Clinic FAQs

Geriatricians are medical specialists and fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. They have expertise in the health problems common with ageing such as declining cognition, reduced mobility, falls and frailty along with an understanding of the interaction of multiple different health conditions and medications.

As a geriatrician, Dr Ireland’s work has centred around assessment, diagnosis and ongoing management of cognitive concerns and dementia in the context of general health and lifestyle.

For the purposes of our comprehensive geriatric assessment services, including at-home visits, geriatric patients are those aged 65 and over, or 55 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Patients must be aged 50 and over to qualify for the Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic research program. Younger patients are welcome and encouraged to book for assessment with Dr Ireland privately.

While diagnoses such as dementia are far less common in people under the age of 65, younger onset dementia does occur.

Research into neurodegeneration indicates that changes of dementia start many years, even decades, before the first symptoms become troublesome in day-to-day life. While there is currently no cure for the brain diseases that cause dementia, there is a lot known about modifiable factors that can hope to lower the risk of dementia if addressed early.

If you find you are worrying about your cognition, the first step is to speak to your GP who may be able to work through solutions with you or arrange referral for a specialist review. For the unlucky few who are diagnosed with younger onset dementia, knowing about this early has many benefits.

Please note, our research program only takes people from the age of 50 but younger patients are welcome to book for assessment privately at the same expert facilities.

A referral from your GP or another specialist is required for a cognitive health check in order to be eligible for a Medicare rebate. Referrals for a comprehensive geriatric assessment (for those over 65 or over 55 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) must be from a GP and not a specialist in order to be eligible for the full rebate as noted in Our Fees. Our research program requires a referral from either a specialist or GP.

For many of our patients, including research participants, Department of Veterans Affairs gold cardholders and those visiting the clinic within Orange Health Service public hospital, bulk billing ensures there are no out-of-pocket expenses for our services.

For all other patients and services, such as non-research cognitive assessments and comprehensive health checks for over 65s, fees apply. Medicare rebates are generally always available and depend on the nature of the referral from your GP and the complexity of your health issues.

If you are eligible, our research program is a great way to have a comprehensive assessment of your cognitive health at no cost while contributing to our important research at the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney. It does take more of your time for the assessment (three to four hours on the day) and for the various questionnaires that need completing before your scheduled appointment. Booking a private appointment is more suitable if you would prefer to avoid the extra time and questionnaires and see only the doctor.

Camperdown

Brain and Mind Centre
Level 2
100 Mallett Street
Camperdown NSW 2050

Parking is limited in the surrounding area. There is one-hour and two-hour parking on Mallett Street and disabled parking directly out the front. There is also some all-day parking located on Australia Street.

For longer research and half day appointments, there is sometimes parking that can be arranged. Please speak to our research clinic coordinator when setting up your appointment day to see if this is possible.

Using public transport, take a bus from Central Station (Railway Square, George Street, Stand M) that goes along Parramatta Road and past Missenden Road and Mallett Street. These include bus routes 412, 413, 438X, 440, 461X, 480 and 483.

The bus stop is just after ‘Kidstuff’, located outside the Bridge Road School. Proceed back down Parramatta Road and turn right onto Mallett Street. The entrance to our clinic is on the left-hand side of the road.