Scope of Clinical Appointments
Due to limited private practice availability, Dr Pokharel currently accepts referrals primarily for Medicare item 291 and item 293 psychiatric assessments. Ongoing routine follow-up appointments and regular psychiatric reviews are generally not offered at this stage. Following the assessment, a comprehensive report and management recommendations will be provided to the referring general practitioner to assist with ongoing care and treatment planning. Patients seeking ongoing psychiatric care or regular review appointments are encouraged to discuss alternative referral options with their general practitioner.
Dr Pokharel works part-time in private practice and may not be able to return phone calls on the same day. However, he will endeavour to respond to messages within two business days.
Dr Pokharel does not provide emergency mental health care. However, he regularly communicates with referring general practitioners by providing written reports and clinical correspondence. In non-emergency situations, patients are encouraged to contact their general practitioner if they require medical or psychiatric assistance outside their scheduled appointment.
A portion of consultation fees may be claimable through Medicare. A referral letter from a general practitioner or other medical practitioner is required to access a Medicare rebate for psychiatric consultation.
Referrals may be faxed to 03 9872 5964 or posted to: 33 Doncaster East Road, Mitcham, VIC 3132. Alternatively, referrals may be uploaded via the referral link on this website.
New Patients with Confirmed Appointment
Patients with a confirmed appointment may contact Mitcham Private Hospital Consulting Suites on (03) 9210 3353 to enquire about the usual consultation fees and Medicare rebates.
Please note that the commonly used Medicare item number for the initial outpatient psychiatric consultation is Item 296. Item 304 is one of the most frequently used follow-up consultation items, although other follow-up item numbers may also apply depending on the nature of the consultation.
Item 291 is used for an initial consultation to develop a management plan for the referring general practitioner to continue treatment, and Item 293 is used for a review of the management plan.
For the most up-to-date information regarding Medicare rebates, please contact Medicare Australia directly.
If you are not eligible for Medicare, please check with your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) provider regarding eligibility for rebates and the requirements for claiming them. You may enquire about rebates for Items 296 and 304, and also Items 306, 291, and 293, depending on your consultation type.
A valid referral from a medical practitioner, preferably your general practitioner, is required in order to access Medicare rebates for psychiatric consultations.
Please click above to complete the New Patient Registration and Consent Form.
Telehealth & Language-Specific Consultations
Dr Pokharel provides telehealth psychiatric consultations to patients across Australia, including those residing in regional and rural areas with limited access to specialist services.
Consultations are also available in the Nepali language for individuals who may have limited English proficiency, ensuring accurate assessment and culturally informed clinical formulation.
This service is particularly suited for:
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Patients requiring diagnostic clarification
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General practitioners seeking specialist psychiatric opinion
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Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Notice to the Referrer
- Please do not upload urgent referrals or information indicating an immediate risk of harm to self or others. In such situations, please contact appropriate emergency or crisis services, or discuss the referral directly with Dr Pokharel.
Submission of a referral does not guarantee that the referral will be accepted.- Please note that there may be a waiting period of several weeks before new patients can be offered an appointment.
- Referrals for regular psychiatric reviews or ongoing management are not accepted at this stage.
- Please refer to the Clinical Services and Medico-Legal tabs above for further information regarding the types of referrals that are accepted.
- For situations involving acute mental health risk, please follow the directions provided at the bottom of the Clinical Services page.
Emergency and Crisis Support
In an emergency situation, where someone is at immediate risk of harm, please dial 000 or attend the emergency department of your nearest hospital.
In non-emergency situations, the following organisations provide advice, support, and crisis counselling:
- Lifeline (for anyone experiencing a personal crisis) – 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service (for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerns about someone else) – 1300 659 467
- MensLine Australia (support for men with emotional or relationship concerns) – 1300 789 978
- Beyond Blue (support for anxiety, depression, and related mental health concerns) – 1300 22 4636