Please note that at this time, our doctors’ books are closed to new public patients due to the volume of referrals being received and resulting delays to access the public hospitals.
Our doctors are not taking appointments for any second opinions as priority is being given to existing patients of the practice.
This practice services patients residing within the Port Macquarie Local Area Health Network. This area generally comprises the area bound by Stuarts Point to the north, the Camden Haven River to the south and Gingers Creek to the west.
APPOINTMENTS
To make an initial appointment with our gastroenterologists, you will need a referral from your GP or another specialist.
The referral can be addressed to our doctors or to Highfields Gastroenterology. Referrals can be sent by email, post or be hand delivered to our office.
All referrals are triaged by a doctor prior to an appointment being offered. This is to ensure that patients with urgent or serious conditions can receive timely care.
When suitable, a procedure can be arranged without a prior consultation in our rooms. This can avoid unnecessary delays. In such cases the doctors will always speak with you in the hospital on the day, prior to the procedure.
WAITING TIMES AS AT AUGUST 2025
Waiting times depend on factors including:
• the number of referrals being received
• doctors’ access to operating theatre time at the hospitals
• doctors’ on call responsibilities at the public hospital
• doctors’ leave
The waiting times below are only a guide, they are not a guaranteed time frame for an appointment or procedure. Timeframes will be more accurately estimated once a referral is received and triaged.
Fast Tracked Procedures at the Port Macquarie Private Hospital (i.e. no consultation in rooms)
For patients with private health cover or those wishing to self-fund
3 – 6 weeks
Urgent consultations (e.g. new severe symptoms, pathology/test reflecting potential cancer, suspected Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis)
2 – 3 weeks
Semi urgent consultations (e.g. weight loss, bleeding such as spotting)
2 – 8 months
Non urgent consultations (e.g. mild symptoms, long-standing issues)
18 - 24 months
DIRECT ACCESS COLONOSCOPY (DAC)
Public patients with a positive bowel screening test result can be referred by their GP directly to the Port Macquarie DAC Service and avoid waiting for a consultation with a gastroenterologist in rooms.
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