Specialist Clinics offer planned care for people who don’t need to stay in hospital but require specialist check-ups, treatment or ongoing management. Patients can see doctors, nurses or allied health staff, receive support for chronic or complex conditions with community services, and get care before or after a hospital stay.

What are Specialist Clinics?

Specialist clinics organise and manage patient care for a wide range of health needs. They review referrals to decide how quickly a patient needs to be seen, then schedule appointments with the right specialist team. They also work closely with GPs and other health providers to make sure each patient’s care is well coordinated and timely. Their role is to guide patients through the system so they get the specialist support that best fits their condition.

Our clinics support more than 30 different medical and surgical areas, helping people who need expert advice, tests or follow‑up care without needing to stay in hospital. The Specialties offered at Northern Health are:

How we coordinate your care

The Specialist Clinic Patient Journey

• A clinician reviews your referral to assess your needs and urgency.
• Once accepted, we contact you to schedule an appointment and advise what to bring, such as medications or test results.
• At your appointment, you’ll meet with specialist staff which may include doctors, nurses or allied health professionals, who will explain your condition, options and next steps.
• For ongoing or complex conditions, we provide follow-up which could include the need for further scans and blood tests that are needed for your next appointment and adjust your care plan over time.
• At your appointment, you will receive information on results, treatment plans and who to contact if your condition changes.

We will contact you via SMS, email or letter. See resources from the Virtual Mailroom brochure.