Neurosurgery

The Neurosurgery Department provides comprehensive around-the-clock care for the treatment of patients with brain and spinal disorders.

About this service

Our Neurosurgeons treat brain and skull base tumours, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, cerebral trauma, traumatic and degenerative spinal disease, spinal tumours and Chiari malformations. They also carry out microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

One of our Neurosurgeons will review you to see if you are suitable for neurosurgical treatment.

Who we care for

Our services are available for people who are admitted to Canberra Hospital (‘inpatients’) as well as patients who are referred by a GP or other specialist.

We offer these services for free if you have a Medicare Card or an Asylum Seeker Card.

How to access this service

Your GP or specialist will refer you to the Neurosurgery Clinic.

Inpatients may be referred by a hospital doctor following an admission.

What to expect

There is high demand for public surgical outpatient services.

We assess all referrals against clinical criteria which is available for referring medical officers. If your condition meets this criteria, you will be offered an appointment.

We encourage you to talk to your GP about the most appropriate care for your condition.

We aim to triage your referral within five days of receiving it.

We will send you a letter to confirm you are on the waiting list and we will contact you when an appointment is available.

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Any letters or correspondence from your GP
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports

Where we’re located