Information for neurology patients
Need more information about visiting Macquarie University Health before your neurology appointment? Find answers to our most commonly asked questions here.
Why choose us?
Our neurology specialists care for individuals with a wide range of neurological conditions, including complex and challenging cases. What makes our team unique is:
- the close collaboration between clinical, imaging, teaching and research teams
- access to cutting edge clinical trials.
Who can refer me to your clinic?
Your medical practitioner or a specialist can refer you to our clinic. Referrals from a specialist are valid for three months, while referrals from a general practitioner (GP) are valid for 12 months.
Due to triage requirements, a full referral is required with full details before an appointment can be made. Our team will then call you to make an appointment with the most appropriate specialist in the practice
How can I contact you?
Contact us on +61 (2) 9812 3720 to make an appointment at one of our clinics, or to discuss your health concerns. See additional contact information here.
Please note: There is no emergency department at Macquarie University Hospital. Direct admission to MUH for acute patients is by arrangement with the Macquarie University Health on-call neurologist. Contact +61 (2) 9812 3720 or Macquarie University Hospital switchboard on +61 (2) 9812 3000.
What happens after I book my appointment?
Our administration team will confirm your appointment ahead of time, including the associated costs and location for your consultation. You will receive a call or text message as a reminder a few days before the appointment.
How long should I allow for my first appointment?
We recommend you allow an hour. This will give you time to discuss your medical history, condition and any tests you may need.
Can I drive after my appointment?
Check this with your neurologist before your appointment. In some cases you may need to arrange for a friend, family member or taxi to pick you up.
We suggest you bring the following items to all appointments:
- Referral – a valid referral from your medical practitioner or specialist.
- Cards – Medicare, health fund, pension and Veterans' Affairs cards (our staff will assist with arranging DVA transport where appropriate).
- Medication list – of all your current medications, vitamins and supplements.
- Test results – including CT, X-ray, test results and pathology from the past 6–12 months.
- Imaging – please bring any imaging on a USB or CD for your doctor to review.
- Discharge summaries or procedure reports if necessary.
You will need to complete a patient information form, if you haven't already. Our staff will then register you as a patient at your initial consultation.
Your appointments are intended to be thorough, respectful and collaborative, and will generally involve the following over a series of appointments:
- a comprehensive assessment of medical history and symptoms by your neurologist
- clinical investigations (such as brain imaging, blood tests, or specialised tests of the nerves, brain signalling or memory) to guide diagnosis and treatment planning
- time to discuss your symptoms, concerns and test results
- clear explanations of your diagnosis and tailored treatment options
- connection with specialist services beyond neurology, including clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology, neuroimaging and neurophysiology.
With your consent, family members or carers are welcome to attend appointments and be involved in care discussions.
Questions to ask your clinician
- Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?
- What are the risks?
- Are there simpler, safer options?
- What happens if I don't do anything?
- What are the costs?
Next steps
Before you leave, our reception staff will create an account for your consultation and any testing performed. Upon payment, we can electronically lodge your account claim with Medicare. You can also make any follow-up appointments at reception before you leave.
How much will my appointment cost?
Our fees vary depending on the appointment type. We will advise you of the costs when we confirm your appointment.
Will I get money back from Medicare?
Medicare offers rebates for your appointment fees and diagnostic tests with a valid referral. In most cases, however, there will be a gap between Medicare rebates and our fees.
We can lodge your rebate with Medicare on your behalf when you pay for your appointment. Medicare will then credit your nominated bank account.
Will I get money back from my private health insurance?
Most private policies only cover you when you are admitted to hospital and don’t cover specialist consultations.
For more information, speak to your health fund directly about what’s covered in your policy.
When do I pay for my appointment?
Our neurology clinics are not bulk billing practices, so you will need to pay at the time of your consultation.
Don’t forget to bring your pensioner, health care or DVA cards to ensure we bill you at the correct rate.
What if I am a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) patient?
If you are a DVA patient with a gold card, we can lodge your account directly to DVA with no out-of-pocket expense for you. Remember to bring your gold card to each appointment.
We can also arrange transport to and from the appointment.
We welcome positive and constructive feedback in order to continuously improve our service. You can leave a message in the feedback box in the reception area, complete our survey or email us at feedback@mqhealth.org.au
If you feel your experience with us has been unsatisfactory, please discuss any complaints with us in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact either the Health Care Complaints Commissioner on 1800 043 159 or the NSW Ombudsman on 1800 451 524 to discuss your complaint.