Patient Information
Introduction
The following information is for patients of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit. Please read carefully before coming to your appointment.
Please ring us a week before the appointment to confirm if you are coming or wish to cancel. A cancellation fee applies if notice is given in less than 24 hours.
For directions on how to get to the Allergy Centre please click here.
If you have any queries, please contact us.
What To Expect:
You will see the doctor first, and depending on the problem you may then have a skin test, breathing test or blood test.
If you or your child's diet is affected by food allergies or if diet may be implicated, you will need to see the dietitian.
For dietary testing you'll be given written instructions to take home, as well as the contact details of your dietitian.
If you're from outside Sydney, generally everything that needs to be done on the first visit will be organised on the day you come. If you live over 200km away, an isolated patient's travel allowance form from your GP or Area Health Service office should be signed by your referring doctor and brought to the clinic.
Your referring doctor will be sent a report after your visit.
Please avoid bringing food containing nuts, peanut butter, Nutella, eggs, cheese and milk that may spill as traces of these may affect highly sensitive allergy patients.You should expect to be there for at least 2-3 hours, so make arrangements beforehand with work, school, child-care, etc.
Bring something to read or to occupy your child in case you need to wait. Please do not make up baby bottles in the waiting area. These can be done in our tea room.
What To Bring:
- A referral letter from your family doctor or referring specialist for us to be able to process your Medicare claim, otherwise full payment for consultation and tests on the day.
- For children's appointments, please bring their "blue book".
- Copies of any relevant medical reports or test results.
- Any medications you are using or a list of them with the doses.
- And if relevant a diary booklet with your record of diet and symptoms.
If you have asthma:
- Do not take any medication (e.g. Ventolin, Seretide, Symbicort) on the morning of your appointment, unless you're unable to do without it.
- Bring your peak flow charts and any other relevant information (e.g. lung function test, X-rays, etc).
If you're on antihistamines:
- Stop them at least 3 days before your appointment. Nose sprays, antibiotics, stimulant medications for ADHD and other medications can be continued.
What It Will Cost:
Please be informed that from 1 November 2007, the Allergy Consulting Service will be charging the following fees for services. We will process your Medicare claim on the day, provided you have a doctor’s referral and a valid Medicare card, and the co-payment will be payable on the day of the appointment.
The schedule of fees will be as follows:
|
Description |
Fee |
Co-Payment Payable with Medicare Claim |
|
Initial Consultation |
$ 165.90 |
$ 50.00 |
|
Subsequent Consultation, including review diet assessment |
$ 83.00 |
$ 25.00 |
|
Subsequent Consultation with new referrals |
$ 165.90 |
$ 50.00 |
|
Desensitisation Appointments, after initial consultation |
$ 61.00 |
Nil |
|
Skin Prick Testing |
$ 45.20 |
Nil |
|
Histamine Inhalation Challenge |
$ 106.45 |
Nil |
|
Spirometry |
$ 27.40 |
Nil |
|
Patch Testing |
$ 47.95 |
Nil |
|
Nasendoscopy |
$ 94.35 |
Nil |
The Diet Programme Fee will be $ 85.00, payable on
the day of initial dietary assessment.
The following patients will be exempt from the co-payment, but not the diet programme fee:
- Pensioner / Health Care / Concession card holders - Card must be valid/current and must be shown on the day
- Adult students with valid/current ID's (Australian residents only) - ID must be shown on the day
Family members who are booked for consultation on the same day will be regarded as one unit and will only be charged one co-payment.
Non-Australian residents or patients with no valid/current Medicare cards will be charged a separate schedule of fees. Please let us know if you are in this category so that we can provide you with the current fees for this. All fees are payable on the day of the consultation.
Please let us know if you wish to keep or cancel your appointment as soon as possible by calling us on 02 9515 3300 or by fax 02 9519 8420 or by email immu.allergy@email.cs.nsw.gov.au, or if you have any queries.
These are also available from the clinic:- "Friendly Food" - $30
- "Dealing with Food Allergy" DVD and booklet - $15
- Peak flow meters - $35
- Space chamber and mask - $30
Please bring your Medicare card, doctor's referral letter and payment for service fees. For children's appointments, please bring their blue book.
Bookings
You can make a booking to come and see one of the doctors at The Allergy Unit by telephoning us.