Our clinics cover a broad range of general surgical conditions that require specialist review (a full assessment of your issue) to see whether surgery can help you.
About this service
Some of the conditions we review include:
- colorectal bowel disease
- endocrine surgery
- hepatobiliary/pancreatic surgery
- hernia repair and abdominal wall conditions
- perineal disease and faecal incontinence
- upper gastrointestinal surgery.
We treat cancers as a part of a multidisciplinary team that includes surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and specialist nurses.
General surgery is also offered through North Canberra Hospital surgical services.
Who we care for
Our services are available for people referred by their General Practitioner, our Emergency Department or other referring specialists.
We offer these services for free if you have a Medicare Card or an Asylum Seeker Card.
How to access this service
Your General Practitioner or other medical practitioner will refer you to this service.
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 General Practitioner 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.
Care may be provided by general surgery registrars (trainee surgeons) and junior doctors. Public general surgery services are provided by both Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
- 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
Central Outpatient’s Department, Building 1, Level 2 (ground level), Canberra Hospital.
We have directions to Canberra Hospital.
Information for referrers
The General Surgery team at Canberra Hospital provides specialist advice, treatment and surgical intervention for endocrine surgery, upper gastrointestinal (GI) soft tissue tumours, colorectal malignancies, melanoma, hernia surgeries as well as advanced laparoscopic procedures
Our General Surgery Service provides assessment and treatment for conditions involving:
- Colorectal cancer
- Haemorrhoids
- PR Bleeding
- Pilonidal Sinus
- Anal Fissure
- Diverticular disease
- Hiatus hernia
- Para-oesophageal hernia
- Upper GI and Hepatobiliary malignancies
- Breast lesions including gynaecomastia
- Gall bladder – gall stones
- Inguinal or femoral hernia
- Sebaceous cysts
Eligibility Criteria:
ACT residents only, unless care cannot be provided close to home for NSW residents
Treatment Exclusions
Conditions for which referrals are not likely to be accepted.
Condition | Alternate Referral/Treatment Pathway or indicate if GPs principally manage |
|---|---|
Reduction mammoplasty | Private specialist (exception is gross breast asymmetry in patients under 21 years, or virginal hyperplasia/hypertrophy |
Breast augmentation | Private General/Plastic Surgeon |
Hair transplant | Private General Surgeon |
Blepharoplasty | Private General/Plastic surgeon |
Abdominal lipectomy | Private General/Plastic surgeon |
Liposuction | Private General/Plastic surgeon |
Removal of benign moles, skin tags, revision of scar, revision of keloid scarring, removal of sebaceous cyst or any other skin condition wholly aesthetic | Private General/Plastic surgeon |
Bariatric Surgery | Only referred from the Obesity Management Service |
Breast Cancer Surgery | North Canberra Hospital General Surgery |
Speciality Service Description
The General Surgery team at Canberra Hospital provides specialist advice, treatment and surgical intervention for endocrine surgery, upper gastrointestinal (GI) soft tissue tumours, colorectal malignancies, melanoma, hernia surgeries as well as advanced laparoscopic procedures
Our General Surgery Service provides assessment and treatment for conditions involving:
- Colorectal cancer
- Haemorrhoids
- PR Bleeding
- Pilonidal Sinus
- Anal Fissure
- Diverticular disease
- Hiatus hernia
- Para-oesophageal hernia
- Upper GI and Hepatobiliary malignancies
- Breast lesions including gynaecomastia
- Gall bladder – gall stones
- Inguinal or femoral hernia
- Sebaceous cysts
Emergency Conditions
Patients with the following symptoms should be referred to the Emergency Department
- Jaundice in context of gallstones
- Cholangitis
- Strangulated hernia
- Groin pain with Lymphadenopathy, query malignancy
- Clinical abscess unable to be drained in GP rooms
GP Action / Contact: (consider if further GP contact other than the referral will change the course of patient care)
Contact ED admitting officer if the course of management will be altered by the call or help facilitate clinical handover.
What to include in your referral (Territory Wide Referral Criteria)
- Patient Demographic Information
- Referrer Demographic Information
- Reason for referral
- Presenting problem
- Service(s) requested
- Current patient management
- Impact of the problem on the patient
- Investigation reports related to the referral
Condition Specific Referral Acceptance Criteria
In addition to the Territory Wide Referral Acceptance Criteria, certain conditions require additional information to be provided before the referral will be reviewed by our Specialty teams.
Condition | Mandatory Pre-Referral Work Up |
|---|---|