Patient Information
Your First Appointment
Knowing what to expect makes your first visit more productive. Here is how to prepare.
GP Referral
A referral from your GP or treating doctor is required for your consultation. This is not just an administrative step — it provides your surgeon with essential background about your health history and the reason for referral, and it is required for you to claim the Medicare rebate on the consultation fee.
Please bring your referral letter to your appointment. If you have already been referred and your GP has sent the letter directly, please let reception know when you arrive.
A standard GP referral is valid for 12 months. A specialist referral is valid for 3 months. If your referral has expired, please obtain a new one before your appointment.
What to Bring
Referral letter
From your GP or treating specialist
Medicare card
Required to process your Medicare rebate
Private health insurance card
If applicable — bring your membership details
Imaging & reports
X-rays, MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds — physical films or digital copies
List of current medications
Including supplements and over-the-counter medicines
Previous surgical records
Operative notes and discharge summaries if you have had prior surgery on the affected area
Workcover or insurance details
If your injury is work-related or covered by a compensation scheme
Support person
You are welcome to bring a family member or carer — encouraged for complex cases
What to Expect
Arrival & Check-in
Please arrive 10–15 minutes before your appointment time. Our reception team will check your details, confirm your referral, and have you complete a brief patient information form.
Consultation with Your Surgeon
Your surgeon will review your referral, history, and any imaging you have brought. They will take a clinical history, examine you, and discuss the findings with you. This typically takes 20–45 minutes depending on the complexity of your case.
Investigations, if Required
If additional imaging is needed — X-rays, MRI, CT scans — your surgeon will arrange a referral. In some cases this can be done on the same day; in others, results are reviewed at a follow-up appointment.
Discussion of Your Options
Once your surgeon has assessed your case, they will discuss the clinical findings, non-surgical and surgical options, likely outcomes, and any risks involved. You are encouraged to ask questions.
Next Steps
Your surgeon will outline the recommended path forward. If surgery is appropriate, the coordinator will discuss timing, costs, and the booking process before you leave.
Location
Suite 303, Level 3
2 Technology Place, Macquarie University NSW 2109
Phone: (02) 8882 9011
Email: admin@sydneyadvanced.com.au