An endocrinologist is a medical doctor that specialises in hormones. They are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the endocrine system. Common conditions treated by endocrinologists include all forms of diabetes, thyroid, adrenal and pituitary disorders, osteoporosis, and other conditions requiring hormone replacement or monitoring.

Becoming an endocrinologist takes time! Over a decade of training is required, including a medical degree, internship, foundational physician training followed by advanced specialist training.

Yes! Telehealth & face-to-face appointments are available.

We also offer evening Telehealth appointments from 4-8pm Tuesdays & Thursdays. Just let our friendly team know your preference when booking.

Ben welcomes all patients regardless of whether they have a referral letter, Medicare card, or private health insurance. However, please consider the following:

To be eligible for a Medicare rebate, you must have a Medicare card and a valid referral letter. Generally, referrals from GPs are valid for 12 months, while referrals from other specialists are valid for 3 months. If you don't have a Medicare card or a valid referral letter, you can still consult with the Ben, but you won't be able to claim the Medicare rebate.

You can ask your GP to fax, email, or use a secure messaging service to send our team your referral. Alternatively, if you have a copy, you can upload it using our secure New Patient Registration Form.

For patients who do not have a Medicare card, a rebate for the consultation may be available from your overseas health insurance. We will provide you with an invoice and receipt of payment on the day of your consultation so you can submit a claim to your health fund.

No, this is a common misconception & negatively impacts patient choice.

A specialist endocrinologist can accept a referral addressed to another endocrinologist regardless of whether they are named in the letter.

Ben specialises in adult endocrinology. He does not routinely see patients under 18 years of age.

Please see your GP (or other specialist) for a referral and then get in touch with our rooms via our online contact form, phone or email

Before your first appointment:

• Please complete our New Patient Registration Form (5-10 minutes)

On the day of your appointment, please bring the following:

• Medicare card & any concession cards

• Recent blood test results or imaging reports relating to your referral

• A list of your current medications

We are a private practice and do not routinely offer bulk billing. To access bulk billed Diabetes & Endocrine services ask your GP to refer you to your local hospital’s outpatient department.

Almost all consultations qualify for a Medicare rebate of a portion of the fee. This will be processed on your behalf and automatically deposited into your nominated bank account (with Medicare) within 1-2 business days.

For a detailed breakdown of our consultation fees please see our Fees & Cancellation Policy.

Address

841 Rathdowne Street (corner of Richardson Street)

Carlton North VIC 3054

Parking

There is ample free 2 hour parking on Richardson Street and surrounding streets.

Accessibility

There is wheelchair access via the Richardson Street entrance. Press the intercom to gain entry.

Public transport

Bus

• Route 504 - stops immediately out the front entrance

Trams

• Routes 1 and 6 along Lygon St - stop 117 (Richardson St). Walk east along Richardson St for less than 5 minutes

• Route 96 along Nicholson S - stop 20 (Richardson St). Walk west along Richardson St for 5 minutes

Trains

• Parliament Station then tram 96

• Flinders St or Melbourne Central then trams 1 or 6

• Clifton Hill Station then bus 504

Bringing a friend or family member with you is a great idea. It is possible that you will be provided with a lot of information during the consultation and it can be of value to have another person there to help remember the details. If you have any questions leading up to the consultation, please write them down, so Ben can go through them with you.

In short, yes. Ben believes in choice. Consistent with the position statements of multiple national organisations (including Diabetes Australia), people with diabetes are able to choose the best management solutions for their diabetes while also continuing to receive support from their healthcare team and the broader health system. This includes DIY or open-source solutions.