FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

 What is a urologist?

A urologist is a surgeon who deals with the male and female urinary system and male sexual organs.  

Beyond being experts in managing cancer of the kidneys, ureter, bladder, prostate and male sexual organs they deal with the medical and surgical management of kidney stones, voiding disorders, mens’ health, womens’ (urinary) health and almost any other condition related to these areas.  

A urologist in Australia is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and has completed a further 6-8 years of specialty training after medical school, internship and residency.  

Urologists are quite friendly and approachable and have an affinity for watersports and cycling. 

Where can I find you?

The Hollywood Nedlands clinic is located at the Hollywood Hospital Medical Centre at 85 Monash Avenue in Nedlands.  We are at Suite 15 which is on the ground floor next to the cafe.  The best entrance off Monash Avenue is signposted ‘Carpark 5’.  In addition to the pay parking spaces outside the medical centre building, there is a large multi storey carpark behind the building.  More info about parking at Hollywood here.

Our Wexford Murdoch clinic is located at the Wexford Medical Centre which is part of the St John of God Hospital Murdoch campus at 3 Barry Marshall Parade in Murdoch.  The Wexford building is directly across the road from Fiona Stanley Hospital.  We are located on the first floor.  There is pay parking directly outside the Wexford building which can be accessed from Barry Marshall Parade, or if you take the road leading to the main hospital reception (or emergency department) from Barry Marshall Parade there is pay parking there too.

Please give us a call on 1800 487 656  if you need help finding us.

What do I need to bring to my first appointment?

Please bring

  • A current referral from your GP addressed to either ‘Perth Urology Clinic’ or one of our specialists by name.  
  • Your Medicare card, Health care card, DVA card or any other insurance information that may be relevant. 
  • Copies of any investigations (blood tests, x-rays etc).
  • A completed new patient questionnaire.  Alternatively, arrive a bit early to complete the questionnaire before your appointment.
  • Any additional questionnaires that you would like to fill out and bring to the attention of your surgeon.

How much will my first appointment cost?

Our standard fees are

  • Initial consultation $250
  • Followup consultation $90

A long initial consultation is available on request. 

Seeing different doctors within Perth Urology Clinic does not attract a new consultation fee and is treated as a followup.  This allows us to match you with the best surgeon for you without needing to worry about referring to another practice or incurring repeated new consultation fees.

Should I come to my appointment if I’m sick?

If your illness is a urological problem then of course!

On a serious note though, our clinics are usually quite busy and some of our patients may be undergoing chemotherapy and have poor immunity.  If you think you may have a viral illness (such as a cold or the flu) please let us know and we can work with you to either rebook your appointment in the near future or arrange a phone consult depending on your preference.  

If your condition is serious and your appointment cannot be delayed or dealt with over the phone, just let our practice know and we will arrange for you to have a space to sit away from our other patients while you wait for your appointment (and a cup of hot tea!).

Why are you sometimes running late?

We have all been a patient at some point and understand that when your doctor is running late for an appointment it can be very frustrating.  

At Perth Urology Clinic we try to avoid running late as much as possible but (as with all medical and surgical specialties) things may occasionally be beyond our control.  It can be very difficult to stick to a predictable ‘9-5’ routine.

Before we start our days we need to visit patients, often in multiple hospitals on our morning rounds.  In the operating theatre there may be circumstances or emergencies that mean we need to spend more time than usual on a case and this can mean that we are late to clinic.  Similarly,  when consulting some cases may be more complicated than expected and take more than the allotted 15-20 minute consult time, further delaying subsequent appointments.

There are some things which you can do to help us stay on track:

  • Call our offices before leaving home to check if your surgeon is running on time
  • If you predict that you may need more time with your surgeon, please ask for a long (30 minute) appointment
  • Be understanding – a patients medical problems are unique and challenging.  Patients (including you!) need as much time as it takes to properly deal with their concerns.  This courtesy may delay your appointment but will be extended to you in turn!

