Refer once, and hear back — quickly, in writing.

The practice is built around the one thing GPs consistently ask of a surgeon: close the loop. A letter after every consultation, an operative note after every case, and a phone that gets answered for the urgent ones.

What you can rely on

Turnaround, in numbers

48 hrs

Letter to the referring GP after consultation

24 hrs

Operative report dispatched after surgery

Same wk

New-patient appointments where clinically needed

Direct

Phone access for urgent or complex referrals

How to refer

Three ways, whichever suits your software.

Secure messaging — send via your usual clinical messaging to the practice; details on request.
Fax or email — addressed to Prof. Ramana Balasubramaniam, with your referral letter attached.
Phone — call the rooms directly for urgent or complex cases and speak to the team.

Interstate and regional referrals are welcome, particularly for complex and recurrent abdominal wall reconstruction. For patients travelling to Melbourne, an initial consultation can often be arranged by phone or video, with surgery and review coordinated around the trip.

Contact & referral details →

Helpful to include

What makes a referral easy to action.

The clinical question and duration of symptoms.
Relevant imaging — ultrasound or CT for hernias, where done.
Past surgical history, including any previous repair or mesh.
Comorbidities and current medications, including anticoagulants.
For bariatric referrals, weight history and weight-related conditions.

What Ram takes on

Referrals especially welcomed

Complex & recurrent hernia

Large midline defects, multiply recurrent hernias, loss of domain, and contaminated fields needing reconstruction.

Hiatal & paraoesophageal

Symptomatic diaphragmatic hernias, including large paraoesophageal hernias with or without reflux.

Bariatric & metabolic

Patients considering surgery for obesity, including those with type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea or fatty liver.