Financial Information

There can be uncertainty on the patients' part regarding fees and any projected surgery. This depends to some extent upon your classification as a patient;

Patients Treated Under Medicare

Patients treated in the public health system under Medicare will not be subjected to any costs regarding surgery. They will be charged for both their pre operative consultation and any post operative consultations in my private rooms. It should be noted however that the waiting list for surgery in the public hospital tends to be 12 months for all procedures, this is as per the NSW Health Department recommendations. The waiting list for surgery is managed by the public hospital and the patients are treated in chronological order. I have very limited capacity to affect this. In addition, the lack of access to public operating sessions provided by the Health Department means that it is necessary for me to limit the number of public new patients that I see, as it is inappropriate for me to see new public patients if I cannot offer them surgery within the Health Department Guideline time. This may mean that public patients may wait a number of months to gain access for review. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has asked the NSW Health Department to reflect this hidden wait by describing the “time to surgery” rather than the time on the public hospital operating list but they have so far declined to do so. You should also be aware that Maitland Public Hospital is a teaching hospital and, as such, Registrars will be closely involved in your care including possibly performing your surgery under my supervision.

Private Patients

Persons holding private health insurance have the option of being treated in the private hospital. This means that their surgery can be planned at a time convenient for them and the waiting time for surgery would not generally exceed 4 weeks. I perform all surgery. Regarding any other fees payable for projected surgery I have a variable schedule of fees depending upon the particular condition and circumstances. This may include using GapCover arrangements in that the patient would not have an out of pocket fee. This will not always be the case and there may be some additional fees payable by the patient for treatment by myself. This can be a confusing area for patients and it will all be fully explained to you well before the time of surgery with a printed schedule of fees for your particular procedure, as well as an informed financial consent guide for you to consider and confirm by signature pre operatively. Any out of pocket fees are to be paid before the time of surgery.

Self Funded Patients

Patients who do not hold health insurance but are unwilling to wait the standard time for surgery in the public hospital may elect to pay for their own surgery through the private hospital. A printed schedule of fees can be produced for these patients at their request during their consultation.

Additional Costs

Costs around the time of surgery include the surgeon’s fee, the assistant surgeon’s fee (generally 20% of the surgeon’s fee) and the anaesthetist fee. Details will be given to you to assess these fees individually if it is necessary in your circumstance. Other potential fees can occur due to an inpatient or day case stay in hospital (including fees for the use of the operating theatre), radiology (ie x-ray), physiotherapy or prostheses (medical devices implanted in your surgery). There may also be an excess on your health insurance policy. The details of your cover should be obtained from your health insurer prior to surgery.

If you require more information, please do not hesitate to call us on 02 4934 6600 during office hours.