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.
Where does Dr Elaine accept patients from?
Dr Ng accepts referrals for patients living in New South Wales within the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, which includes Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera, Deniliquin, Tumut, Tumbarumba, Corowa, Holbrook, Culcairn, Henty, Junee, Coolamon, Temora, West Wyalong, Hay, Hillston, Finley, Berrigan, Moama, Gundagai, Cootamundra, Young and surrounding communities.
We are unable to accept referrals for patients living in Victoria, including Wodonga and other border towns, or for patients living elsewhere in New South Wales. If you live outside our catchment, your GP can refer you to a rheumatology service closer to home, which also makes ongoing follow-up more practical for you.
Does Dr Elaine see children?
No. Dr Ng sees patients aged 16 and over. Children and younger adolescents should be referred to a paediatric rheumatology service.
How long will I wait for an appointment?
Every referral is reviewed personally by Dr Ng and assigned a priority based on the clinical information provided. Referrals are triaged by clinical urgency into one of three categories. Urgent referrals are seen sooner. We contact you directly once your referral has been triaged.
Because waiting times vary with clinical priority and demand, we cannot guarantee a specific appointment date. If your symptoms change or worsen while you are waiting, please see your GP — and if you become acutely unwell, attend your nearest emergency department.
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. Referrals for these conditions are usually assessed as non-urgent, and waiting times are longer.
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. Referrals for these conditions are usually assessed as non-urgent, and waiting times are longer.
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. If you’re unable to complete the online forms, please arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment so you can fill them out in person.
You may wish to wear loose fitting clothes as Dr Elaine may need to examine your joints (otherwise, there are gowns available to change into).
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)