Colorectal Surgery

We perform surgical procedures to manage a wide range of colorectal disorders.

Key points

Diagnosis and management of bowel cancer
Investigation and management of patients with painful anal conditions (proctology)
Surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease
Colonoscopy and polypectomy

Patients need a referral from their GP or healthcare provider. Access referral information

What we do

Our Colorectal Surgery service provides care and treatment for patients with diseases of the large bowel and anus.

We manage a wide range of colorectal disorders including:

Colorectal cancer
Inherited colorectal cancer including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Diverticular disease
Radiation enteritis or colitis
Rectal prolapse
Faecal incontinence
Haemorrhoids
Anal fissure
Fistula-in-ano
Pilonidal sinus
Acute colorectal emergencies including large bowel obstruction, rectal bleeding and perianal abscess

We have regular operating and endoscopy sessions and two weekly outpatient clinics. We attend a cancer multidisciplinary meeting in which cancer cases are assessed, attended by surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and stoma nurses.

We also attend an inflammatory bowel multidisciplinary meeting to discuss complex cases with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Colonoscopy bowel preparation

Find out how to prepare for a colonoscopy, using MOVIPREP and PLENVU bowel preparations.

Our clinics

Clinic name	Location	Options
Colorectal Clinic Level 1 Centre	The RMH Parkville
Colorectal Clinic 1 South	The RMH Parkville

Our clinics

Colorectal Clinic Level 1 Centre

The RMH Parkville

Colorectal Clinic 1 South

The RMH Parkville

For patients

For health professionals

Referrals

We accept GP and specialist referrals:

Use the RMH referral form or a template from your own system
Complete and fax your referral to Specialist Clinics (Outpatients) on (03) 9342 4234

We do not accept email referrals.

What to include in your referral

As outlined by the Department of Health, referral requests should include:

Patient demographic information
Referrer demographic information
Reason for referral
Presenting problem
Service(s) requested
Required referral information specified by statewide or local referral criteria
Current patient management
Impact of the problem on the patient
Name of the consultant and provider number (for Medicare clinics)
Investigation reports related to the referral

Urgent and after-hours support

Referrals are triaged based on priority. In an emergency, patients can go to the Emergency & Trauma Service at any time.

For advice, urgent referrals and out of hours support, call The RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000 to page our registrar on call.

View Dept of Health guidelines

HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.

Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).

Education and training

The Colorectal Surgery service is accredited for post-fellowship training in colorectal surgery with the Australia and New Zealand Training Board in Colon and Rectal Surgery (ANZTBCRS), and this is reflected in the appointment of the Colorectal Fellow.

The service is also accredited for general surgery training and has an accredited surgical registrar. In addition there is a strong research culture within the colorectal unit and a full-time research fellow.

Links & documents

Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ)

The Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Trials Group (AGITG)

Gastroenterological society of Australia

Need to change or cancel your appointment?

Do one of the following:

Access Health Hub to change the appointment yourself
Complete our online form and we'll change it for you
Call Specialist Clinics (Outpatients) on (03) 9342 7393 and we'll help you over the phone

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 (if relevant)
TAC or WorkCover claim number

For a day procedure

If you come for a day procedure, you should also bring:

A responsible adult carer to stay with you to hear instructions, help you and take you home
Dressing gown and slippers

For an overnight or longer stay

If you come for an overnight (or longer stay), you should also bring:

A dressing gown and slippers, or comfortable day clothes and shoes
Your toiletries
Your iPad or tablet and phone, provided you are happy to take responsibility for them

Do not bring (for overnight or longer stay)

And if you're staying overnight or longer, do not bring:

Your handbag, wallet, purse or large amounts of cash. Just bring a small amount for items such as newspapers, magazines or coffee
Valuables, such as jewellery, watches or other items of value to you