When symptoms persist, overlap or don't fit neatly into a single diagnosis, navigating healthcare can be challenging.

Our Complex Illness Clinic provides extended consultations to review your medical history, explore contributing factors and develop an individualised plan for investigation and ongoing care.

Who is the clinic for?

The clinic may be suitable for people who:

• Experience persistent or unexplained symptoms that have not improved with usual GP or specialist care

• Have symptoms affecting several different areas of their health

• Have hypermobility or symptoms associated with hypermobility

• Require more time to review a complex medical history, previous investigations and treatments

• Would benefit from coordinated care across multiple health professionals

You do not need to have a confirmed diagnosis before attending.

No referral or confirmed diagnosis required. A pre-appointment questionnaire will help your clinician prepare for your visit.

Conditions and symptoms we can assess

Our clinicians can support people experiencing complex presentations including:

• Dysautonomia and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)

• Hypermobility and associated symptoms

• ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)

• Long COVID

• Mast cell activation disorders

• Irritable bowel syndrome and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms

• Endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Autoimmune conditions

• Migraine and persistent headaches

• Tinnitus

• Fibromyalgia

• Chronic pain

• Perimenopause and menopause

Because many of these conditions can have overlapping symptoms, your care will be based on your individual presentation rather than a single diagnosis.

What to expect

1. Medical history questionnaire

Before your Doctor’s appointment, you will complete a detailed digital questionnaire covering your symptoms, medical history, previous investigations, medications and treatments.

This allows your clinician to better understand your history before you attend.

2. Comprehensive initial consultation

60 minutes total 20 minutes with a nurse (medical history as above) & 40 minutes with your Doctor

Your initial consultation provides additional time to review your symptoms, medical history and previous care.

Depending on your individual presentation, your clinician may recommend further investigations. These could include pathology, imaging or cardiovascular assessment such as an echocardiogram, Holter monitoring or an active stand/lean test.

Ultrasound assessment may also be considered where clinically appropriate, including investigation of suspected vascular compression syndromes.

Your doctor will discuss the reasoning, benefits and limitations of any recommended investigations with you.

2. Building your care team

Complex conditions can sometimes benefit from multidisciplinary care.

Where appropriate, your plan may include referral to clinicians within Inner North Medical and our broader clinical network, including:

• Dietetics

• Physiotherapy

• Psychology

• Radiology and diagnostic imaging

• Relevant medical specialists

Your care team will depend on your symptoms and individual needs.

3. Stabilisation and review

30 minutes · generally 4–6 weeks after your initial consultation

At your review appointment, your doctor can discuss investigation results, assess your progress and refine your management plan.

Additional treatment pathways or referrals may be introduced at this stage where appropriate, including care for pelvic pain, endometriosis or other associated conditions.

4. Ongoing care

Once an initial management plan has been established, ongoing appointments are generally 15–30 minutes every 3–6 months, depending on your needs.

Appointments may include:

• Monitoring symptoms and progress

• Reviewing treatment plans

• Medication and prescription management

• Reviewing new or changing symptoms

• Coordinating referrals and multidisciplinary care

Both telehealth and in-person appointments may be available where clinically appropriate.

Education and ongoing support

We aim to help patients better understand and manage complex health conditions over the longer term.

The clinic will also offer small-group education sessions covering relevant topics and practical strategies.

Additional educational resources will be available to clinic subscribers.

If you are unsure whether the Complex Illness Clinic is appropriate for you, please contact our team before booking.

FAQs

We are proud to provide a Complex Illness Clinic as part of our broader GP and allied health services in Melbourne's inner north. Please note the Complex Illness Clinic operates across the street from our Lygon Street Clinic at:

📍 Melbourne Specialty Centre 277 Lygon Street, Brunswick