Referring to Dr Dower

Dr Ashraf Dower is a specialist neurosurgeon and complex spine surgeon consulting across North Sydney, Westmead, and Penrith. He welcomes both urgent and routine referrals for a range of cranial and spinal conditions.

How to Refer

Referrals can be sent via:

Our team will then contact the patient to schedule an appointment.

If the referral is urgent, please call our team directly so that it can be flagged and prioritised appropriately.

What to Include in a Referral

To assist with triaging, please provide:

  • Relevant clinical history, including any neurological deficits and acuity or chronicity of symptoms
  • Imaging reports orresults ofdiagnostic work-up
  • Details of any prior neurosurgical interventions
  • Current medications and allergies
  • Funding status (private, DVA, WorkCover, CTP, self-funded or public)
  • Preferred clinic location:
    • The Mater Clinic, Wollstonecraft
    • Nepean Health Hub, Kingswood
    • Westmead Neurosurgery, Westmead

Urgent Referrals

If your patient requires urgent review:

  • Direct them to the nearest emergency department, or
  • Contact our team directly on 1300 909 953 so that the referral can be escalated and Dr Dower notified.

We endeavour to offer expedited appointments when needed.

Referral Form

Referrals

Maximum file size: 50MB

Public Patients

Dr Dower welcomes referrals for both public and private patients, however appointments in his rooms are not bulk-billed and consultation fees apply. If a public patient requires surgery, this will be coordinated through the public hospital at Nepean.

Alternatively, public patients can opt for review in his registrar-run Outpatients Clinic at Nepean Hospital, where consultations are covered under Medicare. Please note that for non-urgent cases, waiting times may be lengthy when demand is high.

Referrals for the public clinic should be addressed to:

Dr Ashraf Dower, Nepean Hospital Neurosurgery Outpatients Clinic
Phone: (02) 4734 1763 (option 2)
Fax: (02) 4734 1283
Email: NBMLHD-SurgicalReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au

Please note that the Nepean Neurosurgery Clinic cannot see WorkCover, CTP, or other third-party insured cases.