Immunology and allergy is a field in which accurate diagnosis and proper management can make a real difference, giving patients clarity in terms of the decisions they make for themselves.
Your Appointment
You should allow at least one hour when being seen by Dr Newman for the first time. Your appointment will include a consultation, physical exam and specific allergy and asthma testing if needed. Not all allergic conditions require or can be diagnosed on skin prick testing. Dr Newman will generally decide whether you need this testing based on your symptoms and history. You are able to bring a support person to your appointment. If you are anxious about injections or medical procedures, please let us know and we can allow extra time for your consultation.
It is very helpful to bring an up to date medication list, including any over the counter medications, supplements, vitamins or natural medications. It is useful to bring any other information about your other health conditions such as hospital discharge summaries, if available.
Initial consultations
Your first appointment with Dr Newman will be in person unless there are exceptional circumstances, as it is important to be able to do a physical examination initially. Dr Newman is consulting in his private practice at 295a Macquarie Street, Hobart.
Telehealth consultations
Dr Newman can see review patients via Telehealth in most cases. This is usually a video consultation, but short appointments for simple matters, such as discussing normal results, may be via telephone. If you would like to have a Telehealth consultation but would need help with the IT side of things, please call us and we can help you.
Skin prick testing information
Skin prick testing is a common method used to diagnose allergies. During the procedure, Dr Newman will apply small drops of allergen extracts to your skin, usually on your forearm or back. Then, using a small, sterile lancet, they will gently prick or scratch the skin beneath each drop, allowing the allergen to enter the surface layer of the skin. If you are allergic to a particular substance, a small, itchy bump (wheal) will appear at the site within 15-20 minutes. He will then measure the size of the wheal and interpret the results to determine your allergies. Skin prick testing is generally well-tolerated, with minor discomfort, and the results are available immediately. This quick and reliable test can help identify your specific allergens, guiding a personalised treatment plan.
If Dr Newman has suggested that you may need a skin prick test at the first appointment (to help identify what you may be allergic to) you will be asked to avoid oral medicines/medicines containing active ingredients for at least five days (e.g. antihistamines). This is because antihistamines can interfere with the accuracy of the testing.
Referrals
In order to see Dr Newman, you will need a referral from your GP. A GP referral is valid for 12 months. Alternatively, you may be referred by a non-GP doctor. In this case the referral is valid for 3 months from the time of your first visit. If your referral is not up to date, your Medicare rebate will not be able to be processed. We will check that referrals are up to date about a week before your review appointment. If you would need longer than this to be able to see your GP, please let us know and we can organise an earlier reminder.
Cancellations
We understand that sometimes an emergency will occur and you may need to cancel your appointment. If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please give the clinicas much notice as possible – ideally 24 hours’ notice. Our appointment slots, especially for new patients, are long, and can be difficult to fill at short notice. If there are recurrent cancellations, particularly with short notice, we may charge a cancellation fee and require pre-payment.
After Hours
For non-urgent matters please leave a message with the answering service or send an email to reception@immuneclinic.com.au. These messages will not be checked until the next business day. In the event of a serious medical problem contact 13 HEALTH or your local after hours’ service, or if a medical emergency please call 000.
