Frequently asked questions

A referral is not legally required to see a specialist in Australia. However, a valid referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate, and it provides important information about your medical history, medications and previous investigations. Dr Limbers’ practice requires a referral from another doctor, ideally your local GP.

A GP referral is valid for 12 months from the date of referral. A referral from another specialist is commonly valid for three (3) months. Reception can confirm whether an updated referral is required.

A referral addressed to another practitioner in the same specialty may still be accepted for Medicare purposes in some circumstances. Please send it to reception before your appointment so its validity can be checked.

The private consulting rooms do not bulk bill. Consultation fees and the expected Medicare rebate can be confirmed with reception.

Private health insurance is not required to attend the consulting rooms. Uninsured patients are welcome as self-funded patients, paying directly for their consultation and, where appropriate, private hospital treatment.

Dr Limbers sees privately insured patients, self-funded uninsured patients and eligible DVA patients. He does not currently accept Workers Compensation or CTP insurance patients.

Private health insurance generally does not cover outpatient specialist consultations. Eligible patients may claim a Medicare rebate when they have a valid referral.

Private surgery may involve separate fees from the surgeon, anaesthetist, surgical assistant and hospital. The practice will provide information about Dr Limbers’ fee before surgery, as well as details of other providers to be contacted regarding their charges.

Mako is a CT-based planning and robotic-arm assisted system used for selected hip and knee replacement procedures. Dr Limbers performs and controls the operation; the robot does not operate independently.

No surgical technology can guarantee a particular outcome. Mako assists with planning and accurate execution, but results also depend on diagnosis, anatomy, general health, rehabilitation and other individual factors.

No. Joint replacement performed with conventional instruments remains a well-established and effective operation. Robotic assistance improves the accuracy of implant positioning; whether that translates into better long-term function and implant survival is still being studied.

Dr Limbers does not offer Telehealth appointments. Telehealth may rarely be offered in follow up appointments, in specific circumstances. It attracts the standard consultation fee.

Your referral, Medicare and insurance details, medication list, relevant letters, and all available imaging and reports. For revision surgery, bring the original operative report and implant details where possible.

Driving depends on the operation, the side treated, pain, strength, mobility and medication use. Driving may commonly be undertaken after approximately two to three weeks after surgery, when it is safe to do so.

Yes. Dr Limbers places the incision on the outer side of the knee to avoid the scar and numbness over the front of the knee, thus allowing more comfortable kneeling.

Most hip and knee replacements are expected to last for many years, and there is no fixed expiry date. Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry data indicate that roughly nine out of ten primary total hip and total knee replacements performed for osteoarthritis have not required revision by 20 years. Many continue to function beyond this point. Longevity varies with age, activity level, implant type, diagnosis and complications, and younger patients have a greater lifetime chance of requiring revision surgery.

Dental work should be deferred for 6 weeks following joint replacement if possible. Your dentist or GP should provide you with a single dose of oral antibiotics (normally Amoxycillin 1 gram orally) approximately 30 minutes before the dental procedure.

Often approximately 4 weeks after consultation.

Dr Limbers operates at Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga and Gosford Private Hospital in North Gosford. The most appropriate hospital will depend on your location, procedure, private health insurance arrangements and theatre availability. Reception can discuss the options with you.