Answers to Some of Your Common Questions

In most cases, you do need a referral to see one of our specialists. You will need this before your appointment, and preferably before you book in to see us.

You can get a referral from the likes of your GP or physiotherapist, as well as other specialist doctors, A&E. Unfortunately you cannot self-refer for an appointment with one of our specialists.

Yes you do.

Preferably you will be referred by a doctor via our concussion referral form (found here) and sent to us at concussion@axissportsmedicine.co.nz. This form gives us a lot of the information we need for a concussion patient.We do however accept referrals from your physio or occupational therapist.

You can get a referral from the likes of your GP or physiotherapist, as well as other specialist doctors or A&E. Unfortunately you cannot self-refer for an appointment with one of our medical specialists. Referrals for our ACC Concussion Service must come from a medical doctor, hospital emergency department or direct from ACC. 

Initial consultations are generally 30 minutes in duration (although they can be longer for more complex problems). Follow up consultations can vary depending on the nature of the follow up.  Most follow-up appointments last for between 15-30 minutes. 
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For those who are being seen in our concussion service, the appointment times, especially the initial appointment, are often longer than this. This is due to both the complexity of this problem and because you will often see more than one clinician.

There is no surcharge to see one of our medical specialists.  There is, however, a surcharge to see one of our non-specialist doctors.  While there is a charge associated with seeing these doctors, there is generally no waiting time to arrange an appointment.

Generally no.  One of the aims of your initial consultation is to conduct a clinical assessment and determine whether imaging is needed.  Should a scan be required, we have strong relationships with several radiology clinics, and in some circumstances, a scan can be arranged for the same day.

Yes, we are a Southern Cross affiliated provider. This means that we can bill them directly for your treatment costs. We also have existing relationships with most medical insurers.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, or for whatever reason choose not to attend, please call reception at the earliest possible time.  If we do not receive notification at least 4 hours before your scheduled visit, you will be charged.

Furthermore, if the missed appointment fee is not paid, no further bookings for appointments will be accepted. Exceptions to this policy may be made but only at the discretion of the Practice Manager.

Unfortunately, we are not able to do this. We only hold the reports (you can have this after your MRI review). If you would like a copy of the images, please contact the radiology clinic you visited. They will share these images and the software needed to view them, via a secure online portal.

Yes, all our clinics have ample parking available. 
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At our Morrin Road clinic, the car park is run by Wilson Parking. As a result, you will need to register your vehicle at one of their pay and display stations.  You can get 90 minutes of free parking by doing this.  You will need to be careful to use one of the designated parking spaces for the duration of your visit.

Our team works hard to try to run to time. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Referring patients to hospital or managing acute problems can be time consuming and unpredictable. If there is going to be a significant delay, we will attempt to let you know in advance.

Generally speaking wait times can vary from 2-4 to 6-8 weeks depending on the level of urgency. For some of our acute clinics like concussion and knee, we can see you even faster. If you have a preference of doctor, or during busy periods, the wait time may be a little longer.

If you have a valid ACC claim and referral, ACC will generally pay your treatment costs.  
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It is important to understand that this does not guarantee that they will continue to cover all of your treatment costs.  During your treatment, it may become clear that your problems relate to a pre-existing condition or degenerative condition. For example, some patients with knee pain are found to have underlying osteoarthritis.  In this situation, ACC may determine that you have no ongoing entitlement. Our team will do our best to help you understand when this might be an issue and to help liaise with ACC on your behalf.