Welcome to the Melbourne Hernia Clinic

There is a fee for the initial consultation, which is partially covered by Medicare – approximately 50%.

The fee for the surgery or operation depends on whether you are insured or non-insured.

INSURED PATIENTS:

HOSPITAL:
These people have hospital cover and may be liable to pay a hospital excess depending on the type of insurance they have taken out. Most of our operations are as a day case, so the excess can be determined by contacting your health fund and asking for a day case excess fee. The types of item numbers we use are 30614, 30615, 30403 or 30405 depending on the type of hernia.

All the hospitals we operate in are approved hospitals and will obtain maximum cover including the cost of the mesh.

SURGICAL:
There is an out of pocket surgical fee, anaesthetic fee and an assistant’s fee. You will receive a quote for this if you phone 03 9525 9077 or email us. You need to identify the particular type of hernia you have. We may take into account particular circumstances such as pensioners. It is simplest to discuss all of these details at the first visit.

The health insurance you have taken out is really a hospital insurance and is not really a medical insurance. It is not in keeping with the real cost of providing a private surgical practice. We believe the fees we are charging are reasonable.

NON-INSURED PATIENTS:
There is a fee for the initial consultation, which is partially covered by Medicare – approximately 50%.

When you call 03 9525 9077, you will be given an estimated cost depending on the type of hernia you have.

This covers the hospital for a day case, including the provision of the mesh. It also covers the Surgeons’ fee, Anaesthetists’ fee, and Assistants’ fee.

An allowance is made for Medicare, as the medical fees are partially refundable from Medicare to the tune of several hundred dollars.

The total fees are paid prior to surgery – usually with a credit card. You can then claim the Medicare rebate for the medical fees provided. We do take into consideration pensioners and disadvantaged. This can be raised at the time of consultation.

This can be made by telephone, fax or email, as you prefer.

The details are HERE on our Website.

Our main office can be contacted by calling 03 9525 9077

You will be given a Registration Form to fill out with all your personal details.

You will also be given an Information Sheet to read regarding hernias in general, the possible risks of surgery and the post-operative care following surgery.

You will also be asked to fill out details regarding your medical history.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CONSULTATION:

The Surgeon will introduce himself and will ask you to tell him about your hernia. He will then ask you a series of questions such as: how long you have had pain or swelling. He will want to know whether you have had any x-rays or ultrasounds,
blood tests and their results.

As well as identifying your hernia problem, the Surgeon will want to assess your general condition and fitness for surgery should it be required.

EXAMINATION:

You will be asked to stand and be examined whilst standing and also on the couch whilst lying down. Both sides of the groin are examined. Your abdomen will be examined, as will all possible sites in the abdominal wall for a hernia. In men, the scrotal area is checked as hernias can descend into the scrotum. The testes are also checked.

You will be asked to cough and strain as this demonstrates the hernia better in most cases.

ASSESSMENT FOR SURGERY:
It is a Surgeon’s duty to assess all of this and balance the severity of the problem against any possible risks associated with the surgery. Hernia repair is usually a low risk operation but there are factors that require careful consideration. These will be discussed before any decision to operate is made.

Additional investigations are usually not required for the diagnosis of a hernia.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER POSSIBILITIES:

We see an increasing number of patients who come along with the diagnosis of a hernia who may in fact have other problems causing the pain or swelling. That is, not all lumps in the groin are hernias.

We do not always rely on the ultrasound to determine whether you have a hernia or not.

Other conditions which can cause pain in the groin region are, sporting related injuries such as adductor tendonitis, groin strain or osteitis pubis.
In addition there are other causes of pain in the groin such as osteoarthritis of the hip or referred pain from the back.

Other causes of a lump in the groin can be lymph nodes or even an abscess.
In a similar manner not all swellings in the scrotum are due to a hernia. Other common conditions are a hydrocele, epididymal cyst or varicocele.

These conditions can usually be diagnosed by taking your history and examining you with occasional other investigations.
We also always like to check your abdomen and bowels. Many patients with a groin hernia may get bowel symptoms such as abdominal pain or bloating due to the bowel being caught in the hernia. Nonetheless we cannot always assume this and need to assess further at times.