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.

To ensure a smooth consultation, please bring the following items:

• Referral letter from your GP or other health professional

• Insurance policy number or ACC claim number

• Copies of medical reports and details of previous surgeries related to the same body region, if available

• A list of current medications

• Details of any recent X-rays, scans, or MRIs related to the same body area

Most of your medical information should have already been provided with your referral, and any recent X-rays or scans will likely be accessible online. However, if you have older X-rays or scans of the same body region, please bring them along—they may provide valuable insights into how your condition has developed over time.

If you don’t have anything specific to bring, don’t worry. Your specialist will have most of the necessary information to guide your care.

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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. 

The consultation fees are proportionate to the length of the assessment. 

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. 

Southern Cross Insurance members

If you are insured with Southern Cross, please advise of your membership number on arrival. 

As an Affiliated Provider to Southern Cross, we bill Southern Cross directly for your consultation fee. 

Depending on your policy, there may be a shortfall or co-payment that is required from you at the time of consultation. 

Medical Insurance

If you have insurance with other medical insurers, you are required to pay us on invoice and submit the invoice for reimbursement from the insurance company.   

It Is always prudent to clarify your insurance coverage before the consultation, and to be familiar with the billing and claim procedures of your insurer. This differs significantly from company to company. 

ACC Patients

We strongly recommend you confirm that your claim is verified with ACC for your appointment. 

To check with ACC- 

Phone: 0800 101 996 

Email: claims@acc.co.nz

Website: www.acc.co.nz/im-injured

If you do not have a verified claim, you will be responsible for the full cost of the consultation. 

To avoid doubt, please confirm that your ACC claim is verified with the Practice Manager upon arrival for your appointment. 

For verified claims, the consultation fee will be covered entirely by ACC. 

Note that if X-rays are required, there may be an ACC surcharge payable to the radiology service. description

As part of the initial assessment, a physical examination will almost certainly be required.

This may require removing clothing to expose your legs for a short period of time, but not your underwear.

For your convenience, try to avoid tight-fitting jeans or trousers, as well as pantyhose.

You may have to walk a few steps across the room in your underwear, as well as lying flat on an examination bed.

The examination is undertaken in a private consulting room.

A modesty drape will be used to cover your underwear and groin area.

Note that issues affecting the legs often require an examination of the spine, as well as the entirety of both legs.

Your modesty and privacy will be respected at all times. 

You may bring a chaperone or accompanying person entirely at your discretion. 

For a complete summary of your rights in the healthcare environment, please see the Code of Consumers’ Rights click here