FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It may come as a surprise for some, however unfortunately the answer is no. We aim to provide enough information on our website to decide if our service is right for you before booking an appointment. This means we can focus on providing the best possible service to patients.

There are many aspects to cover in your initial assessment which is why a 60-minute booking is required. This allows us enough time to gather information and provide recommendations for any necessary ongoing treatment.

The areas we can help you with include:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Complex food intolerance and other food sensitivities that trigger symptoms such as skin rashes, sinus issues, headaches, brain fog and more
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Endometriosis / Pelvic Pain
• Coeliac Disease

There is no obligation to continue treatment if you feel it is not the right fit for you.

The short answer is no, however we do recommend seeing your GP as you may be eligible for Medicare rebates. Your doctor will discuss your options and will often include helpful medical information on your referral so we can provide the best possible care.

There are two types of referrals:

1. Standard referral letter, which is a letter from your GP stating they are referring you for IBS or other specific gut-related concerns. It usually outlines your medical history and medications, providing us with some background info.
2. Medicare care plan, specifically known as Chronic Disease Management plan. This is a special referral that offers rebates of $58 per visit, up to 5 per calendar year.

You are able to see one of our dietitians if you don’t have a referral or care plan.  

Yes, Medicare rebates are available for patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs that are managed by a GP.

Under a Chronic Disease Management Plan you will be reimbursed a rebate of $58 per appointment, for up to 5 sessions per year.

Please be aware the full consultation fee (before the rebate) is required to be paid to us. Medicare will reimburse the rebate into your account after we have received the full payment.

A Chronic Disease Management Plan can usually be renewed annually through a GP. Make sure you check with your Doctor before your appointment whether you are eligible for a plan, and ensure they sign and date your referral form.

Please be aware we do not provide bulk billing at The Gut Friendly Dietitian.

Initial consultations are $195 and review consultations are $95. Rebates may be available via Medicare or Private Health Insurance (check with your GP and health insurer).

Note: New patients are required to pay for their first appointment up-front to secure their spot. This allows us to provide a more consistent booking service to all of our patients.

We can only accept care plans that are specifically addressed to The Gut Friendly Dietitian. If you’ve been seeing another dietitian or health professional and want to make the switch to us, that’s great! However, please have your GP amend your referral to include the following details:

The Gut Friendly Dietitian
Meridian Health Centre
153 Kembla St, Wollongong
NSW 2500

Yes, patients can see us under NDIS if they are self or plan managed, and under DVA with a D904 referral from their GP.

It’s not a requirement, however, speaking to your GP before booking your first appointment can provide valuable insights into your condition. By letting your doctor know you’re considering seeing IBS and food intolerance dietitian, they may deem it necessary to perform any of the following tests:

• Coeliac screening serology
• Full blood count
• Folate, B12, vitamin D status
• Thyroid function
• Blood glucose levels
• CRP
• Faecal calprotectin
• H Pylori breath test
• Other tests that you identify as required

Some tests are covered under Medicare, but not all. It’s best to discuss these details with your GP.

If you have an upcoming booking for a gastroscopy, colonoscopy and/or endoscopy it’s highly recommended you postpone your first appointment until your results are back—unless you’re on a public waiting list in which case we recommend booking your dietitian appointment anyway.

We use a range of medical elimination diets to identify food intolerances.

This involves 3 phases:

1.  Temporary restriction of common food triggers for 2–6 weeks.
2.  Food challenges that involve gradually reintroducing food triggers individually, then monitoring the body’s response.
3.  Using the results of the food challenges, we’ll tailor a unique diet to help keep your symptoms settled long-term.

No, we do not perform any tests for food intolerances. Some unconventional tests are offered in the market such as hair analysis or IgG tests, however they are considered unorthodox in the medical community due to their lack of credible scientific evidence.

We tailor and provide guidance for the following diets:

• The RPAH Elimination Diet / FAILSAFE
• Low FODMAP
• Low food chemical
• Low salicylate
• Low amine
• Gluten-free
• Dairy-free

Unfortunately, we don’t provide guidance for the candida diet, acid diet, or AIP diet. While we are familiar with the SIBO bi-phasic diet, it has not yielded results in our experience so far.   

We consider your individual health in the context of your internal and external environment. Sometimes this means discussing lifestyle management factors such as stress, exercise, and supplements.

With your consent we may refer to or consult with other health professionals for complementary management of your gut-related concerns. This is to ensure the best outcomes for your health.

We only offer weight loss guidance when it relates to gut-related symptoms or concerns such as IBS, food intolerance, or Coeliac Disease. It may form part of treatment however weight loss is not the central focus of our service.