Standard referrals from your General Practitioner are valid for 12 months from the time of your appointment, after the referral was written.

Specialist referrals are only valid for 3 months.

It is the responsibility of the patient to ensure that the referral is active. Please ask our reception staff if you require a new referral when you make a booking. If you are unsure about the status of your referral, please contact us prior to your appointment.

Our practice does accept indefinite referrals from your General Practitioner. To be valid for ongoing Medicare rebates, the word “indefinite” must be written on the referral.

Ongoing blood test forms with a “Rule 3 exemption” are valid for up to six repeat tests, over a period of 12 months from the date of issue.

Most providers keep the form at the collection centre, and you can return at the recommended interval without a new form.

If you have misplaced your pathology form, and it is not being held on file at the pathology collection centre, please contact us to arrange a replacement form.

Your rheumatologist will provide sufficient repeats of all prescribed medications to last until your next scheduled appointment. If you cannot locate your prescription repeats, please contact your pharmacy in the first instance, to ensure that they are not being held on file. If you receive electronic scripts, we recommended searching for ‘escripts’ in your mobile phone messages.

If you have lost your prescription, please contact us to arrange a replacement.

A script replacement fee will be to be added to the cost of your next appointment.

Most standard anti-rheumatic medications, including Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Sulfasalazine and Hydroxychloroquine, will start to work over 2-3 months from the commencement date. Your rheumatologist will provide additional treatment for interim relief of symptoms, if required.

If you are concerned that you are developing an adverse reaction to medication, other than minor/early side-effects discussed at your appointment, please contact us.

Due to the number of bookings our practice makes in advance, it is not possible to book or change your appointment online. If you need to make or change an appointment booking, please contact us.

Your rheumatologist will indicate the recommended interval between blood tests, where they are necessary to monitor disease activity or the safety of your antirheumatic treatment.

If you are on restricted/biological therapy, an updated blood test is typically required just before your appointment (usually 1-2 weeks prior). This is necessary for your rheumatologist to apply to Medicare for an ongoing authority prescription.