Patient Information
Introduction
The following information is for patients of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit. Please read carefully before coming to your appointment.
Please also either ring us or reply to our email sent to you a week before the appointment to confirm if you are coming or wish to cancel. A cancellation fee applies if notice is given in less than 24 hours.
For directions on how to get to the Allergy Centre please click here.
If you have any queries, please contact us.
What To Expect:
You will see the doctor first, and depending on the problem you may then have a skin test, breathing test or blood test.
If you or your child's diet is affected by food allergies or if diet may be implicated, you will need to see the dietitian.
For dietary testing you'll be given written instructions to take home, as well as the contact details of your dietitian.
If you're from outside Sydney, generally everything that needs to be done on the first visit will be organised on the day you come. If you live over 200km away, an isolated patient's travel allowance form from your GP or Area Health Service office should be signed by your referring doctor and brought to the clinic.
Your referring doctor will be sent a report after your visit.
Please avoid bringing food containing nuts, peanut butter, Nutella, eggs, cheese and milk that may spill as traces of these may affect highly sensitive allergy patients.You should expect to be there for at least 2-3 hours, so make arrangements beforehand with work, school, child-care, etc.
Bring something to read or to occupy your child in case you need to wait. Please do not make up baby bottles in the waiting area. These can be done in our tea room.
What To Bring:
- A referral letter from your family doctor or referring specialist for us to be able to process your Medicare claim, otherwise full payment for consultation and tests on the day.
- For children's appointments, please bring their "blue book".
- Copies of any relevant medical reports or test results.
- Any medications you are using or a list of them with the doses.
- And if relevant a diary booklet with your record of diet and symptoms.
If you have asthma:
- Do not take any medication (e.g. Ventolin, Seretide, Symbicort) on the morning of your appointment, unless you're unable to do without it.
- Bring your peak flow charts and any other relevant information (e.g. lung function test, X-rays, etc).
If you're on antihistamines:
- Stop them at least 3 days before your appointment. Nose sprays, antibiotics, stimulant medications for ADHD and other medications can be continued.
What It Will Cost:
We will bulk-bill for the doctor’s consultation and the allergy tests, provided you have a doctor’s referral and a valid Medicare card. Without these, full payment for consultation and tests will be charged.
The Diet Programme Fee is $ 95.00, a one-off fee payable on the day of initial dietary assessment. Please note that private health funds do not cover the cost of our dietetic programme fee.
You will be billed separately for any pathology tests.
Non-Australian residents or patients with no valid/current Medicare cards will be charged a separate schedule of fees. Please let us know if you are in this category so that we can advise you of the costs.
All fees charged are payable on the day of the consultation. We accept cash, cheque and credit card (Visa or Mastercard). EFTPOS available.
These are available from the clinic:- "Elimination Diet Handbook with food and shopping guide" - $22
- "Friendly Food" - $33
- "Dealing with Food Allergy" DVD and booklet - $16.50
Please bring your Medicare card, doctor's referral letter and payment for service fees.
Without a referral, we cannot process your Medicare claim, and full fees will be charged.
For children's appointments, please bring their blue book.