Surgery FAQs

Monday and Friday.

If surgery is recommended, you will receive a written quote during the consultation, walked through with you item by item — surgeon's fee, assistant and anaesthetist fees where applicable, and the expected gap on your private health cover or as a self-funded patient. There are no hidden fees added afterwards.

Dr Hirpara's aim is to deliver the best possible care for each patient's shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand problem, and that is not something he is able to do through a bulk-billing model. His surgical fees are guided by the Australian Medical Association schedule of fees, and he does not offer no-gap or known-gap arrangements for initial surgical procedures.

Yes — you are welcome to come for a consultation regardless of insurance status. If surgery is needed, the cost of having the operation in a private hospital can be discussed at the time. Taking out private health cover is also an option, with the standard 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

Dr Hirpara only operates in the Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, and does not have admitting rights or any influence on waiting lists in the public system.

An initial consultation is needed first. Once it is clear surgery is the right step, a date and a written quote will be provided by Dr Hirpara.

Almost all shoulder operations involve an overnight stay — shoulder surgery can be painful for the first night and ward nursing can administer strong pain relief if needed. Revision shoulder arthroplasty cases may stay longer.

Hand and elbow operations vary. Smaller cases such as carpal tunnel release, cubital tunnel release and wrist arthroscopy are usually day surgery. Larger cases such as Dupuytren's fasciectomy and wrist fusion (partial or total) are typically overnight.

Post-operative therapy — hand therapy or physiotherapy — is required in the vast majority of cases. Fees depend on the length of the appointment and the treatment provided, and are discussed at the first session.

Therapy is usually not Medicare-claimable; however, your health fund extras may reimburse part of the consultation cost; HICAPS is available on the day for the consultation.

All patients receive a discharge pack after surgery, which includes details of post-operative appointments with Dr Hirpara, the nurse and the physio/hand therapist. The pack also contains your medical certificate, discharge summary, clinical photos, implant records and travel forms as well as information on medications and wound care.

Hand surgery patients are seen for their first hand therapy appointment in our rooms within five days of the operation. Shoulder patients are reviewed in our rooms the Thursday after surgery by Nikaela, our wound-care nurse, and the physiotherapist.

Subsequent therapy appointments can often be arranged closer to home for patients travelling from outside Rockhampton.

Almost never — please arrange for someone to drive you home, and possibly stay with you for the first night.