FAQs

What should I bring with me when I come for a scheduled appointment?

• Your insurance information
• A referral from your General Practitioner or family doctor
• All pertinent x-ray reports and test results from your primary care or referring physician
• A list of all medications that you are currently taking
• A list of any known drug allergies and the symptoms you may have from taking these medicines

Are my records kept private and confidential?

Your medical records are handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment.

Do I need a medical referral to make an appointment?

Most medical specialists will only accept referred patients. This is to ensure the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition, and to ensure you receive a higher rebate from Medicare as a referred patient.

How can my GP help?

Before seeing any medical specialist, it is preferable that you talk to your own GP who can discuss your condition with you and advice on whether specialist care is appropriate.

If specialist care is required, your GP can help choose the specialist best suited to your needs. Your GP can also provide relevant information about your health to the specialist to ensure the best care is made possible

How long will I be at the centre?

You will be at the Centre for approximately 3 hours from your appointment time. Please note that your appointment time does not reflect your procedure time.

The person taking you home will be called approximately 30 minutes prior to your discharge time.

Please be aware that you maybe required to remain at the Centre for more than 3 hours as Endoscopy is a diagnostic test and there may be delays in theatre times.

What is an Endoscopist?

An Endoscopist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating diseases of digestive organs including the digestive tract (oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine), as well as related organs such as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Diagnostic procedures used by Endoscopists include upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

What is a Colorectal Surgeon?

A Colorectal Surgeon is an expert in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of colon and rectal problems. They have completed advanced training in the treatment of colon and rectal problems in addition to full training in general surgery.

Colon and rectal surgeons treat benign and malignant conditions, perform routine screening examinations and surgically treat problems when necessary.