Frequently Asked Questions
- What are your consulting room hours?
Panorama Orthopaedics in Bathurst is open for consulting with Dr Host 9am – 5pm Tuesday and Wednesdays.
Panorama Orthopaedics in Lithgow is open for consulting alternate Fridays 9am – 5pm. (the other Friday is theatre day at Lithgow)
Mudgee – One Wednesday per month in Mudgee 9am -5pm.Hours will vary for consulting dependent on the number of surgical procedures to be performed in Hospital on the same day.
Appointments can be arranged for private (full fee) fracture/injury/trauma management.
- Where are you located?
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre has three locations for consulting – one in Bathurst, one in Lithgow and one in Mudgee.
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Bathurst – 73 Keppel Street, Bathurst (opposite the library)
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Lithgow – Specialist Rooms Lithgow Hospital
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Mudgee – Mudgee Medical Centre, 145 Church Street Mudgee
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Blue Mountains – TBA
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Minchinbury – TBA - How do I get to your rooms?
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Bathurst.
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Lithgow
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Mudgee
- Where can I park at your rooms?
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Bathurst – street parking is available on Keppel, however the majority is time limited at 1 hour. A disabled parking space is available directly in front of the rooms at 73 Keppel Street. 2 hour parking is available on Keppel Street closer to the train station (50-100m walk). Alternatively, ample parking is available behind the library, which is opposite the rooms.
Panorama Joint Replacement Centre Bathurst Lithgow – ample parking is available in the hospital car park in front of the medical centre. - What are your consulting room hours?
We aim to have staff onsite at our Bathurst clinic each working day from 9-4. Staff availability will vary this of course, and we apologise if the rooms are unattended. If you are unable to reach us, please phone and leave a voice message – this message, along with your phone number, will be emailed to our team and they will return your call to assist your query. If it is for a booking, we do have an online booking system accessible through the link on the top right of your screen. Alternatively, you can email us at panoramaorthopaedics@gmail.com and we will respond to your query as quickly as possible.
If you have already had surgery with us, or are planned for surgery, please email us at surgery@panoramaortho.com.au and one of our team will get back to you as soon as we can.
Consulting days and hours are variable, with consulting locations in Bathurst, Lithgow and Mudgee, and soon to be the Blue Mountains and Minchinbury too. Call or email as above for appointments.
Appointments can be arranged for private (full fee) fracture/injury/trauma management.
You will be asked whether you have private health insurance or public cover when you book. Insurance status either way does not alter the fee for consultation – we need to know so we can triage your review appropriately and avoid unnecessary waiting times. Public surgical wait times for some conditions by Dr Host are quite long, and if we cannot accommodate your care in an appropriate timeframe, we will direct you to another surgeon who can. For those with private health insurance or patients wanting to pay for full-fee private surgery, wait times are significantly shorter. We do not want anyone to wait longer than you need to for care, so please let the staff know your situation and we will accommodate you as best we can.
- What should I bring to my appointment?
For your first appointment, ensure that you bring with you a copy of your referral letter, your medicare card, and if applicable, your medical insurance details. These can all be submitted online in advance to save you time on the day if you wish (link to rego).
Please also bring with you anything relevant to the condition you are seeking opinion on – any X-rays or scan results, medications, past treatment information, and any aides or other medical devices you are using. - What should I wear to my appointment?
Dr Host will take a thorough history and perform a focused physical examination in order to identify any orthopaedic problems you may be suffering from. With that in mind, wear loose fitting clothing that can be pulled up to expose the area of interest, or wear shorts and singlet under your clothes and be prepared to remove outer garments for exposure.
- How much will it cost for me to see you in rooms or have surgery?
The cost of consultations depends on whether or not it is your first review or a subsequent review, and the timing of your review after any procedure. For new consultations the cost is approx. $280, and follow-up visits will be approx. $190. You will receive a Medicare rebate if eligible, and this can be processed on the day of consultation. For those with private health cover, regrettably it does not cover consultations, only surgery, allied health visits, and medical aides. There is an out-of-pocket expense for consultations and some surgical procedures, but at Panorama Joint Replacement Centre we have kept our fees below that recommended by the Australian Medical Association to try and make it as affordable as we can. Informed Financial Consent will be gained before any procedure is performed – you will be given the full costs upfront before you decide to proceed, and there will be no hidden costs after the event. For further information, feel free to call the rooms and discuss these matters with our staff, or email at surgery@panoramaortho.com.au .
- Should I be treated as a private or public patient?
The benefit of private medical cover is that Dr Host will personally perform your surgery, and you have control over when and where your surgery will be performed. Dr Host operates at two private hospitals – Bathurst Private and Lithgow Private and looking at offering services in Minchinbury too. In the event of emergency surgery or trauma, you can elect to be treated as a private patient in a public hospital. Dr Host has admitting and operating rights at Bathurst Base Hospital and Lithgow District Hospital for this purpose.
If you do not have private insurance, you can still be treated in the private sector as a full fee paying patient. Quotes for this are done for each patient and location and can be provided on request. Email us at surgery@panoramaortho.com.au and we can provide estimates or formal quotes to help you make the best decision for your circumstances.
If you do not have private medical insurance, you can have your procedure under the public Medicare system. For elective surgery, this can be performed at either Bathurst Base Hospital or Lithgow District Hospital. For trauma or emergency cases, Dr Host operates at Bathurst Base and Lithgow District Hospitals on a rotating roster with the other orthopaedic surgeons in the area. Procedures performed in public hospitals are generally performed by the training registrar (surgeon in training) under the direct supervision and instruction of Dr Host. For elective procedures, there is a waiting list that can vary from weeks to 12 months and takes into account clinical urgency and duration of waiting period. Every endeavour will be made to have your elective procedure performed within 12 months of being deemed fit for your surgery and booked on the wait list. When the waitlist is long, Dr Host will reduce the number of appointments for new public patients, and request that referrals be sent in for review and triage. If we cannot assist with your care in an appropriate timeframe, you will be referred on to another trusted surgeon who can.
- What can I expect after my operation?
Pain and swelling are expected outcomes from nearly all orthopaedic interventions. Every step will be taken to minimise this for you. Online information sheets are available on this website for many of the common orthopaedic surgeries.
Following your surgery, Dr Host will discuss with you the surgical findings and any specific post-operative instructions. Most people cannot recall much of the discussions, so you will also be issued with an information sheet for your surgery that details the post-operative plan.
Dr Host’s staff will contact you following your procedure to ensure you have recovered well, and to confirm your post-operative follow-up appointments. - I have been referred but not contacted for an appointment
Occasionally we will not receive fax referrals, if you have been referred to Dr Host but not contacted by our rooms, please call us on 02 6332 4600.