About us

The Neurosurgery Unit performs brain surgery. We also perform spinal surgery.

We have a 32-bed acute inpatient ward. The ward has a 4-bed area where we can look after you after brain surgery, or if you are very ill.

The ward also cares for people after blood vessel, face and jaw, eye and ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgery.

People come here for brain surgery from across Victoria, interstate, New Zealand and Indonesia.

Our services

We perform surgery for:

• Epilepsy
• Brain tumours
• Brain aneurysms (bulging blood vessels in your brain)
• Diseases and injuries that damage your nerves, including tumours and trapped nerves
• Pancoast tumours (a rare kind of lung tumour)
• Intracranial and intraspinal tumours
• Pituitary tumours
• Other general neurosurgery

Head of unit

Mr Gus Gonzalvo

Related services

• Epilepsy

  We diagnose, assess and treat adults and children with both new and established epilepsy.

• Blood vessel surgery

  We care for and treat people for conditions that affect their veins and arteries.

• Spinal surgery

  We perform spinal surgery for people who have an injury, cancer, deformity or nerve compression.

• Nerve & tendon transfer surgery

  We perform nerve & tendon transfer surgery to give people back arm and hand function.

Referrals

For patients

You need a referral from your GP, specialist or health care provider to access this service.

For health professionals

Find out how to refer your patient.

For urgent referrals or advice:

Phone: 03 9496 5000 (ask for the on-call neurosurgical registrar)

What to bring

Every time you come

• Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Glasses, hearing aid, walking frame

For your clinic appointment

• Your appointment letter
• Any special items listed on your letter
• TAC or Workcover claim number (if relevant)

For your day procedure

• Responsible adult carer to stay with you to hear instructions, help you and take you home
• Comfortable day clothes, such as a tracksuit

Our locations

You may have your surgery at the Austin Hospital or Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

Check the information you have received to make sure you know which hospital to visit. If you are unsure, call your surgical liaison nurse or contact us on the numbers below.

Austin Hospital

The Surgery & Endoscopy Centre
Level 2, Austin Tower
145 Studley Road Heidelberg

Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

The Surgery Centre
Level 2, Centaur Building
300 Waterdale Road Ivanhoe

View location map

Neurosurgery

For clinic appointments

Contact Specialist Clinics

For enquiries about your surgery

Contact your surgical liaison nurse or the Elective Surgery Booking Team

Phone: 03 9496 5045

Open hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm 

Postal address

Department of Neurosurgery
Austin Health
PO Box 5555
Heidelberg Victoria 3084