First Visit
New patients can make their first visit easier by completing new patient forms prior to their appointment date. If you have not completed the forms, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to allow time to fill out the form.
To help us carefully and thoroughly plan your treatment, please bring the following with you on your first visit:
- Your referral letter (if possible)
- Any other relevant information such as prior operation records
- All relevant x-rays, scans or other imaging
- All other recent relevant test results
- Workers compensation details if you sustained a work-related injury including the insurer, injury claim number and contact details.
Please wear loose-fitting shorts or trousers to your first visit, as this will allow your lower limbs to be properly examined.
Fees & Billing
Consultations
Your first visit attracts a fee of $260, which is reimbursed in part from your private health fund not Medicare. Payment is to be made at the time of your consultation. Any subsequent consultations will be charged at $140 per consultation.
On booking your first appointment, we will request a $100 prepayment from you to confirm the appointment. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give our practice 2 day's notice in order to get your deposit refunded. If you fail to attend your appointment or do not provide us with enough notice when cancelling it, you may lose your deposit.
Surgical procedures
If you require a surgical procedure, a detailed outline of the surgeon’s fees will be provided including the item codes. General advice on anaesthetist, hospital fees and surgical assistant fees can be given if required.
Costs
Cost of surgery is often dependent on the length and complexity of the case and number of feet/toes involved. Approximate costs for the common procedures are:
- Hallux rigidus: from $3,500 per foot
- Hallux valgus (Bunion): from $3,000 per foot
- Neuroma excision: from $2,500
- Hammer toe/toe shortening: from $1,500 per toe
- Ingrown toenail surgery: from $1,100 per toenail edge
- Flat foot correction (HyProCure implantation): from $2,000 per foot
- Wart/benign lesion excision: from $1,100
Multiple procedures are billed at 75% of first similar procedure.
Hospital fees, assistant fees, and anaesthetist fees usually come to approximately $2,500-$4,000.
Rebates
- A rebate is usually available on the hospital fees, either partial or in full, depending on your particular health fund and level of hospital cover.
- There are no Medicare or DVA rebates available for podiatric surgery at present.
- Private health insurance ancillary rebates vary substantially between funds. All patients who are progressing to surgery are given a written quote containing all item numbers, which should allow them to assess their cover prior to surgery.