If you are an overseas visitor without an Australian Medicare then a referral is not necessary, but we encourage you to have a regular GP.

We want to ensure your visit is as smooth as possible, so it’s important that you are prepared for your first consultation with Dr Girgis. Please review our appointment document checklist below and bring the following with you:

• Referral letter
  Medicare requires you to have a valid referral letter to allow you to claim medicare rebates. Specialist medical practitioner referrals are only valid for 3 months so you will need to obtain a referral from your GP at some point during your care with Dr Girgis, especially if you are seeing Dr Girgis for your pregnancy as the GP referral will be valid for 12 months.

• Medicare card, DVA card, Pension Card
• Private Health Insurance Information
• A list of your regular medications and allergies
• All recent blood results, urine test and vaginal swab test
• All recent/relevant imaging studies (Ultrasounds, CT, MRI).
• Your most recent cervical screening test result (formerly known as a pap smear).
• Previous operation reports or hospital discharge summaries related to your condition.
• Letters, information, and dates of your fertility treatment if you are seeing Dr Girgis for your pregnancy and your pregnancy was through assisted reproduction.

Please ask your GP to e-mail or fax results to us or bring copies with you to the appointment. It is in your best interest that our team has a thorough understanding of your past medical history; bringing along all required paperwork will minimise delays during your review.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to any NEW appointment to allow time to complete appropriate registration and paperwork.

Dr Girgis will provide a letter to your GP to keep them updated of your visit and your progress.

You will be charged a fee for the consultation and additional fees apply to procedures required on the day, such as IUD insertion, biopsy, sampling the lining of the uterus, colposcopy or other minor surgical procedures. If you are Medicare eligible, a partial rebate will apply. There may be additional reimbursement with additional required procedures. Private health insurance does not cover out-of-hospital consultations. Please contact our rooms for the most up-to-date consulting fees for gynaecological review by Dr Girgis, or fees related to specific office-based procedures.

Dr Girgis believes all women should have access to optimal health care. Regardless of your background and status with health insurance, you can receive the recommended surgical treatment via one of the following pathways:

• Most of our patients prefer to have surgery in a private hospital. All surgery carried out in private hospitals involves a gap payment. The fees for surgery with Dr Girgis are based on the operation type and the complexity of your case. The surgery will be tailored to your specific condition and situation. You will receive a quote for Dr Girgis’ fees before your surgery. Dr Girgis performs Gynaecologic surgery at St George Private, Hurstville Private and Strathfield Private Hospitals.

At times, a surgical assistant is required, which will incur a separate fee. In addition, the Anaesthetist’s fees are separate from Dr Girgis’ fees and should be discussed separately with the Anaesthetist. The Anaesthetist will send you their invoice separately.

There may be costs billed by other relevant service providers (such as pathology, medical imaging, physiotherapy etc.) should this be required during your hospital admission. These charges are usually partly covered by your private Health Fund. You may wish to confirm your policy with your health insurer, prior to admission and check if treatment is within a waiting or exclusion period for the policy.

Fees for your hospital admission will depend on the hospital, your length of hospital stay, your need for other services and the level of your private health insurance cover. You will need to confirm any additional co-payments or excess directly with your health fund and the hospital you are booked into. It is also important to ensure that your policy covers you for admission and procedures as a patient in a private hospital. Contact your private health insurer to understand the specifics of your policy’s coverage.

If you do not hold private health cover, you can still have your surgery in a Private hospital, but all surgical, anaesthetic, and hospital fees will be covered by you.

• For patients entitled to Medicare benefits and who choose to have surgery in the public sector, Dr Girgis operates at The Canterbury public hospital; this will incur no surgical or admission costs. You will be under the care of Dr Girgis and her Registrars in the public hospital. Please note that the waiting time is longer (currently 8-12 months) than in the private hospital.

Dr Girgis would be delighted to look after you and your baby during your pregnancy journey.

Medicare and the health insurance system can be confusing. Dr Girgis strives to make her obstetrics fees simple and transparent. Please contact Dr Girgis's rooms on 1300 718 861 ahead of time for a copy of her Obstetric Fee Disclosure which will provide you with an explanation of the different costs and rebates available.

You should check with your health fund regarding rebates and what they cover. Most health funds require you to be with them for a year before you can claim an Obstetric rebate.

Dr Girgis’ fees reflect her ability and availability. They cover the following:

• On-call specialist obstetrician availability 24/7.
• Routine antenatal consultations, usually 10-12 visits; This will apply to most patients; however, there are times when you need to be monitored more often.
• Additional or “emergency” antenatal consultations for concerns or closer monitoring if this is required.
• Additional emergency consultations if you attend or are admitted to hospital at any time during your pregnancy.
• Attendance at, and management of, your birth, regardless of the mode of delivery.
• Postnatal care in the hospital.
• Postnatal appointment in the rooms.

Dr Girgis delivers her pregnant patients at St George Private Hospital in Kogarah. She chooses this hospital for her pregnancy care and deliveries because it is well-staffed with experienced midwives, is well-established and has anexcellent birthing unit, maternity ward, and theatre services. They also provide access to excellent antenatal classes and lactation services.

Hospital booking for your birth at St George Private Hospital needs to be made at or soon after your first appointment with Dr Girgis.

Visit https://www.stgeorgeprivate.com.au/Maternity/Maternity-Booking-Online

And click on ‘Online Admission Form’.

For more useful resources, visit the resource section of my website.

Dr Girgis will see you once every four weeks up to 28 weeks, fortnightly until 36 weeks and weekly until the delivery of your baby.

For example, once you see Dr Girgis at about 7-10 weeks, it will be followed by visits at 14, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 weeks and then weekly until delivery. This will apply to most patients; however, there are times when you need to be monitored more often, and additional appointments may be required.

At each visit, Dr Girgis will discuss important points, address any concerns you may have and answer your questions. Should you have any questions along the way, write them for Dr Girgis to answer at your upcoming appointments.

If you have any concerns between visits, please call the reception staff to schedule an appointment.

After the delivery of your baby, Dr Girgis will see you for a postnatal visit 6 weeks after your baby is born. Dr Girgis would love to see how you and your baby are going. At this appointment, Dr Girgis will discuss other matters, including contraception plans and cervical screening.

We accept cash and card payments (credit card, EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard). We do not accept Amex.

Please call the relevant office via 1300 718 861 during office hours, and my reception team will arrange an appointment as soon as possible.

If you are urgently concerned about your pregnancy or baby, please call your hospital's maternity unit, or if you are booked to deliver at St George Private Hospital, call the St George Private Hospital maternity unit on (02) 9598 5172 or  (02) 9598 5395 and a midwife will assist you.

If you have any further questions, please call 1300 718 861 to talk to our friendly staff. We look forward to seeing you in Dr Girgis’ rooms.

Cancellation: You will receive a reminder call prior to your appointment date. In the interest of allowing other women on our waiting list to receive an appointment, if you are no longer able to attend your appointment or would like to change the appointment, please call the rooms during business hours at your earliest convenience.