I'm in Bundaberg — is travelling to Rockhampton an option?

Yes. Some Bundaberg patients travel north to Rockhampton rather than south to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast — the practice covers shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand surgery, and the trip is shorter (about three hours via the Bruce Highway) than a Brisbane referral. Imaging is shared electronically; post-operative review can be coordinated by telehealth after the first in-person visit where the protocol allows. The choice of where to be seen is the patient's, made in consultation with their GP.

Does Dr Hirpara consult in Bundaberg?

No. Dr Hirpara consults only at the rooms at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton. Patients from Bundaberg, Bargara, Childers, Gin Gin and the Coral Coast who choose to be seen by the practice travel to Rockhampton for consultation and any subsequent surgery. The rooms and operating theatres are in the same building, so consult and any pre-admission paperwork can be coordinated on the same trip.

Patients from Bundaberg

Hand & shoulder surgeon
for Bundaberg

Specialist upper limb care for Bundaberg and the Coral Coast — Bundaberg is about three hours south of Rockhampton on the Bruce Highway.

Drive time about 3 hours south · Distance approximately 290 km

Why patients travel

From Bundaberg to the rooms

Bundaberg patients sometimes prefer travelling north to Rockhampton over heading south to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast — the practice covers the full range of shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand conditions and has long-standing referrer relationships through the Bundaberg region. The Bruce Highway is the direct route via Gin Gin and Miriam Vale.

Patients from Bundaberg are commonly seen for rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement, carpal tunnel surgery, trigger finger release, Dupuytren's surgery, thumb joint replacement and the full range of shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand surgery. Fee structure, Medicare rebates and the surgery-quote process are on the fees page.

Not sure what's wrong?

Start with the symptom

If you haven't had a diagnosis yet, our symptom guides help narrow down what's causing the problem before your appointment.

Catchment

Towns and suburbs we see patients from

Referrals reach the practice from across the Bundaberg and the Coral Coast region. Specifically:

Bundaberg
Bargara
Childers
Gin Gin
Avoca
Norville
Walkervale
Kalkie
Burnett Heads
Innes Park

If you are elsewhere in the region — please ring the practice; the catchment is not strictly defined.

The trip

Getting to The Range

Allow three hours each way. The road runs north through Gin Gin, Miriam Vale and the Calliope range — straightforward but worth a buffer at the range when traffic is heavy. The rooms are at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton on Ward Street, The Range.

On-site parking is available at the Mater, with a closer carpark via I-MED Radiology on Spencer Street. Full directions and a map are on the visit page.

Get directions in Google Maps

Imaging, therapy & scheduling

Designed around the distance

Imaging Imaging from Bundaberg-region providers can be reviewed electronically before the consult, so films don't need to be transported.
Post-operative therapy Post-operative therapy can usually be coordinated with a Bundaberg-based hand-therapy or physiotherapy clinic, with the earliest reviews done in Rockhampton and follow-up handled by telehealth where the protocol allows.
Scheduling In-person review is preferred for Bundaberg patients; telehealth review can be arranged after the first in-person review where travel is genuinely a barrier.

Common questions

From Bundaberg — answered

I'm in Bundaberg — is travelling to Rockhampton an option?: Yes. Some Bundaberg patients travel north to Rockhampton rather than south to Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast — the practice covers shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand surgery, and the trip is shorter (about three hours via the Bruce Highway) than a Brisbane referral. Imaging is shared electronically; post-operative review can be coordinated by telehealth after the first in-person visit where the protocol allows. The choice of where to be seen is the patient's, made in consultation with their GP.
Does Dr Hirpara consult in Bundaberg?: No. Dr Hirpara consults only at the rooms at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton. Patients from Bundaberg, Bargara, Childers, Gin Gin and the Coral Coast who choose to be seen by the practice travel to Rockhampton for consultation and any subsequent surgery. The rooms and operating theatres are in the same building, so consult and any pre-admission paperwork can be coordinated on the same trip.

Other catchments