A person in a gray sweater and another person with a blue shirt sitting at a wooden table having a discussion, with books and papers in front of them.

Information for Patients

Being referred to a surgeon can feel overwhelming, particularly when you are dealing with a new diagnosis or facing the possibility of an operation. Dr Roneil Parikh and his team aim to make every stage of your care as clear and straightforward as possible. You will be given the opportunity to discuss your diagnosis, review the available treatment options and ask questions before making any decisions. Treatment recommendations are personalised to your condition, overall health and individual circumstances.

Making an Appointment

Appointments can be arranged by contacting our rooms by telephone or email. In most circumstances, you will require a current referral from your general practitioner or another medical specialist.

A GP referral is generally valid for 12 months, while a specialist referral is generally valid for three months. A valid referral is required to claim the applicable Medicare rebate.

Urgent referrals are reviewed and prioritised according to clinical need. If your doctor believes that you require an urgent assessment, please ask them to indicate this clearly on the referral.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Please bring:

Your current referral
Your Medicare card
Your private health insurance details, if applicable
Relevant imaging and reports, including mammograms, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans or nuclear medicine scans
Pathology and biopsy results
A current list of medications, including vitamins and supplements
Details of allergies and previous medical or surgical conditions
Any questions you would like to discuss

You are welcome to bring a family member, friend or support person to your appointment.

Your Initial Consultation

During your consultation, Dr Parikh will review your medical history, symptoms, examination findings and available investigations. He will explain the diagnosis and discuss whether further tests or treatment may be required.

If surgery is recommended, you will receive information about:

The proposed procedure
Expected benefits and possible alternatives
Relevant risks and potential complications
Anaesthesia and hospital admission
Expected recovery and time away from work
Postoperative appointments and ongoing care
Anticipated surgical and hospital costs

There will be time to ask questions so that you can make a well-informed decision about your care.

Multidisciplinary Care

Some breast and endocrine conditions benefit from review by a multidisciplinary team. This may involve collaboration with radiologists, pathologists, endocrinologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists.

This collaborative approach helps ensure that investigations and treatment recommendations are carefully considered and tailored to each patient.

Preparing for Surgery

You will receive specific instructions about preparing for your procedure. Depending on the operation, these may include:

When to stop eating and drinking
Whether any medications need to be withheld or adjusted
Admission time and hospital location
Expected length of stay
Transport and support arrangements after discharge
Wound care and activity restrictions
Follow-up appointments

Please inform the practice if you take blood-thinning medication, diabetes medication or weight-loss medication, as special instructions may be required. Do not stop prescribed medication unless advised by your treating team.

Fees and Informed Financial Consent

Consultation and surgical fees vary according to the complexity of your condition and the treatment required. Where possible, you will receive written information about Dr Parikh’s fees before surgery.

Other healthcare providers—including the hospital, anaesthetist, assistant surgeon, radiology service and pathology provider—may charge separately. We recommend contacting your private health insurer to confirm your level of cover and any applicable excess or out-of-pocket costs.

Please contact our rooms if you have questions about an estimate or require further information about fees.

After Your Operation

Before leaving hospital, you will receive instructions regarding wound care, medications, activity, driving, returning to work and follow-up.

Recovery varies depending on the procedure and the individual patient. It is important to follow your postoperative instructions and attend scheduled appointments so that your recovery and results can be reviewed.

Please contact the rooms if you have concerns following surgery. For urgent problems outside consulting hours, contact the hospital where your procedure was performed, your general practitioner or the nearest emergency department.

Emergencies

This website and the practice email are not monitored as emergency services.

If you experience severe pain, difficulty breathing, significant bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, collapse or another medical emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or attend your nearest emergency department immediately.