I'm in Mackay — should I see a local surgeon or travel to Rockhampton?

The practice consults only at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton; there is no Mackay clinic. Mackay-area patients travel to Rockhampton because the practice's subspecialty experience — orthoplastic hand surgery, shoulder arthroplasty, microsurgical nerve and tendon repair — is not routinely available in Mackay. Local Mackay orthopaedic surgeons handle general upper-limb work; the trip to Rockhampton is made when patients want a fellowship-trained hand and shoulder subspecialist or when their case is sufficiently complex that subspecialty referral is the right pathway. Imaging is shared electronically; post-operative review can often be coordinated by telehealth where the protocol allows.

Does Dr Hirpara consult in Mackay?

No. Dr Hirpara consults only at the rooms at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton. Patients from Mackay, Sarina, Walkerston, Andergrove, Slade Point, Eimeo, Bucasia and the Pioneer Valley travel to Rockhampton for consultation and any subsequent surgery. The drive is about 3 hours 45 minutes along the Bruce Highway. The rooms and operating theatres are in the same building, so consult and any same-trip pre-admission paperwork can be coordinated together.

Patients from Mackay

Hand & shoulder surgeon
for Mackay

Specialist upper limb care for Mackay and the Pioneer Valley — Mackay sits about 340 kilometres north of Rockhampton along the Bruce Highway.

Drive time about 3 hours 45 minutes north · Distance approximately 340 km

Why patients travel

From Mackay to the rooms

Mackay-area patients are seen at the practice for shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand work where the practice's subspecialty experience, established referrer relationships, or particular surgical scheduling make travelling to Rockhampton the right choice rather than seeking care closer to home. The drive is the Bruce Highway, well-known to anyone who's made the trip before.

Patients from Mackay 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 Mackay and the Pioneer Valley region. Specifically:

Mackay
Sarina
Walkerston
Ooralea
Andergrove
Slade Point
Eimeo
Bucasia
Mirani
Marian

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

The trip

Getting to The Range

Allow about four hours each way along the Bruce Highway from Mackay, with the usual stops; from Sarina or Mirani trim or add accordingly. 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 Scans from Mackay-region providers are viewable electronically — patients don't need to bring films to the consult.
Post-operative therapy Post-operative hand therapy is most easily coordinated with a Mackay-based hand-therapy or physiotherapy clinic, with the early intensive reviews handled at the Rockhampton rooms or by telehealth where the protocol allows.
Scheduling In-person review is preferred for Mackay-area patients; telehealth post-operative review can be arranged where travel is genuinely a barrier. Surgical timing is planned around the patient's ability to make the trip.

Common questions

From Mackay — answered

I'm in Mackay — should I see a local surgeon or travel to Rockhampton?: The practice consults only at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton; there is no Mackay clinic. Mackay-area patients travel to Rockhampton because the practice's subspecialty experience — orthoplastic hand surgery, shoulder arthroplasty, microsurgical nerve and tendon repair — is not routinely available in Mackay. Local Mackay orthopaedic surgeons handle general upper-limb work; the trip to Rockhampton is made when patients want a fellowship-trained hand and shoulder subspecialist or when their case is sufficiently complex that subspecialty referral is the right pathway. Imaging is shared electronically; post-operative review can often be coordinated by telehealth where the protocol allows.
Does Dr Hirpara consult in Mackay?: No. Dr Hirpara consults only at the rooms at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton. Patients from Mackay, Sarina, Walkerston, Andergrove, Slade Point, Eimeo, Bucasia and the Pioneer Valley travel to Rockhampton for consultation and any subsequent surgery. The drive is about 3 hours 45 minutes along the Bruce Highway. The rooms and operating theatres are in the same building, so consult and any same-trip pre-admission paperwork can be coordinated together.

Other catchments