Your First Visit

A specialist appointment shouldn’t be a mystery. Here is how a consultation with our practice works, from referral to follow-up.

Getting an appointment

A referral letter from your GP or specialist is preferred — most medical schemes require one for specialist benefits — but it is not essential; you are welcome to phone the rooms on +27 21 201 6582 to discuss an appointment. Urgent referrals, including new cancer diagnoses, are prioritised — we aim to see them within a week; tell the receptionist if your referral is urgent. Emergencies such as significant bleeding should go directly to the Mediclinic Durbanville Emergency Centre (+27 21 980 2126).

What to bring

Your referral letter; your medical aid card and ID; a list of current medication; and any previous results — colonoscopy or gastroscopy reports, scans (the actual images, on disc or link, are more valuable than the report alone), blood tests and operation notes.

Before you arrive

You will receive an email from the SAM Registry to capture your baseline quality of life scores and a few details about your past. This is to accurately assess any changes you undergo while under our care as part of a comprehensive Patient Reported Outcomes Program.

The consultation

Expect a thorough discussion of your symptoms and history, an examination — which for colorectal complaints may include a gentle rectal examination and, where indicated, simple in-rooms procedures such as proctoscopy or 3D endoanal ultrasound — and a clear explanation of what we think is going on, which tests will settle it, and what treatment we recommend. We make use of audio transcription programs to keep the conversation one on one, and let the documentation happen automatically. You should be able to leave knowing the plan.

Fees and medical aid

Practice billing is benchmarked to a defined medical scheme comprehensive-plan rate — our rooms will tell you the exact fee for any consultation or procedure upfront. Depending on your scheme and plan, there may be a difference between our fee and what your medical aid pays; gap cover policies may cover this shortfall, and any costs are explained to you before a procedure. Cover for robotic surgery varies by scheme and plan; a growing number of schemes now support robotic-assisted colorectal surgery and hernia surgery, and we will explain any co-payment clearly before you decide.

Our rooms will facilitate and help you to obtain authorization from your scheme for all procedures and admissions. While it’s not always possible to predict payments for all medical aids in South Africa, we sincerely aim to ensure no patient is ever surprised by an account — if anything about costs is unclear, ask; our staff handle these questions every day.

Preparing for surgery

If an operation is planned, a little preparation makes a real difference to your recovery. Tell us about every medication you take — blood thinners such as aspirin, anti-inflammatories or warfarin usually need to be stopped about a week before surgery, but only ever on your surgeon’s specific instruction. Stop or cut down smoking, treat any infections (including tooth, gum, bladder or bowel infections) before your operation, eat well, and stay as active as your condition allows — fitness going into surgery is one of the strongest predictors of an easy recovery. Routine pre-operative tests such as blood work are usually arranged in the week before major surgery.

For day procedures: arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you, do not drive for at least 24 hours after sedation or anaesthesia, and start with a light meal once you are hungry. Take prescribed pain relief when discomfort starts rather than waiting for severe pain — staying ahead of it works far better.

After your procedure

You should receive a call from our office the day after your surgery to check in on you.

For any emergencies, go directly to the Mediclinic Durbanville Emergency Centre.

After your visit

Your referring doctor is kept informed of significant findings and events in your care.

All procedures are scheduled through the rooms, which will guide you through the authorisation, preparation instructions and admission process.

Follow-up appointments and results discussions should be booked before you leave