Appointments
Request an appointment, learn how referrals are reviewed, and how to prepare for your consultation.
Requesting an Appointment
Request an Appointment
Complete the online Appointment Request Form, email us or contact reception.
The Appointment Request Form includes:
- Contact details
- Referring doctor
- Brief questions about your symptoms
- Referral & imaging report upload
Clinical Review & Triage
Our clinical team reviews the information provided to:
- Prioritise urgent referrals
- Identify whether additional information is required before an appointment is offered.
- Determine the most appropriate clinician
Providing your referral and imaging early helps us review your request more efficiently.
Appointment Confirmation
Once your appointment has been allocated, our reception team will contact you to confirm a suitable appointment time.
You will then be asked to complete the online Patient Registration Form prior to attending your appointment.
Urgent Appointments
Urgent Appointment Requests
If your condition requires urgent assessment, please submit an Appointment Request together with:
- Referral
- Imaging reports
- Relevant clinical information
Urgent requests are reviewed by our clinical team and prioritised according to clinical need.
Patients and referring health professionals are welcome to contact reception if they believe urgent assessment is required.
Appointment Information
Appointment requests can be submitted:
- Online - Appointment Request Form
- By email
- By phone
Referral requirements vary depending on the type of appointment and how your consultation will be funded.
| Service | Medicare Rebate | Private Consultation | Workers Compensation / CTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery | GP or specialist referral required | Referral recommended | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Spine Physician Clinic | GP or specialist referral required | Referral recommended | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Workplace Spinal Injury Clinic | GP or treating practitioner referral recommended | Referral recommended | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Spine Physiotherapy | Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referral required for Medicare rebate | No referral required | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy | Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referral required for Medicare rebate | No referral required | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Exercise Physiology | EPC or relevant referral required for Medicare rebate | No referral required | Referral required for insurer approval |
| Metabolic Health & Weight Management | No referral required | No referral required | Referral required for insurer approval |
For privately funded consultations, a referral is not always required. However, a referral and relevant clinical information help ensure you are directed to the most appropriate clinician.
If you're unsure which service is most appropriate, simply complete the Appointment Request Form and provide as much information as possible about your symptoms, previous treatment and any relevant investigations.
Our clinical team will review your information and determine which clinician is best suited to assess your condition. If another service within Sydney Spine Institute would be more appropriate, we'll discuss this with you before your appointment is confirmed.
| Service | Typical Waiting Time |
|---|---|
| Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery | Depends on urgency |
| Spine / Occupational Physician Clinic | Usually 2–6 weeks |
| Spine Physiotherapy | Usually 1–2 weeks |
| Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy | Usually 1–2 weeks |
| Exercise Physiology | Usually 1–2 weeks |
| Metabolic Health & Weight Management | Usually 2–4 weeks |
Waiting times vary according to appointment availability and clinical priority.
| Service | Initial | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery | 30 min | 15–20 min |
| Spine / Occupational Physician Clinic | 30–45 min | 20–30 min |
| Physiotherapy | 45–60 min | 30–45 min |
| Exercise Physiology | 45–60 min | 30–45 min |
| Metabolic Health Clinic | 30–60 min | 30 min |
Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
Review of your medical history, symptoms and imaging, neurological examination where appropriate, discussion of diagnosis and treatment options, including whether surgery may be beneficial.
Spine Physician Clinic
Comprehensive assessment of your spinal condition, review of previous investigations and treatments, discussion of diagnosis and development of an individualised non-surgical management plan. Where appropriate, referrals may be arranged for rehabilitation, pain management or surgical opinion.
Workplace Spinal Injury Clinic
Assessment of your workplace injury, review of your medical history and available investigations, discussion of diagnosis, treatment recommendations, capacity for work and return-to-work planning.
Physiotherapy
Assessment of your symptoms, movement and physical function, discussion of treatment goals and development of an individualised rehabilitation plan. Treatment may commence during your first appointment where appropriate.
Exercise Physiology
Assessment of your physical capacity, functional limitations and rehabilitation goals, followed by an individualised exercise program and education to support recovery and long-term health.
Metabolic Health & Weight Management
Assessment of your medical history, weight, metabolic health and lifestyle factors, discussion of treatment goals, and development of an individualised management plan, which may include lifestyle strategies, investigations and medication where appropriate.
Most of the required information should be collected during the appointment booking and registration process.
Checklist:
- Referral
- Imaging
- Relevant reports
- Medication list
- Medicare card
- Pensioner concession card (if applicable)
- Workers Compensation / CTP claim details (if applicable)
Yes, where clinically appropriate.
Good question. For specialist consultations with a neurosurgeon or spine physician, imaging is usually required to allow an accurate assessment of your condition. In many cases, your referring doctor will arrange appropriate imaging before referring you.
If imaging has not yet been performed, it may be more appropriate to discuss this with your referring doctor before requesting a specialist appointment.
If you're unsure whether imaging is required, submit an Appointment Request or contact our team and we'll be happy to advise.
Yes. Telehealth appointments are available where clinically appropriate.
Request your appointment online, by email or by contacting our reception team.
To help us process your request as efficiently as possible, please provide:
- Referral
- Claim number (if available)
- Case manager details (if known)
- Imaging reports
- Written approval for the consultation (if already obtained)
If approval has not yet been obtained, we can still review your referral and advise you of the next steps.
For more information about workplace spinal injuries and insurance-funded consultations, visit our Workplace Spinal Injury Clinic page.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please contact reception as soon as possible by phone or email.
We understand that unexpected circumstances can arise; however, late cancellations or failure to attend may incur a cancellation fee.
Please refer to our Fees & Billing page for our current cancellation policy.
Related Pages
Contact us
Need to Request an Appointment?
Complete an Appointment Request online or contact our team for assistance.