INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

Planning a pregnancy

If you have an existing health problem, it may be appropriate to arrange a pre-pregnancy consultation to make sure you understand all the potential issues associated with pregnancy. This includes how a pregnancy might affect your condition and how your condition might impact on pregnancy. This will allow us to prepare you for pregnancy and ensure the best management is in place for you. It is a good time to ask questions about getting pregnant, medications, what to expect during pregnancy, any special tests you may require and who will be involved in your care.

Conditions we treat

The following is a list of some of the conditions Dr Lowe treats. The list is not exhaustive and if your condition is not listed, please feel free to contact us and we can discuss if we are the right practise for you.

Conditions we can help you with:

Heart, blood pressure and blood vessels:

High blood pressure
Preeclampsia
Heart murmurs
Palpitations
Cardiomyopathy
Previous heart surgery
Varicose veins and thrombophlebitis

Lungs

Asthma
Sleep apnoea
Cough

Bowel and Liver

Bowel and Liver
Previous bariatric surgery/procedures
Inflammatory bowel disease-Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis
Liver disease
Hyperemesis gravidarum

Kidney

Glomerulonephritis
Chronic renal impairment
Renal transplant
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Kidney stones

Brain and Nerves

Epilepsy
Migraine and headaches

Immune and Joints

Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Antiphospholipid syndrome

Blood

Thrombocytopenia/low platelets
Anaemia
Thrombosis/blood clots
Antiphospholipid syndrome

METABOLISM AND HORMONES

Thyroid
Diabetes-pre-existing and gestational
Insulin resistance
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Before your appointment:

It can be helpful for A/Prof Lowe to gather as much information about your condition as possible before your appointment.

Please arrange to have your referral faxed to 96504903 or sent to Suite 5/L7 POW Private Hosp. Barker St Randwick, 2031.

If you have a pre-existing condition or a problem related to a previous pregnancy, we would like to obtain as much information as possible before your appointment. Please contact Rachel on 96504957 to allow us to gather information from your current treating doctors or old hospital records.

Fees:

Specialist Private Fees are charged for all consultations. These will depend on whether this is your first or subsequent visit and the duration/complexity of the consultation. Cash, debit and credit cards (Mastercard and Visa only) are accepted and all fees are payable at the time of consultation.

Health Care and Pension cards are not accepted.

If you are concerned about payment of fees, please contact Reception before your consultation to make a suitable arrangement.

Medicare rebates are available (with instant transmission to Medicare for overnight repayment) for a portion of the fee and most of the fee is reimbursable if you have reached the Medicare Safety Net Threshold.

[https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/medicare-safety-net]. Unfortunately, your health insurance does not cover “the gap” fees for Office consultations.

Dr Lowe participates in “No Gap Cover” schemes with most major health Funds. This means if Dr Lowe sees you whilst you are in hospital, your Health Insurance along with Medicare will pay the entire cost of these consultations. You will not receive any bill.

A valid referral (lasting 3 months from a specialist or 12 months from your GP) is required for all first consultations and if there has been more than 12 months since your last visit.