Hi ladies, the time has come that I need to start looking into getting a fertility specialist. I have a couple of questions,
1. Is there such a thing as a FS in the public system?
2. What sort of costs are involved initially
3. How do I work out who to see?
My gp said I should decide on one and she will give me the referral but she didn't know many herself that she could suggest besides looking up names.
They do have fertility specialist in some public hospitals. royal womens has a public IVF program (I am fairly sure) box hill used to have a fertility clinic but they don't do IVF. Where do you live / work - that probably determines where you need to look for FS's? When choosing to go public, balance out the time you may have to wait in a public clinic and think how much that is going to cost you in lost wages. while a private FS will be more expensive, it is easier to schedule time with them.
good luck.
Yes I think there is at the RWH which is associated with Melbourne IVF. I'm not sure how you get into the public system as I went private and it wasn't even offered by my GP so I didn't know it existed until I saw that one girl here on BB was going public. I'm not sure if all services offered are public or only certain treatment ie: hospital stay for egg collection, laparoscopy etc. I don't think public means free though but I"m not sure of the costs.
You might be able to contact the RWH and find out more. I will PM you some names of a couple of FS - one I saw privately who might do some work at RWH and the other who I'm more certain does.
I believe there is some type of public or reduced cost system that operates at RWH. It is associated with Melbourne IVF. I'm not sure which services are public but I've heard of reduced costs (because it's a public hospital) for egg collection and a public waiting list for laparoscopy (might be free for this I"m not sure). They may offer more at cheaper rates. I didn't know about the public system and went private. I only found out as I read about someone who had some public services.
I didn't know who to see and relied on my GP looking up a name or two. I will PM you the name of someone I saw who might work across the RWH and someone that I heard that does and he is pretty good.
Thank you ladies for the responses. The time out of work isn't an issue as my boss is aware of what's going on (I know that seems strange but there isn't many secrets as there are only the 2 of us in my dept). I am on the south east so RWH isn't too bad. I will have to do some looking into it and maybe give them a call.
Maybe ring Melbourne IVF and Monash IVF and see if they can help.
I went private (uninsured), so i can't help, but my FS would do my procedures at RWH so that i didn't have to pay the associated costs for anaethestist etc at Freemasons. I can PM you his name if you want. I also loved his receptionists - they were great for advice and help with thiings.
Southern Health have a fertility area at Monash. Im booked in to see them in Sept. There is a very long waiting list apparently. I only got in because the dr that delivered my DD put the referral in.
I do have a FS though that I see. His name is Mark Lawrence he is based in Bentleigh. I think the initial consultation is $180 and you get about ?$90 back from medicare. on doing appointments after that are $95 I think and about $40 back from medicare. If you want more info on Dr Lawrence feel free to PM me.
Thank you for the info ladies, I managed to get referred through to RWH/Melb IVF in the public system I am awaiting my appointment date but they said I would be looking at early August which really isn't that far away
Hi bubbat.........They do have fertility specialist at the. royal womens,yes it has a public IVF program you still need a gp referral There is a very long waiting list apparently when i went there first app was 3 to 4 mths wait Royal womens Reproductive Services you still pay ivf chargers as it is melbourne ivf and other fees ad min fee day bed and so on hope this helps
bernie
...public or private, costs are helped with the medicare safety net. Also, something that I was not aware of at the time of starting IVF is that you can also get a tax deduction for out of pocket medical expenses above and beyond the safetynet. So, make sure you get pharmacy recipets for any prescription meds (you need to ask for these at the time you put in your prescription as the chemist has to do them, the cash register reciept is no good) you get, and keep the offical reciepts for any other health related issues eg prescription glasses etc. Then, at the end of the FY, jump onto the medicare website and download your (and your partners) medicare tax statement, and use that to see if with your other expenditure you can claim additional tax deductions.
Good luck with your appointment!
FG
Fertility Specialist Melbourne
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I am awaiting my appointment date but they said I would be looking at early August which really isn't that far away 
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