Do I need a referral?
Yes. To be seen and to claim a Medicare rebate you need a current referral from your GP or another specialist. A GP referral is generally valid for 12 months; a specialist-to-specialist referral for 3 months. Without a referral, the full fee applies and no rebate can be claimed.
Having a referral doesn’t guarantee an appointment, as Dr Elaine Ng triages each referral according to clinical urgency. We will be in touch for an appointment once it has been reviewed.
How long will I wait for an appointment?
Referrals are triaged by clinical urgency into one of three categories. Urgent referrals are prioritised. Actual waiting times depend on current demand.
What conditions does Dr Elaine treat?
Autoimmune, inflammatory and musculoskeletal conditions — including inflammatory arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, polymyalgia rheumatica and osteoporosis. See the Conditions page for the full list.
Does Dr Elaine treat fibromyalgia or chronic pain?
Dr Elaine can provide a diagnostic assessment for fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain to confirm the diagnosis and exclude inflammatory causes. She is not a pain specialist and does not prescribe opioid medications; ongoing pain management is coordinated with your GP.
What about Myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorder?
Dr Elaine does not have specific expertise in the management of these conditions. They are seen for a single focused assessment to exclude an inflammatory cause. Ongoing management is coordinated by your general practitioner.
Does Dr Elaine offer telehealth?
Follow-up appointments may be available by telehealth where appropriate. Initial appointments are in person only.
How much will it cost?
Consultations are privately billed, with a Medicare rebate applying when you have a valid referral. See For Patients for details.
What do I do for my first appointment?
Please complete our patient registration and consent form, which will be sent to your phone and email, prior to the appointment.
On the day of your appointment, please bring:
- Any previous correspondence from a rheumatologist
- Your referral letter
- Your Medicare card (and concession/pension card if applicable)
- A list of your current medications (including over-the-counter and complementary medicines)
- Any recent blood test results and imaging (or details of where they were done)
Where are you located?
11 Gormly Avenue, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, co-located with Wagga Wagga Rheumatology.
Is there a minimum age?
Dr Elaine accepts referrals for patients aged 16 years and above.