Your First Visit

Our doctor consults at a number of locations.  To book an initial consultation please either 

• Phone our rooms at telephone, or 
• Book Here  

Urgent Appointments

Advise the staff if the matter is urgent and we will endeavour to arrange an expedited appointment.

Plan With Notes

It’s easy to forget all the questions you wish to discuss once in front of the doctor. We recommend you prepare a list of questions you want to discuss.

Anyone can make an appointment to see Dr O'Conghaile.

Valid Referral

With a valid specialist referral, you will receive a Medicare rebate The referral must be current and come from general practitioner or another specialist.

No Valid Referral

Without a valid referral, you will not obtain your Medicare rebate and be required to pay the full consulting fee. 

You can make an appointment and then arrange for your general practitioner to fax through a referral prior to your appointment date.

Please plan your appointment appropriately or reschedule if necessary.

Prepare to arrive 15 minutes before your allocated appointment time as you will be asked to complete some paperwork.

Bring all relevant information as listed below:

Clinical

• List of Current Medications,
• List of any allergies to pharmaceuticals or other,
• Prior X Rays, MRI or CT scans
• Copies of Pathology Reports
• Your Medical and Family History
• Is the problem work related?

Identity

• Referral Letter (GP, Doctor or Physio)
• Drivers license or valid ID
• Medicare, DVA or Pension Card
• Private Hospital Insurance Details
• Employer’s Letter (if Work cover) and a current claim and approval from their case manager

Other

• Current Diet and Exercise
• Relevant Journal or Travel Plans

Prepare a list of questions you want to ask your doctor about your problem or concerns. It’s easy to forget what you wanted to discuss once you are at the appointment.

You should expect to be greeted at reception upon arrival and then seen by the doctor.

Medical History 

During your first visit you and the doctor will discuss:

• General health and Medications,
• Previous problems,
• Family history, 
• Current symptoms and related health, 
• Previous diagnostic imaging, and
• Risk factors, lifestyle and family history

Honesty is important as it provides all the information needed to assess and properly treat you.

Physical Examination

It is important to be as relaxed as possible during any examination. Try taking deep slow breaths, relax and think of something pleasant can help if the doctor needs to perform a clinical examination here..

Diagnostic Imaging

You may require more diagnostic testing to confirm the doctors diagnosis.

Ask Questions?

We want you to feel free to discuss openly any questions or voice any concerns you may have without reluctance or hesitation, as anything dealing with your health is of extreme importance.

It is important that you clearly understand your options.

Your time is valuable. Dr O'Conghaile endeavours to run on schedule and your punctual attendance will assist this.

Feel free to ring us 30 minutes prior to your appointment to confirm if your we are running on time.

Late Arrivals

We do understand that circumstances may arise unexpectedly, however, late arrivals can compromise the service we are able to provide to you, and can also inconvenience other patients. 

We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but in some instances, appointments may need to be rescheduled.

Cancellation Policy

We do ask that you contact us and give at least 24 hours notice should you need to reschedule or cancel your booking.

Due to the difficulty of filling last-minute cancellations, and if we are unable to book an alternative patient, it will be necessary to charge a $50 fee for missed appointments or last-minute cancellations.

Regular cancellations or cancellations with less than 24-hour notice may incur a cancellation fee.

We consider this a last resort, as our motivating concern is the quality of service we are able to provide you and our other patients.

No Show Policy

For unattended appointments without notice, we may charge a $50 fee.

We may require a credit card on file to reserve your appointment. If you don’t have your credit card on file, you may only be allowed to come in on a walk-in basis if available.

Diagnosis and Recommendations

After reviewing any diagnostic results, your doctor will recommend appropriate treatment.

Any referring health professionals are kept informed of all diagnoses and the treatment plan. A written report is sent to your referring doctor within a week of your visit or earlier if required urgently. 

Treatment

Where a Treatment Option is recommended you may need to understand and consider the following:

• Further medical evaluations to determine suitability for the procedure,
• Further diagnostic evaluations including pathology and imaging,
• Potential risks and complications
• Planning and recovery time
• Counselling to ensure that the informed consent obtained is fully understood.

Be Aware of

• Any infections prior to surgery, as they may delay a procedure until the infection is cleared,
• Any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems to reduce complications,
• Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or other medications that may need to be paused,
• Stop smoking to reduce your surgery risks and improve recovery
• Consider losing weight (if overweight) 

If you have any specific concerns or fears regarding your condition or treatment we recommend contacting the practice for clarification.