Making your appointment

To make an appointment with Dr Liesel Porrett please phone Children’s Surgery Queensland on (07) 3846 3915.

Our main office at the Taylor Medical Centre is open from 8.30am to 5pm (excluding Public Holidays). 

Dr Porrett is pleased to now also offer appointments at Strathpine and Toowoomba, in addition to Brisbane. Please contact our office to arrange your consultations in these areas.

When you come for your first appointment we will confirm your details that we collected from you when you made the appointment.  We will also need to add your medicare number and health fund details.  Please inform us if you are on any Government concession cards – that is a Pension card or a Health Care Card.

What to bring to your consultation

  • A referral from another Doctor.  A referral from a GP is valid for 12 months, whereas a referral from another Specialist is only valid for 3 months.  A referral is needed so that you can claim a rebate for the consultation fee.  This is a requirement of the Health Insurance Commission or Medicare.

  • Medicare Card and Health Fund Details (where applicable)

  • Health Care Card (where applicable)

  • Any previous investigations such as ultrasounds, X-rays or pathology results. 

Fees & Payments

Payment for the consultation fee. Payment in full is required at the time of the consultation and we are then able to lodge the account online with Medicare. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Eftpos, cash or cheque. We do not accept American Express or Diners. If you are on a Pension or Health Care Card you will be bulk billed to Medicare.

Running on time

Whilst we make every effort to run on time, emergencies can occur that can cause delays beyond our control. This may involve rescheduling your appointment at short notice, although this is rare. We apologise in advance if you are kept waiting.

Cancellation Policy

Please telephone the office during office hours if you need to cancel an appointment.  We would appreciate it if we could have at least two days’ notice so that your appointment time could be allocated to another patient on our waiting list. 

If you decide not to go ahead with a surgical procedure that has been booked please call us as soon as possible so that the time can to allocated to another family. We will then notify the Hospital and Anaesthetist of the cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see Dr Porrett?

It is a requirement of the Health Insurance Commission that you need a referral from a General Practitioner or a Specialist to see the Doctor.  A referral from a GP only remains current for 12 months.  However a referral from a Specialist to a Specialist will only last for 3 months.  The responsibility of a current referral is the patient/parents responsibility.

What is the difference between being a public patient and a private patient?

Should you elect to be admitted as a Public patient in a Public Hospital, you are not guaranteed that the Consultant you saw Privately will perform the surgery.  Depending on availability the surgery could be performed by another Consultant in conjunction with a Surgical Trainee.

If you elect to be treated as a Public patient our Doctor will send a letter to the Public Hospital with a signed consent form requesting a date for surgery. A category will be given for the surgery, dependent on urgency, and your child’s name will be placed on the Public waiting list. Once the booking goes to the Hospital the Private rooms will have no further involvement with the booking.  You are normally notified by mail of the date.  They usually give you a month’s notice or phone contact if there is a cancellation.

The main benefit for being treated as a Private patient is choice. Your child's surgery can be provided in a selection of Private Hospitals. You can also choose the date that is convenient to you, avoid waiting lists and be treated promptly. Also, most importantly, you are guaranteed your Surgeon of choice. Your child's surgery would also not be cancelled a short notice unless on the rare occasion your Surgeon is unwell. Where as in the Public system, if a more urgent case needs to be scheduled, your child's case can be cancelled at very short notice.

Will you direct bill my Private Health Fund?

Yes Dr Porrett will direct bill all Health Funds with no out of pocket expenses for their fees. You still may have an excess on your Hospital charges.  The Anaesthetist may have a ‘Gap’ and they will notify you separately. We also advise that you check with your health fund that you are not serving any waiting periods or have any restrictions on your Health Fund. Our secretaries can supply you with any relevant item numbers to be sure that you are covered. You also have the option if you are uninsured or if your Health Fund is not covering your child's care, of paying the costs of Private care yourselves. Our secretarial staff can provide a quote from the Private Hospital and any GAP payments for the Surgeon and Anaesthetists fees.

What conditions do Paediatric Surgeons see and treat?

Paediatric Surgeons diagnose, treat and manage children’s surgical needs including:

  • Antenatal counselling for congenital anomalies of the skin, head, neck, chest and abdomen

  • Surgery for head and neck pathologies such as thyroglossal and neck cysts, lymph gland enlargement and infections

  • Surgery for thoracic conditions such as chest wall deformities, lung cysts and lung infection

  • Surgery for abnormalities of the groin in childhood and adolescence which includes undescended testes, hernias, hydroceles, varicoceles and foreskin abnormalities

  • Surgery for Urological Conditions which would include Hypospadias and surgical correction of abnormalities of the kidney and bladder

  • Diagnosis and surgical care of Tumours except brain and bone

  • All other general surgical procedures for children from laparoscopic appendicectomy to excision of various lesions and cysts and repair of lacerations and abdominal pain diagnoses.

What do I do if my child needs urgent surgical review?

Firstly, if it is during office hours our secretarial staff can direct you towards the right course of action. After hours, our office phone service have a recorded message informing you which Consultant is on call and how to contact them. Note: if you are a new patient, you will need to be referred.

If the situation is acute, you should proceed to your local hospital emergency department. If you are in Brisbane, the Queensland Children's Hospital Emergency Department is very helpful, and can contact the required consultant. Other Private Hospital emergency departments are also available throughout Brisbane.

If the medical emergency is more urgent, please call 000.