Yes, you need a valid referral from your GP or another doctor. Without this Medicare will not provide a rebate and you will need to cover the full cost of your appointment.

CONSULTATIONS - Dr Blatt sees patients at: • Urology Care Newcastle, 585 Glebe Road, Adamstown • Urology Outpatient Clinic at John Hunter Hospital SURGERY - Dr Blatt operates on patients at: • John Hunter Hospital • Belmont Hospital • Lingard Private Hospital • Newcastle Private Hospital • Warners Bay Private Hospital PROCEDURAL CLINICS - Dr Blatt performs minor procedures at: • John Hunter Hospital: Flexible Cystoscopy (local anaesthetic bladder inspection) • John Hunter Hospital: Videourodynamics (bladder function studies). • Urology Care Newcastle: Private patient urodynamics (bladder function studies)

Your GP will send a referral letter to Dr Blatt's office. Your appointment will be made based on urgency. For example, someone with a bleeding cancer will need to be seen very urgently, while someone with a longer-term condition may need to wait a little longer. If your condition is very urgent, your GP will often call or email our rooms to alert us that an urgent referral is on its way. If you have not heard from us after a week please call to make sure we have received the referral, or sooner if you believe your condition is very urgent.

Your wait time depends on the urgency of your condition. Some patients require review within days or weeks while other conditions have been present for several months and are unlikely to progress. Dr Blatt and her team review all referrals and triage your condition into urgency categories to best manage the large number of referrals we receive. If you have to wait a few months to see Dr Blatt it does not mean that you are not important to us and we appreciate your patience.

Dr Blatt starts with a chat – hearing your concerns and discussing the reasons why you are seeking her expertise. If it is helpful to perform an examination, Dr Blatt will describe what that involves and will only proceed if you feel comfortable. If further tests are advised, Dr Blatt will explain why and what is involved before providing the request forms. If surgery is recommended, the procedure will be explained including alternatives, expectations and risks. At the end of your appointment Dr Blatt will create your care plan with you. If paperwork is provided you will give that to the receptionist to be reviewed and ensure you understand everything you need. Your consultation will be documented in your file and Dr Blatt will send a letter to your referring doctor as well as any other doctors relevant to the consultation.

Yes, Dr Blatt regularly sees patients outside of the Newcastle area including the Central Coast and rural NSW. All new patients are required to attend face to face for the first appointment for Medicare to provide a rebate. If it is clinically appropriate to do so, subsequent appointments can be organised via Telehealth. Please let our staff know if that is your preference.