Information Regarding Your Initial Consultation

 

Your Consultation Day

• A referral from your GP or specialist will be required by the staff prior to your consultation. If this has not already been sent by the referring doctor, you will need to bring a hard copy of this with you.
• Generally, you do not need to bring your X-ray and scan films with you, as these can be accessed by the doctors online. You should note down what scans you have had and what radiology company performed the scans, as this information will be needed to access information online.
• You will be greeted by the secretary, and your personal details including medicare and private health fund details will be taken. You will be asked to sign a form giving your gastroenterologist permission to have your medical records (such as pathology results and scan reports) released from other medical providers should they be needed.
• You will be asked to furnish payment for the consultation in advance. EFTPOS payment is preferred, however cash and cheque are also accepted. Please see details regarding fees elsewhere on this website (Insert link).
• Your gastroenterologist will bring you into the consulting room and your consultation will occur. Should you wish, you are able to bring a support person or people in with you during the consultation.
• You will not be having a procedure on the same day as your consultation, so there is no need to fast.
• You will have ample time to ask your gastroenterologist any questions you may have, and will be provided with a plan of management prior to the end of you consultation.

 

Private Hospital Online Booking

• Wollongong Private Hospital
• Shellharbour Private Hospital
• Wollongong Day Surgery

 

Colonoscopy Preparation

• You will be provided with instructions regarding diet, medications and bowel cleansing drinks by the private hospital at which you are having your procedure performed (for Shellharbour Private Hospital and Wollongong Day Surgery), or by your gastroenterologist (for Wollongong Private Hospital only).
• Please read this document (download) for a general explanation of timing of bowel cleansing drinks.

 

Your Procedure Day

• You will go through a brief admission process with nurses at the hospital when you arrive (including measurement of blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels, and in some cases an ECG).
• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown, will lie in a hospital bed, and will be wheeled to the procedure area.
• Your anaesthetist will meet you, explain the details of the anaesthetic planned, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. An intravenous cannula will then be placed into a vein in your arm to be used to administer anaesthetic drugs.
• If you are having a direct access procedure, your gastroenterologist will come and meet you, explain the procedure and risks, and have you sign a consent form.
• After your procedure is completed, you will be wheeled to a recovery area, where you will be monitored by nurses for a period of time, before being moved to a second-stage recovery area.
• You will be given food and drink in the second-stage recovery area. When the recovery process is completed, your support person will be contacted to collect you  and you will be discharged.
• The gastroenterologist will speak with you prior to discharge, and you will be given a copy of your procedure report to take with you.

For additional details regarding waiting times before and after the procedure, please read this document (download).