Patient Information

For a consultation with Dr Harbury it is necessary to have a valid referral from a medical practitioner, which would usually be your own general practitioner. A referral from another specialist or from a registered doctor in a hospital is also valid. This is essential to claim a Medicare rebate for part of your consultation fee.

Appointments can be made by calling (02) 4934 6600.

After meeting Dr Harbury you’ll be taken through:
∙ a detailed history of your presenting complaint
∙ physical examination of the affected area
∙ review of any imaging / scans
∙ review of any other investigations that you may have had

Through this process and with your input it will be decided if it’s necessary to obtain any further imaging such as MRI scanning or similar tests

Please ensure that you wear suitable clothing to allow examination of the area of concern, be that shoulder, hip, knee or other area.
The initial aim is for Dr Harbury to obtain a firm diagnosis that can be discussed with you, followed by the potential methods of treatment, along with the benefits and disadvantages of each and his recommendation for your particular case.

If orthopaedic surgery is recommended this, will be described in some detail. Written handouts are available to assist in a description of some procedures. You will then have the opportunity to consider your options and decide on the treatment with which you’d like to proceed. This may all occur in one consultation or it may occur over a span of several.

Dr Richard Harbury practices general Orthopaedics with a particular subspecialty interest in knee arthroscopy and sports medicine of the knee (including ACL and other ligament reconstructions), knee replacement and hip replacement. Dr Harbury also performs most shoulder surgery and organises appropriate referral after review of people with complex shoulder problems.

Spinal / back pain or related problems are not treated by Dr Harbury.

When you come for your appointment remember to bring the following:
∙ your doctor’s referral letter
∙ your Medicare or Veteran’s Affairs card
∙ any information regarding your private health insurance or your compensation details
∙ copies of any x-rays or other scans relevant to your condition
∙ copies of any other medical or operation reports if they are available

1. Patients Treated in Private Hospitals

In Hospital
Dr Harbury will review you in the hospital following your surgery to ensure that you are fit to be discharged home.

Following Discharge from Hospital
Dr Harbury would usually see you 10 days following your surgery to assess your wounds and to discuss the operative findings with you. The exception to this is patients who have had joint replacements who would usually be reviewed 6 weeks following their hip replacement or knee replacement surgery. These appointments will be made at time of booking your surgery.

Physiotherapy would usually be recommended and organised at your follow-up outpatient visit. Further follow-ups will be discussed individually at that time.


2. Patients Treated in Maitland Public Hospital

In Hospital
Dr Harbury or his Registrar will review you in the hospital following your surgery to ensure that you are fit to be discharged home.

Following Discharge from Hospital
Dr Harbury’s Registrar would usually see you 10 days following your surgery to assess your wounds and to discuss the operative findings with you. The exception to this is patients who have had joint replacements who would usually be reviewed 6 weeks following their hip replacement or knee replacement surgery. Dr Harbury will usually see you at 6 weeks following surgery for clinical review at Maitland Public Hospital Orthopaedic Clinic. These appointments will be made prior to discharge from Maitland Hospital.

Physiotherapy would usually be recommended and organised at your follow up outpatient visit. Further follow up will be discussed individually at that time.