Being an outpatient simply means you are coming in to see us in the rooms for an appointment. Meeting your Consultant is your first step back to good health and a better quality of life. It’s quite natural to have questions. You may be worried about something in particular or feel nervous because you’re not sure about what is going to happen. That’s why we are here. We listen to you and guide you through every part of your investigations, tests and treatment.

GPs often need a quick piece of expert advice. Your GP is able to discuss by phone with the Consultant the most appropriate management of your symptoms given your medical history.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor and specialist to control it.

Palliative care is an approach to the care of patients with incurable conditions that improves the quality of life of patients and their families. Through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical and psychosocial, it incorporates a positive and open attitude toward death and dying working with patients and their families, and respects the wishes of patients in relation to their treatment near the end of life. This approach, by shifting from a ‘cure’ to a ‘care’ focus, is especially important in the last 6 to 12 months of life.

Critically ill patients are defined as those patients who are at high risk for actual or potentially life-threatening health problems. The more critically ill a patient is, the more likely they are to be highly vulnerable, unstable and complex, thereby requiring intense and vigilant high quality, safe, effective care and management. Our Consultants have admitting rights to St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Toowoomba Hospice with referral from GPs (doctors), or Emergency Departments and is part of the after hours on-call Physicians Medical rota for week-night (Thursday) and week-end admissions.

Disease prevention focuses on prevention strategies to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and other morbidities. It empowers individuals to engage in healthy behaviours and make changes that reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.

People with hepatitis B virus infection but no symptoms were once thought to be 'healthy carriers'. However, all people with chronic hepatitis B should receive regular, lifelong monitoring of disease progression by a general practitioner or specialist. Routine monitoring (at least annually) even when there are no symptoms, can prevent severe liver disease including liver cancer.

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Hepatitis C has become a very curable disease with the recent advances in drug treatment that is now available under the PBS. It is important to have a comprehensive assessment of your liver health as part of the work-up for treatment of Hepatitis C and we can provide this in our practice.

Our practice participates in telehealth video consultations for follow-up consultations. People in telehealth eligible areas of Australia have access to video consultation. A telehealth video consultation is when a patient and Specialist Consultant undertakes a consultation via video conferencing equipment. This provides many patients with easier access to their specialist, without the time and expense involved in travelling to major cities.

Newly discharged patients need special attention. A follow-up visit with your physician for certain conditions can greatly reduce the chance of a relapse and addresses the conditions that precipitated your hospitalisation and to prepare you for self-care activities.

Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. Diabetes requires daily self care and if complications develop, diabetes can have a significant impact on quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, you can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and effectively managing it.

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. General Physicians can extend the level of care a local doctor can provide, because they can evaluate and treat many of the routine problems that arise in people who have heart failure. When more complex decision-making is required or when the severity or complexity of the problems surpasses the usual it is important to consult a specialist.