We provide comprehensive assessment, treatment and ongoing care of spinal disorders such as back pain, neck pain and sciatica.

Key points

  • Treatment, assessment and ongoing assistance for people with spinal disorders
  • Collaboration between multiple departments including Rheumatology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics and Pain Management
  • Linked with community sites within Merri Health
Patients need a referral from their GP or healthcare provider. Access referral information

What we do

We are a specialist service formed by collaboration between Rheumatology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Pain Management at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The service is linked with community sites in Merri Health.

We offer a comprehensive assessment and management advice to people with neck and back pains and any associated symptoms, such as radiculopathy. We can assist with persistent spinal pain, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, and neurogenic claudication symptoms from spinal stenosis.

We can organise further investigations, analgesic review (including injection therapies) and physiotherapy services, as well as access to surgical, rheumatology and pain management services.

Our clinics are staffed by a rheumatologist and advanced practice physiotherapists, the same professionals that you may see in the Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery or Rheumatology clinics at the RMH. All of these staff members have extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of back and neck problems.

Who can use our service

Exclusions to the service are suspicion of ‘red flag’ pathologies (tumours, infection, fracture, and inflammatory disease), spinal deformity and paediatric cases.

The BAC is not a multidisciplinary service for complex persistent pain syndromes. These referrals should be directed to Pain Management.

Our clinics

The RMH at Merri Health Coburg
The RMH Royal Park
For patients
For health professionals

Appointments

For all new appointments, contact the Direct Access Unit on (03) 8387 2333

To cancel or reschedule a booked appointment, contact the Clinical Centre on (03) 8387 2194

What to bring

Every time you come

Every time you come in for a test, day procedure, surgery or treatment, you should bring:

  • Medicare card
  • Health Care card (if you have one)
  • Concession card (if you have one)
  • Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
  • Medications you are currently taking, including any that you have bought without a prescription
  • X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results you have which are related to your procedure
  • Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
  • Aids (glasses, hearing aid, walking frame)

For a clinic appointment

If you come for a clinic appointment, you should also bring:

  • Your appointment letter
  • Any special items listed on your letter
  • Your appointment book
  • TAC or WorkCover claim number
Head of service
Dr John Moi
Contact us
Back Assessment Clinic, Royal Park
Fax
(03) 8387 2217
Address
The RMH Royal Park
34-54 Poplar Rd, Parkville, Victoria
Back Assessment Clinic, Merri Health
Phone
1300 637 744
Fax
(03) 9350 1518
Address
The RMH at Merri Health Coburg
93 Bell St, Coburg, Victoria
Patient using Telehealth

Telehealth

Start your Telehealth video call at your appointment time by joining this waiting room.

Last updated 11 January 2023