Seeing a Surgeon

An upper GI surgeon is a general surgeon with further subspecialty training in conditions of the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, gallbladder and the upper part of the small bowel. This includes reflux and hiatus hernia, swallowing problems, oesophageal and stomach cancer, and weight loss surgery.

Dr Lourensz graduated in medicine from Monash University in 2009 and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2020. He then completed subspecialty fellowships in upper GI and weight loss surgery at The Alfred in Melbourne and at Oxford University Hospitals, UK.

Not everyone who sees a surgeon needs an operation. Many people are treated with medicines, diet and lifestyle changes, or further tests, and Dr Lourensz will talk you through all of your options.

Yes. You need a current referral from your GP or another specialist before your first appointment to claim the Medicare rebate. A GP referral lasts 12 months, and a referral from another specialist lasts 3 months. Without a referral, you can still be seen, but you pay the full fee.

Please ask your GP to address the referral to Dr Kaleb Lourensz. GPs can send referrals by HealthLink, Medical-Objects, email or fax (see For Referrers).

Urgent appointments are available. If your problem is urgent, such as difficulty swallowing that is getting worse, ask your GP to mark the referral urgent and call the rooms on 03 8584 2399.

Your first appointment usually takes about 30 minutes. Dr Lourensz will:

• ask about your symptoms, your general health and any previous operations
• examine you, if needed
• go through your scans, gastroscopy reports and blood tests
• explain what is going on, and what the options are

Some people need more tests, such as a gastroscopy, scans or swallowing studies, before a treatment plan is made. You are welcome, and encouraged, to bring a family member or friend.

• your referral
• your Medicare card and private health insurance details
• a list or photo of your medications, or the boxes
• recent scans (the images and reports), gastroscopy reports and blood tests
• details of any previous operations, especially on the stomach or oesophagus
• a list of questions you would like to ask

Medicare pays a rebate towards your appointments in the rooms if you have a current referral. Private health insurance doesn't cover appointments in the rooms.

If you have surgery as a private patient, your health fund and Medicare contribute towards the surgeon's, assistant's and anaesthetist's fees and your hospital stay. Medicare and health fund benefits have not kept pace with inflation and do not cover the cost of providing care. Consequently, there is often a difference between the fee and what is paid back (the 'gap'). How much you pay yourself depends on your level of cover. Please check with your fund that your cover includes the procedure, and whether any waiting periods apply.

If you don't have private health insurance, you can pay for surgery yourself, and some people can use part of their superannuation. See Fees and Patient Information for current fees and how this works.

If you and Dr Lourensz decide that surgery is right for you, you will receive:

• a clear explanation of the operation, the risks and the expected recovery
• a written cost estimate before anything is booked
• time to think about it and ask more questions

The rooms will help you book a date, apply for early release of super if required, complete the hospital admission forms and prepare for your operation. See Before and After Surgery.

If you would like an interpreter, please let the rooms know when you book, and we will arrange one. You are always welcome to bring a support person to your appointments.

• What is causing my symptoms?
• Do I need more tests? What do the tests I've already had show?
• What are my options, including options that don't involve surgery?
• What are the risks and benefits of each option?
• What does recovery involve, and when can I return to work?
• What will it cost?