Appointment FAQs
Q. How long is my Endocrinology appointment?
New Patient appointments are 30-60 minutes in duration depending on the predicted complexity of the consultation. Review patient consultations are usually 15-20 minutes (duration depends on the Doctor) but double appointments (with a slightly higher fee) can be requested by the patient or recommended by the Doctor.
How do I cancel/reschedule my appointment?
This is best done by ringing us on 03 9725 3003 to move your appointment to another date/time. It is easier for our reception staff to cancel and reschedule in the same call, rather than cancelling in one call and then rebooking in a different call. Please note cancellations less than one business day prior to an appointment incur a cancellation fee.
Why is there a longer wait for a new patient appointment?
Each Endocrinologist has a limited amount of time available to see patients and needs to balance review appointments for existing patients, whilst also keeping some time specifically available for new patients. As most appointments are booked well in advance by existing patients (ie. months in advance), it doesn’t take many new patients to fill up the available appointments quite quickly. Between the six Endocrinologists we can have up to 25 new patient referrals a week but typically we can only see 10-15 new patients a week. We will always do our best to fit patients in where possible.
Why is there a long wait for a review appointment if I need to reschedule?
Most of the Endocrinologists are fully-booked many weeks in advance and may be fully booked for some times of the day up to months in advance. We understand appointments do sometimes need to be rescheduled due to unavoidable issues, and where this needs to happen we will do our best to find you the next earliest available appointment.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
No we do not offer evening or weekend appointments. Most Doctors do work until 5:00pm, so late afternoon appointments are potentially an option for review consultations, but they fill up fast.
What if I’m sick and can’t come in person?
If you’re sick (even with mild symptoms), we recommend changing from a face-to-face appointment to a telehealth appointment (video for new patients, video or phone for review patients). Alternatively you may wish to reschedule your appointment (see above).
Can we switch to telehealth on the day?
Yes, you can switch to a telehealth appointment right up until the time of your appointment. For new patients video is the only option, but for review patients it can be by video or phone. We understand that circumstances change and we would prefer that you get your appointment without needing to reschedule.
Payment FAQs
Is payment required on the day?
Yes, payment is required on the day of the appointment.
What payment options are there?
EFTPOS, including Credit Card (not AMEX) is our preferred payment method, however payment can also be made by cash or direct deposit.
What if I’m seen by telehealth - how do I pay?
Payment via credit card can be accepted over video call (when reception available) or phone call with the receptionist. Alternatively we can email you the invoice and it can be paid by direct deposit.
Can I just pay the gap?
Unfortunately this is not an option, as it can take up to 90 days for Medicare to pay us the Medicare rebate portion of the consultation.
How do I get my Medicare rebate?
We submit the claim to Medicare on the day of payment and you should get your Medicare rebate into your account later that same day or sometimes the next business day.
Can I get a quote for my appointment?
We always provide quotes for new patients and infusions and can provide quotes for review appointments if requested.
Accessibility FAQ
Is disabled parking available?
Yes, at the back of the building there is a large open car park that allows easy access to the entry door with ramp access.
Are larger vehicles able to access the back car park?
Yes! The high fence beside the driveway can make it appear narrow, but we regularly have large 4WD's, vans, maxi taxis etc. accessing the back car park.
Is ramp access available?
Yes there is a flat entrance at the back door and a short ramp up from the back entry foyer to the waiting room.
Is there a disabled bathroom available?
Yes there is a large patient bathroom with a higher than usual toilet, grab rails and good circulation space for a walking frame or wheelchair.
Are your doorways/corridors wide enough for an electric wheelchair?
Our clinic is a converted residential building and the corridors are not overly wide, but they do fit most wheelchairs. For people with wide wheelchairs please let us know and we will do our best to arrange for that consultation to be in Consult 1 which is the largest consultation room and has an entrance from the waiting room which allows for more easy access.
Is there suitable seating for Obese patients?
We deliberately have a range of seating available in our clinic that is all rated to 250+kg and so is safe for our larger patients. Some seats have 2 arms (good for patients with limited ability to get out of chairs) but we also have seats available without arms as we know that this is more comfortable for some patients.
Can you accommodate patients on a stretcher with a transport ambulance?
Unfortunately we do not have the ability to accommodate stretchers easily. You can ring us on 03 9275 3003 to discuss further and we may be able to work out a solution.
Can we arrange transport?
We don’t arrange transport but we can give you some options of paid or volunteer transport options available locally. We can also call a taxi for you if you are going home by taxi.
Do you have a quiet waiting area for people who don’t like noise?
We have a main waiting room which is where reception is located but we also have a small waiting room (4 chairs) just inside the back door and patients who want a quieter area often use this space. If you prefer to wait in your car we can also accommodate this and ring you when the Doctor is ready (not recommended on hot days).
Do you have a baby changing facilities?
Yes, there is a wall-mounted baby change table in the patient bathroom.
Do you have a dedicated space for breastfeeding mothers?
We don’t have a dedicated space for breastfeeding mothers but they are welcome to feed in the waiting areas of the clinic at any time (or during their consultations if required). If a quieter space is needed (eg. baby is easily distracted) then please discuss this with reception and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly reception staff on 03 9725 3003 to ask any further questions - we will do our best to help you feel comfortable when you attend your appointment and to understand what to expect.