FAQs
What are the Brisbane Knee and Shoulder Clinic office hours?
Dr Macgroarty’s office hours are between 8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
What does Dr Macgroarty specialise in?
Dr Macgroarty is a specialist knee and shoulder surgeon. Dr Macgroarty also makes himself available to the St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital Emergency Department to manage all aspects of general orthopaedic trauma.
What is required to get an appointment with Dr Macgroarty?
If you have an urgent injury, please complete the details under the “urgent assessment for sports injury” tab on the home page. Your referral letter and recent x-rays are required in the rooms for your referral to be assessed. Further tests may be required depending on what information is made available at the time of referral.
If you are booking online you will still require a referral from your general practitioner to access Medicare rebate services.
Does surgery involve risks?
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. During your consultation Dr Macgroarty will be able to provide you with specific information about the risks involved for a procedure recommended for you.
It is always open to you to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner and we encourage you to do so.
Are any further tests required prior to my appointment?
If any further tests are required, the forms will be posted to you with your appointment card or else Dr Macgroarty’s staff will make you aware of these requirements by telephone.
What do I need to bring to my appointment?
1. The original referral letter from your GP, if not already in rooms;
2. Any additional x-rays or tests that have been requested;
3. Medicare card;
4. Private health fund card (if you have private health insurance);
5. Payment method of your choice (cash, credit card or cheque);
6. List of your current medications
Where does Dr Macgroarty operate?
Dr Macgroarty operates at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane. All complex surgical cases are done at this institution.
Dr Macgroarty also performs day surgical cases at the St Andrews Memorial Hospital at Greenslopes.
Can I get a letter for airport security clearance after my total knee replacement?
No. This is due to stringent security measures now undertaken by airport security and as such any documentation from a medical specialist will not be accepted.
What to do if I have an urgent injury?
Please complete the details on the home web page under the “urgent assessment for sports injury” tab. Dr Macgroarty’s rooms will be in contact to make an urgent appointment at the sports injury clinic.
Alternatively, you could ask your GP or physiotherapist to contact Dr Macgroarty directly.
What can I do if I require an MRI?
Please contact Dr Macgroarty’s office and ensure that your referral is also delivered to the rooms so that prompt assessment and referral for an MRI can be undertaken if required.
What further tests may be required?
This varies depending on your injury or complaint. Further plain x-rays, blood tests, bone scan, CT or MRI scan may be necessary.
What can I do if I live out of town?
You can post your referral to the office along with either hard copies of your x-rays, the CD enclosed with your x-rays, or email to office@kneeandshoulderclinic.com.au.
If further tests are required and are not available in your region, we will try to organise these to be done whilst you are in Brisbane.
Does Dr Macgroarty participate in gap cover scheme?
Sometimes.
Usually there will be an out of pocket expense at the time of your consultation and for surgery if required.
Depending on circumstances, pensioners and health card holders may receive some discount on a case by case basis.
How long do I have to wear the white compression stockings after surgery?
This depends on what surgery you have had. You are required to wear stockings for 6 weeks following major surgery like total knee replacements and otherwise until mobility returns to normal.
Will I require physiotherapy?
Yes, often physiotherapy is important to restore strength and mobility of your injured knee or shoulder. In certain select instances, physiotherapy may not be necessary and this will usually be advised by Dr Macgroarty at the time of your assessment.
Not all patients will require physiotherapy in hospital. Dr Macgroarty will organise physiotherapy on a patient specific basis. Continue the exercises shown to you by Dr Macgroarty on the handouts when you go home. At your first post-operative appointment (usually 2 weeks post surgery), you will see Dr Macgroarty and possibly a shoulder physiotherapist / clinical nurse who will advise you of specific instructions to continue your management under the care of your community physiotherapist.
When can I drive following my surgery?
This depends upon the type of surgery and your use of crutches. Usually you can drive after knee surgery once you no longer need your crutches to walk, can walk normally and are not under the influence of any strong narcotic pain medications such as Endone. Please get a clearance from Dr Macgroarty in this regard.
When can I swim?
When your wound is clean and dry, this is usually about 3-4 weeks.
When can I take my dressings off?
You may take your dressings off 10 days following your post-operative appointment. If you have any queries regarding your wound, please contact the rooms on 1300 562 247.
What do I need to take to hospital?
Take all your medications. An overnight bag with your essential toiletries and a change or two of clothes. Crutches. Any x-rays or scans related to your surgery.
What do I need to do one week prior to my surgery?
Consent forms must be signed and returned to the office. The hospital forms should be completed and returned to the hospital. The surgical fee must be paid prior to surgery. Check that blood thinning medications such as Aspirin, Clopidogrel (Plavix), Coumadin (Warfarin), Dabigatran (Pradaxa) have been ceased as per Dr Macgroarty’s specific instructions. Call the office for clarification if unsure.
What do I do if I have a concern about my wound?
Contact the office during office hours or if after hours, call the St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital Emergency Department on 07 3834 4444.
How long will it take to get an appointment with Dr Macgroarty?
Dr Macgroarty and his team at Brisbane Knee and Shoulder Clinic do their best to get you an appointment as soon as possible. However, as Dr Macgroarty is in the operating theatre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he can only see patients on Tuesdays and Fridays. We aim to prioritise appointments according to clinical urgency, meaning that the wait for an appointment can vary from a few days to a few months. To minimise the wait for an appointment, you may initially be offered an appointment with one of the other specialists at Brisbane Knee and Shoulder Clinic to facilitate an earlier appointment with Dr Macgroarty.
Why have I been offered an appointment with someone else other than Dr Macgroarty?
Dr Macgroarty works as part of a multi-disciplinary practice at Brisbane Knee and Shoulder Clinic. This practice has been developed to provide a comprehensive, streamline approach to knee and shoulder complaints. It sometimes may be more timely or appropriate to see another specialist at the clinic before further referral to Dr Macgroarty. For example, it may be suggested that you see a sports physician or Dr Macgroarty’s dedicated sports injury physiotherapist, both of whom work closely with Dr Macgroarty. For acute problems you may be directed initially to see the treating physiotherapist who can start your treatment before you see Dr Macgroarty.
Can I change my appointment once it has been allocated?
Please call the practice on 1300 562 247 to discuss your options. Please give us as much notice as possible to ensure we can accommodate your request.
