Getting a referral
Do I need a referral to access the service and book an appointment?
Yes, you will need a referral from your local GP or medical specialist to be considered as suitable for the service.
Yes, you will need a referral from your local GP or medical specialist to be considered as suitable for the service.
Our clinical team will review the electronic referral submitted to us by your GP/health service, and our Clinical Administration Manager will be in contact with you to arrange an appointment.
Please specify if you prefer an in-person consultation or a telehealth appointment.
For any questions or further information, please email us at: NPenquiries@mh.org.au
Please note. Telehealth can be especially helpful for anyone who finds it difficult to get to the Royal Melbourne Hospital or have to travel a long way to get here. Learn more about our Telehealth service here
Our Inpatient is currently closed.
Telehealth can be especially helpful for anyone who finds it difficult to get to The Royal Melbourne Hospital or have to travel a long way to get here.
Patients' may be eligible if:
The referring doctor may deem it clinically relevant and appropriate to be included in ongoing clinical discussions about the patient.
Referrals will not be accepted if another service is felt to be more appropriate (such as a private psychiatrist, brain injury service etc.) or if the request is for neuropsychology alone.
We would love to hear from you. Email us at: neuropsychiatry@mh.org.au
We are a state-wide funded service and accept referrals and bookings for patients who hold a valid Medicare Card/Concession Card. There may be some out of pocket expenses with regard to additional tests and services that fall outside of the Medicare billing system. Please speak with our Administration Manager to find out more.
For more information including current road works and disruptions, please visit The Royal Melbourne Hospital Website
PLEASE NOTE we also run a Telehealth clinic for Outpatient appointments to support patients and their families and carers living in rural and remote areas and/or living with mobility issues.
An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) allows us to visualise internal organs, such as the brain. The MRI machine makes loud banging sounds whenever it is taking pictures. An MRI usually takes between thirty minutes to an hour. The patient is laying down for the procedure, inside a tunnel shaped machine.
A SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) allows us to see functional information about a specific organ or body system (e.g. the blood supply to the brain). The patient is injected with a radiopharmaceutical 10 or 20 minutes prior to the scan. The scan will be done by a camera the moves around your head (scanning the brain). There are no loud noises associated with this procedure. The only noise you will hear will be the mechanical rotation of the camera. (see here for information)
Positron Emission Tomography is a nuclear medicine imaging technique which uses a radiologically-marked glucose molecule to look at metabolism (use of glucose as fuel) in different areas of the brain. It differs from SPECT in looking at the brain’s uptake of glucose (the brain has high energy requirements and really only uses glucose as fuel), where the SPECT looks at blood flow. The PET scan is integrated with a CT scanner and also uses the same type of camera as the SPECT scan. The scan itself takes around 15-20 minutes, but the glucose is given by injection an hour or so beforehand so the whole process can take around two hours with some waiting in between. (see here for information)
A CT (Computed Tomography) scan takes cross sectional pictures of specific parts of the body and reconstructs them on a computer so they can be visualised. A CT scanner, which is shaped like a large donut, goes around the part of the body to be scanned. A CT scan usually takes about 30 minutes, and as it moves around you may make clicking or buzzing noises. (see here for information)
An EEG (Electroencephalogram) allows us to look at electrical activity in the brain. For an EEG, about 16-25 electrodes are placed on the scalp to detect and record electrical activity in the brain. The electrodes do not produce any sensation they only record activity.
We seek to ensure that consumers, family, carers, support people, service providers and the community involved with our service are aware of their relevant rights and responsibilities.
Every patient – outpatient and inpatient – can expect to receive the best care possible.
Patients will be treated with respect for their beliefs, lifestyle, sexual, cultural and religious orientation and practices and be given appropriate personal and physical privacy. In keeping with the guidelines and legislation,
An information pamphlet Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for Consumers, Families, Carers and Staff is provided on admission, or you can download it here
If a patient is admitted for compulsory treatment, Statement of Rights and Important Information about Your Hearing (Mental Health Review Board) pamphlets will be provided.
If a patient has any concerns or complaints regarding their care on the ward, please discuss with the Neuropsychiatry staff
For more information and videos about patients’ rights and responsibilities, please visit The Royal Melbourne Hospital page here
To assist in assessment, patents should follow the prescribed treatment and actively participate in their care.
Staff members are always available to answer questions, provide clear explanations of treatments and tests, and offer recommendations on patient care.
