Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Most medical specialists request a referral from either a GP or another specialist. This is partly to try to ensure that the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition. Medicare will also reimburse part of the cost if a referral has been provided. Patients without a referral can be seen but Medicare will not provide any rebate to the patient.

Can I claim a Medicare rebate?

Yes, if you have a valid referral (GP referrals are usually valid for 12 months) and a valid Medicare card. This applies only to medical consultations and treatments (vs. cosmetic ones).

Can I claim on my private health insurance?

Unfortunately, no. For Australian residents, federal legislation does not allow private insurance providers to cover medical services performed outside a hospital setting.

How long is the wait list?

Like most Dermatologists, our waiting period for a new patient is currently quite long. If your condition is severe, please kindly discuss with your general practitioner.

How soon can I get an appointment?

We are currently able to offer our patients an appointment within 8 – 12 weeks. If you feel that your condition requires urgent attention, please speak to our friendly receptionist.

What are the fees?

Western Dermatology is a private billing practice. Our receptionists will inform you of the current fees when booking new appointments. We offer discounted fees for concession card and pension card holders.

Will my appointment be on time? How much time should I allow for?

We try our best to minimize your waiting time for the appointment. Medical & surgical appointments are different to cosmetic appointments, as more complex problems and urgent procedures often put us behind schedule. We advise patients to allow for an hour of time in case there is a delay or you require an extra treatment/procedure when attending your appointment.

Alternatively, you are welcome to ring our friendly receptionist in advance to check if our specialist dermatologists are running on time.