only available for in-hospital services.
See here for more: Informed Financial Consent
Payment for appointments are payable on the day and a Medicare rebate can be completed simultaneously. Please notify us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment if you cannot attend or need to rebook. Due to the unpredictable nature of surgical practice, our doctors may be running late. We advise you to ring prior to your appointment to check if the surgeon is running on time.
Running on time
While we make every effort to run on time for our patients, due to the unpredictable nature of surgical practice, sometimes clinics run late.
You are welcome to call and check the status of your appointment prior to attending and staff can notify you of any known delays.
General Surgery across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Gateshead
Our surgeons see both public and private patients in the Surgery Central consulting rooms in the Lake Macquarie Specialist Medical Centre and operate in both public and private hospitals.