Referrals to Dr John Limbers

The practice requests a current referral from the patient’s GP or another specialist before appointment. A valid referral also allows eligible Medicare patients to claim the relevant rebate. The referral should be sent to the practice to the rooms by email or fax. Recent (within the last 6 months) weight bearing X-rays of the affected hip or knee joint are also required.

His practice covers the full range of hip and knee arthritis care, from assessment and non-surgical management through primary joint replacement to revision surgery, so patients can be assessed and directed to the appropriate treatment without a further referral.

Referrers are welcome to contact the rooms to discuss a patient, clarify appropriate investigations or request urgent review.

After consultation, the referrer can usually expect correspondence well inside a week.

• Private patients — those with private health insurance
• Self-funded patients — uninsured patients who choose to pay directly for their consultation and private hospital treatment
• Eligible Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) patients

Dr Limbers does not currently accept Workers Compensation or Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance patients.

• Hip or knee osteoarthritis where non-surgical management is no longer giving adequate relief
• Advanced hip osteoarthritis being considered for anterior total hip replacement
• Multicompartment knee arthritis being considered for total knee replacement
• Isolated compartment knee arthritis being considered for partial knee replacement
• Pain, stiffness, instability or suspected failure after hip replacement
• Pain, stiffness, instability or suspected failure after knee replacement
• Patients seeking an opinion regarding Mako robotic-assisted joint replacement
• Patients seeking a second opinion on whether joint replacement is appropriate

• Relevant clinical history and comorbidities
• Previous non-operative treatment
• Current medications and allergies, particularly anticoagulants
• Recent weight-bearing X-rays (within the last 6 months)
• Previous operative reports and implant details for revision referrals
• Relevant blood tests, aspiration results or infection investigations
• Your contact details and provider number

Email	[email protected]
Fax	(02) 4393 3819
HealthLink	ctrcorth
Written referral	May also be provided to the patient.

For urgent referrals, please contact reception directly so the patient can be triaged and Dr Limbers contacted where required.

For suspected deep prosthetic joint infections, please do not commence any antibiotic therapy. Please contact the rooms or if necessary refer the patient to the nearest Emergency Department for assessment by the orthopaedic registrar, who will contact Dr Limbers directly.