In any case – if your appointment is delayed, please accept our apologies and visit one of the cafes near our offices for a coffee on the house!  Our staff can call you when it is time for your appointment.

 Will there be any out of pocket costs for procedures?

Services provided by Perth Urology Clinic may incur out of pocket costs.  The extent of these costs depends on your health fund, level of cover and the complexity of the services provided.  The reasons for this are summarised well by the Australian Medical Association (AMA);

“Medical practitioners are able to set their own fees for their services.  

The fee charge by a medical practitioner covers not only their own personal income, but also his or her practice costs – the wages for practice staff (nurses, receptionists, administrators), and other costs for running a medical practice such as equipment, medical supplies, cleaning, rent, electricity, computers, continuing professional development, accreditation and insurance.

Since Medicare began 40 years ago, Government indexation of Medicare Schedule Fees have not kept pace with real increases in practice costs.  This is why today patients will find there is a difference between the amounts of the fee their doctor charges and their Medicare rebate. These are commonly called ‘out-of-pocket costs’, because the patient must make up the difference out of their own pocket.

The AMA encourages medical practitioners to charge a fair and reasonable fee having regard to their practice costs and the particular individual circumstances of their patients.

Medicare rebates are not payable for any medical service that is not listed on the MBS, or when the service is not considered to be ‘clinically relevant’, that is the service is not generally accepted in the medical profession as being necessary for the appropriate treatment of the patient.  In both cases, the payment arrangements are a private matter between the treating medical practitioner and the patient.”

Click here for the AMAs complete guide for patients on how the health system funds medical care   

At Perth Urology Clinic our practice costs cover (in addition to what the AMA lists above)

  • 24 hour/7 day a week availability for your GP
  • Practice nurses who are available throughout your treatment for questions and follow-up
  • On site sexual health experts, renal physicians and other medical and allied health staff 

All of which allow us to provide holistic and gold standard care.

We always recommend that you talk to your health fund before any medical procedure to check your level of cover and to clarify exactly what is and isn’t covered by your plan.

Most importantly – don’t worry – before we go ahead with any plan we will present you with all the available options and quote for any predicted out of pocket costs.  We will never refuse urgent treatment based on your ability to pay and will work with you to find a solution within the private or public system that makes sure you are well looked after.

Do you see public or uninsured patients?

We are happy to see any patient who has a referral from their GP.  Our specialists have public appointments at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Osborne Park HospitalKing Edward Memorial Hospital, Geraldton Regional Hospital, Peel Health Campus and Albany Hospital.  After an initial review in our rooms we can organise appropriate followup as needed.  

It should be noted that a review in our private rooms

  • Will not bypass the public hospital waiting list.
  • Will not guarantee a choice of surgeon within the public hospital.

Certain investigations and treatments can be self funded without private insurance and we can discuss this option with you at your appointment.

Our initial consult fee of $250 applies to both insured and uninsured patients.

Can I fill in forms electronically?

Yes! Download Adobe Acrobat Reader and fill in the blanks electronically.  You can then save the file and print it or email it.  How 21st century is that! 

How can I provide feedback to Perth Urology Clinic?

We want to hear from you! Please email us at either

hollywood@perthurologyclinic.com.au  or  wexford@perthurologyclinic.com.au

to let us know in what ways we are doing well, and in what ways we could be doing better.

What is the ‘French’ scale of measurement and how does it relate to my catheter?

The ‘French’ gauge (or Charier gauge) was devised by Joseph-Frédéric-Benoît Charrière, a surgical instrument maker who lived in 19th century Paris.  The measurement refers to the external diameter of a tube.  

1 French = The diameter of a tube (in mm) x 3

For example, a catheter measuring 1fr would have an external diameter of 1/3mm and a catheter measuring 3fr would have an external diameter of 1mm.

D(mm) = fr / 3

or

fr  = D(mm) x 3 

(alright, this question wasn’t frequently asked, but we wanted to see if anyone would read to the bottom of the page!)