Being referred to a surgeon doesn’t necessarily mean you will need surgery right away.

Your initial consultation is an opportunity for the specialist to review your concerns and work toward a clear diagnosis. This may be determined during your first visit, but in some cases, additional tests or scans may be necessary.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, you’ll discuss treatment options—which may not involve surgery at all. Surgery is only considered when all non-surgical treatments have been exhausted and are no longer effective.

Ultimately, the decision to proceed with surgery is entirely yours. Your surgeon will guide you through the discussion, ensuring you have all the information needed to make an informed choice.

Most medical information should have been already been provided by your health professional with your referral.

Any recent X-rays and scans should be available to us online.

However, if you do have any of the following, please do bring it with you:

• Your Insurance or ACC claim details

• List of current medications

• Details of the radiology service where any recent X-rays, scans, MRI’s were done

If you have any old X-rays or details of previous surgery of the same body area from years gone by, please also bring these as they may offer valuable information into how your condition may have developed.

Other than that, if you don’t feel you have anything special to bring, then don’t be too worried.

You are welcome to bring a spouse, partner, family member, or support person to your appointment. While this is entirely optional, it can be helpful—especially if you feel anxious or want assistance in retaining important information.

Under the New Zealand Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, you are entitled to have one or more support people of your choice present.

To ensure a smooth consultation, we appreciate a brief introduction of your support person at the outset. Rest assured, their presence and relationship to you will not influence the assessment in any way.

For a full summary of the Code of Consumers’ Rights, please refer to NZ Code of Rights.

Grace Orthopaedic Centre

Your appointment will take place at Grace Orthopaedic Centre, located at 335 Cheyne Road, Pyes Pa, Tauranga, right next to Grace Hospital.

To view directions on Google Maps, click here. On your mobile device, simply search for “Grace Orthopaedic Centre” in Google Maps or Apple Maps for easy navigation.

Tony’s Rooms

Tony consults from Suite 1 on the ground floor of Grace Orthopaedic Centre. As you enter the building, his desk is immediately to the left of the main entrance. Please check in with his Practice Manager upon arrival.

Bathroom facilities and chilled water are available just beside the waiting area for your convenience.

Free parking is available outside the building. For easy drop-off, designated parks are located right at the entrance.

A wheelchair is available should you require assistance.

As part of your assessment, a physical examination will be required. Conditions affecting the hip joint often require a thorough evaluation of the spine and both lower limbs.

You may need to remove clothing from your lower limbs for a short period, though underwear will remain on.

Examinations are conducted in a private room, and you are welcome to have a chaperone or support person present at your discretion. Your privacy and comfort will be respected at all times.

The length of each assessment varies depending on the nature of the problem. 

In general, you will be offered either a 20- or 40-minute appointment. 

If additional X-rays are required, they can usually be obtained on-site within half an hour.  I endeavour to see you again after the X-rays, which might take another 20 minutes for discussion. 

If further investigations or imaging (such as an MRI scan) is needed, this will need to be arranged separately at a later date.  A follow-up appointment to discuss the results will be required, which is charged at a reduced fee.