Information for Patients

Do I need a referral from my doctor to attend the Hand Clinic?  

To come to the Hand Clinic you will need your family doctor to write you a referral letter explaining your medical history and hand condition, relevant test results and what medicines you are taking.

How do I make or cancel an appointment Hand Clinic?

The Hand Clinic needs to receive a current referral in order to schedule an appointment for you. You will either be provided with an appointment date and time by your referring Doctor when you see them, or the Hand Clinic will contact you later with an appointment date and time.
If a referral has been sent to the Hand Clinic, and you have been waiting longer than 2 weeks to receive information about your appointment, please contact the Hand Clinic on +61 2 9382 7201 between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone the Hand Clinic on +61 2 9382 7201 between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

Will I always see the same doctor at each visit?

The Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital is a teaching hospital so you will be seen by a Specialist Hand Surgeon or a doctor in training. You will stay under the care of the Specialist Hand Surgeon but you may see the doctor in training for your appointments.

Can I choose the day and time I attend the Hand Clinic for my appointment?

The Hand Clinic operates Monday to Friday from 0830 – 1230. Initial appointments will be scheduled for you, all subsequent follow up appointments for the Hand Clinic or with the Hand Therapists will be made in consultation with you.  

If you need to change the time of your appointment please telephone the Hand Clinic on +61 2 9382 7201 between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

How often do I need to attend the Hand Clinic?

How often you need to attend the hand clinic may change depending on who you see and how your hand condition is going.

What if I need help with my hand condition before my next appointment?

If you need help in-between clinic visits, please contact the Hand Clinic Nurses, who will assist you with your query and care. Within business hours (8am - 4pm) please call the Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital switchboard on 02 9382 7111 and they will direct your call. Outside these hours please either attend your general practitioner or local Emergency Department.

Should I stop eating and drinking before my Hand Clinic appointment?

You may have been asked by the referring hospital to fast (not to eat or drink) from midnight on the night before your appointment and you should remain fasted until you have been reviewed by the medical team. However, if you feel unwell or have a condition affecting your blood sugar, please alert the reception staff or nursing staff in the clinic. If you need to take any medications before your appointment e.g. antibiotics or pain relief, please do so with only a sip of water and tell staff when you are seen. 

Do I need to continue to see my local family doctor?

You may need to follow up with your family doctor. The doctor will let you know if you need to.

Will I have surgery on the same day as my appointment? 

If you need surgery urgently you may be booked for surgery on the same day as your appointment. Surgery is based on medical priority and may mean that your operation is booked for another day.Should you undergo surgery and are discharged the same day, you will need someone to take you home.

How can I arrange an interpreter? 

If you would like to speak to Hand Unit staff over the phone using an interpreter, phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50 and ask to speak to staff on 9382 7201. TIS is a free and confidential government service throughout Australia. Call cost is that of a local call.

Will I have to wait for my appointment?

When you come to your Hand Clinic appointment, your treatment may take several hours. This is because you will be seen not only by a Doctor, but also by Nurses and Hand Therapists. You may also require X-rays or other tests. We aim to see everyone on time, unfortunately we often have emergency cases which means you may have to wait. We will let you know how long you will have to wait. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Will I be asked to be involved in Research, Training and Education?

We are teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present at your appointment. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services or care we will provide for you.

Our Clinics 

Who is eligible to use our services?

Any person with a hand injury or condition relating to their hand, wrist and forearm.