Referral - a valid referral from your GP or specialist.

Results - any relevant pathology, urine tests, imaging or other scans you’ve already had done.

Registration form - your completed registration form, if you’re a new patient.

Medications – a list of all your current medications, vitamins and supplements.

Cards - Medicare, health fund, pension and Veterans’ Affairs cards.

Face mask - we’re currently asking all patients to wear masks at their appointments.

Without a current referral, Medicare won’t pay you a rebate for your consultation costs. You’ll need a current referral from either your GP or specialist. Referrals from your GP are valid for 12 months and from a specialist for 3 months. If you’re able to arrange an “indefinite” referral from your doctor, this will cover all your appointments, and you won’t need to arrange a new referral every 12 months (the referral will need to specifically use the word “indefinite” for it to be deemed valid by Medicare).

Yes, you can bring one support person with you to your appointment.

We have a car park around the back of Lake Macquarie Specialist Medical Centre, accessed via Hughes Street. This is where you’ll find dedicated disabled parking spots. There’s another larger car park directly across the road from this, and there’s also some street parking available. We advise arriving in plenty of time to find parking. We’re located on the ground floor of the specialist centre, accessed through the front doors on Sydney Street.

As each patient’s requirements are different, we can’t guarantee the length of appointments. Breast patients who require testing should allow up to two hours. Due to the nature of our services, there are sometimes unavoidable delays, which means you may not be able to see your specialist at your scheduled time. Please advise our reception team on arrival if you need to leave by a certain time and we’ll do our best to accommodate this.

Yes, but please try to give us 48 hours’ notice so that we can arrange for another patient to be seen at this time. We’ll work with you to reschedule your appointment but can’t guarantee how soon this will be based on your specialist’s availability.

Yes, but please try to give us 48 hours’ notice so that we can arrange for another patient to be seen at this time. We’ll advise your specialist of this cancellation, and return your referral to your GP in the case of new patients.

We’e a private practice so we don't bulk-bill our consultations, with the exception of DVA card holders. Full payment is required after your consultation. We can arrange payment of your Medicare rebate directly into your account within a few seconds after payment is made. If you hold a current Pension or Health Care Card, you’ll be bulk-billed for your imaging services.

Yes, full payment is required on the day and we accept all major credit cards except AMEX.

Our service model is to provide all diagnostic testing to our patients in one day, with same day results. The costs associated with this are comparable to those you’d receive if you needed to undertake testing at multiple sites over several days or weeks.

Yes, you don’t need private health cover to see one of our specialists. If you need surgery and elect to self-fund, we can supply you with a quote beforehand. Alternatively, we can book you into one of the public hospitals where our specialists operate.

No, there is a Medicare reimbursement for your appointment, which means you’ll receive funds back into your account if your details are registered with Medicare. If you need surgery, your private health will help to cover some of those costs.

This will depend on the nature of your visit and whether a physical examination is needed. Call us on 02 4942 2600 and we can check with your doctor for you.

We welcome positive and constructive feedback in continue to improve our services. You can speak to our Practice Manager while attending the practice, call us on 02 4942 2600 or send us an email at admin@thebec.com.au or admin@hunterkidneyclinic.com.au.