Yes. You should see your GP for a referral if you would like to book a consultation. This referral provides us with any important information from your GP, and you will qualify for a Medicare rebate. We will write to your GP with an update following your consultation.

You will be sent a New Patient Registration form, as well as a separate link to an online Questionnaire about your symptoms and how it affects your life.

Once we have received both of the key documents above, Dr Nielsen will be able to triage your referral, and recommend any additional initial investigations that he believes will help you get the most out of your first consultation with him.

Absolutely. We encourage you to bring a family member or close friend to your consultation.

To complete an orthopaedic examination during your consultation, you may need to undress to your underwear. If the examination can be performed without needing to remove clothing, we will endeavour to do so. We suggest wearing shorts and a t-shirt, or gym activewear.

Your comfort, consent, and dignity are a priority. If there is any part of the examination that you are not comfortable completing, please let your surgeon know. If you would like someone to be present during your examination, please bring a friend or family member to your appointment.

We wish it was that simple. Unfortunately, it is not. There are no shortcuts.

Scans only give the black-and-white picture. They show structure, but not symptoms such as pain. As we age, we all have degenerative changes that may be picked up on scan. However, not all of these changes necessarily cause symptoms.

Reports are an interpretation of the scans, often without the benefit of key clinical information. They can be good at spotting even subtle structural changes, but they cannot advise what is causing symptoms versus what is not.

As a patient, you help provide the colour picture, through your story, examination, and correlation with key tests.

Ensuring the best chance of success in your spine care requires attention to detail, careful “colour picture” assessment, and an experienced team approach.

If you are scheduled for surgery, we will provide you with instructions on how to prepare, depending on your treatment plan.

Our team will advise you of your specific consultation fee, when booking and confirming your appointment.

Private health insurers currently do not offer a rebate for clinic consultations. Medicare offers a partial rebate.

Please note that additional costs may apply depending on the nature of your issue, and recommended treatment plan.

We recommend checking with your health fund to ensure that you are covered for spinal conditions and surgery (Clinical Category: back, neck and spinal conditions).

All you need to do is ask your insurer if you are covered for “back, neck and spinal conditions”.

You will be liable for any costs not covered by Medicare or your health fund.

The costs of assessing, investigating, and treating spinal conditions are high, and can quickly add up. The surgeon’s fees are only a small part of the overall costs.

While cost estimates are provided, there may be unanticipated expenses, such as extra tests, longer than expected hospital stays, or managing complications.

Private health insurance helps to cover the large costs of your spine care, and protects you against any unexpected costs.

A “gap” is an out of pocket expense that you personally pay towards the cost of your treatment and surgery. It is the difference between the fees charged by your health care providers (doctors, allied health, pathology, radiology, hospital), and the amount covered by Medicare and your private health insurer.

Our clinical and surgical fees follow the current Australian Medical Association (AMA) guidelines, and there will be an associated out of pocket expense.

For clinic consultations, private health insurers do not offer a rebate. Medicare offers a partial rebate.

For spine surgery, private health insurers will cover some, but not all of the fee. The amount of rebate can vary between private health insurers. If you are a surgical candidate, the specific costs of your recommended surgery will be discussed with you as part of the financial consent process.

We will provide you with an estimate of the likely medical costs you will be required to pay for your surgery. Unless otherwise stated, our estimate does not cover services provided by other doctors, such as anaesthetists or surgical assistants, or other costs associated with your stay in the hospital, such as accommodation, pharmacy or physiotherapy.