About us

Anaesthesia and good pain management play a vital role in your treatment and rehabilitation.

Our anaesthetists are specialist doctors who provide exceptional patient care, equal to the best available anywhere in the world.

We have special expertise in anaesthesia for liver transplants, lung surgery, complex aortic surgery and other specialities. Anaesthesia services are provided in operating theatres at Austin Hospital and the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, plus other locations such as radiology, the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and attending to patients in other areas such as the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit.

Your safety is paramount. Anaesthetists care for you for the duration of your surgery and until you are recovering from anaesthesia. We work closely with the Intensive Care Unit to ensure access to more intensive post-operative care that may be required for some patients and surgeries.

We endeavour to make sure that you and your family know what to expect before and after your surgery.

Our services

We provide the following services:

• Perioperative assessment before your surgery to discuss the safest and most appropriate anaesthetic technique for you
• Anaesthetising you during your surgery
• Continuous monitoring of your condition during and after surgery using the most modern equipment available
• Managing your pain after surgery during and after your hospital admission
• Chronic pain services
• Undertaking research

Our clinics

We run the following clinics:

• Pre-anaesthetic Clinic
• Transitional Pain Clinic 
• Chronic Pain Clinic

Pre-anaesthetic Clinic

As part of your preparation for surgery, you may be referred to our Pre-anaesthetic Clinic. We work closely with the surgeons and doctors to ensure that you are well prepared, and in the best of health, for your surgery. Together we will create an anaesthesia and pain management plan to ensure you recover from your surgery comfortably and safely.

Related services

• Managing pain

  We care for and treat people who have acute, complex and persistent pain during their hospital stay, especially after surgery.

• Chronic Pain Clinic

  We provide multidisciplinary assessment and management for people experiencing persistent pain.

Referrals

For patients

You will have access to our service when you come for surgery. You can only access the Inpatient Pain Service when you are staying in hospital.

For health professionals

Find out how to refer your patient to the Chronic Pain Clinic.

Our leadership team

Head of Unit

Associate Professor Laurence Weinberg

Deputy directors

Dr Louise Ellard – Head of External Operations

Dr Brett Pearce – Head of The Surgical Centre

Dr Jon Graham – Head of Internal Operations

Dr Raymond Hu – Head of Staffing and Rostering

Dr Jess Davies – Head of Education and Training

Work with us

• Careers at Austin Health

  Search and apply for Consultant Anaesthetist positions at Austin Health via our careers website.

• Anaesthesia Fellowships

  We offer specialist fellowships for anaesthesia training in cardiac and liver transplantation, perioperative medicine, general anaesthesia fellowships and pain medicine fellowships.

Contact us

Anaesthesia Administration

Phone: 03 9496 5704

Fax:  03 9459 6421

Open hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm

Location

Level 2, Austin Hospital Tower
Austin Hospital
145 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria

View location maps

Postal address

Department of Anaesthesia
Austin Health
PO Box 5555
Heidelberg Victoria 3084