For all Private Patient Appointments, call (02) 9160 6662.

Consulting Locations at Northern Beaches and Sydney’s North Shore.

Appointment information for private patients

What to bring to your appointment

All patients must have a referral to see Professor Bill Walter.

If you have already been to see us, your previous referral may cover your visit. A referral from a GP is valid for 12 months and a referral from a specialist is valid for 3 months.  If you are unsure whether you need a referral, please ask when you make the appointment whether your referral is valid. Please also bring any relevant x-rays or scans with you.

Medicare and health fund cards

Please always bring your Medicare card and Private Health Fund card with you.

Payment

Payment is due at the time of consultation. When you make your appointment, the secretary will let you know what the consultation fee will be.

Appointment timing

We do our best to allow the necessary amount of time for each patient appointment and we aim to keep to time. Very occasionally, Professor Bill Walter may be held up due to delay in morning surgeries, and sometimes a patient before you can take longer than expected to be seen. In this event, we try to contact patients to advise of possible appointment delays. Patients are most welcome to call a couple of hours before their appointment to check their appointment will occur at the scheduled time.

Follow-up Appointments after joint replacement

Six-week follow-up appointment

At this appointment, you will be seen by Professor Walter’s assistant surgeon and specialist nurse consultant. Please have your six-week post-op x-rays done prior to your appointment. There is no charge for this appointment.

Six-month follow-up appointment

Six months after hip or knee replacement surgery, you will be seen by Professor Walter. Please have your six-month x-rays done prior to your appointment.

Additional follow-up appointments

Professor Walter will ask you to come back for a follow-up appointment at 2 years, 5 years and every five years after that. You will need a new referral from your GP with new x-rays. It is important you come back for these check-up appointments, even if you are perfectly happy with your implant.

Follow-up Appointments after arthroscopy surgery

After a hip or knee arthroscopy surgery, Professor Walter will usually ask you to come back 10 – 14 days after surgery so that sutures can be removed and the wound can be checked. You will need to come back 3 months after your surgery. Further, follow up appointments may be advised after that.

Appointment information for public patients.

Patients who do not have private health cover can be seen at the Public Clinic at Professor Walter’s private room at Royal North Shore Hospital, Kolling Building Tom Reeve Surgical Clinic. You will need to bring a referral, your Medicare card and any x-rays if you have them. All public patient appointments and surgery arrangements must be made directly with the Professor Walter’s room on (02) 9160 6662.