Dr Matthew BroadheadOrthopaedic Surgeon — Sydney & Coffs Harbour

Mid North Coast

Hip & knee replacement in Coffs Harbour

Hip and knee replacement in Coffs Harbour. Dr Matthew Broadhead consults locally and operates at Baringa Private Hospital and Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

A referral is required for all appointments. Appointments are on (02) 9052 1883, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 3.00 pm.

Consulting rooms

Location Address
Harbour Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Suite 203, 343 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Follow-up after surgery is at the same rooms.

Operating hospitals

Hospital Address
Baringa Private Hospital 31 MacKays Road, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Coffs Harbour Health Campus 345 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Both meet National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. The hospital recommended depends on each patient’s medical and surgical needs. The hospital will contact you before surgery with arrival and admission details, including where to park on the day.

Areas served

Coffs Coast. Coffs Harbour, Toormina, Sawtell, Boambee, Moonee Beach, Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga, Corindi Beach and Sapphire Beach.

Bellingen and Nambucca. Bellingen, Urunga, Dorrigo, Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Bowraville and Scotts Head.

Clarence Valley. Grafton, South Grafton, Maclean, Yamba and Iluka.

Macleay and Hastings. Kempsey, South West Rocks, Crescent Head, Port Macquarie and Wauchope.

Wider North Coast. Patients also travel from further north along the coast, including the Northern Rivers: Lismore, Ballina, Casino and Byron Bay.

New England and North West. Patients travel from inland centres including Armidale and Tamworth.

Treated close to home

The pathway is the same as it would be anywhere:

  1. Referral. Your GP or specialist sends a referral; appointments are made on (02) 9052 1883.
  2. Consultation at the rooms in Coffs Harbour. Non-surgical options are always considered first: most hip and knee arthritis is managed without an operation, and the hip & knee guide explains each step honestly.
  3. Surgery, where it is the right step, at Baringa Private Hospital or Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
  4. Recovery and follow-up locally, with rehabilitation arranged close to home.

Hip replacement

Total hip replacement is performed in Coffs Harbour through both the direct anterior and the posterior approach, the same options offered in Sydney. Which approach is recommended depends on each patient’s anatomy and circumstances; the operation explains the differences plainly, including the honest evidence that by a year after surgery the approaches produce similar results.

Knee replacement

Total and partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement are performed locally. Robotic-assisted knee replacement and custom knee implants are available at Baringa Private Hospital, as they are at Dr Broadhead’s Sydney hospitals. The technology used is matched to the patient, not the postcode. Care is planned around enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), with the aim of getting patients moving early.

A small number of patients are advised to have surgery in Sydney rather than locally: those whose medical conditions call for intensive-care-level support around the operation, and some complex revision procedures. The reason is resources, not quality of care: the larger Sydney hospitals carry facilities that no regional hospital does. Where this applies to you, it is explained at the consultation, and follow-up still happens in Coffs Harbour.

Specialised surgery for bone and soft tissue tumours is performed in Sydney as part of a specialist sarcoma unit; the tumour guide explains how that care is planned. Assessment of lumps and bone lesions is done locally.

Travel and accommodation assistance

Patients coming from further afield on the Mid North Coast (or anywhere in regional NSW) may be eligible for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS), which helps with travel and accommodation costs for specialist treatment. Reception can point you to the application details.

Getting there

The rooms are on the Pacific Highway and are most easily reached by car. Coffs Harbour railway station and local bus services are a short drive away; community transport options are available for patients who need them.

Parking. Parking is available at and around the building. If you have mobility needs, let reception know when you book and they can advise on the closest accessible parking.

Common questions

Can my hip or knee replacement be done in Coffs Harbour?

Usually, yes. Dr Broadhead consults and operates in Coffs Harbour, and most hip and knee replacement for Mid North Coast patients (including the assessment beforehand and the follow-up afterwards) is carried out locally. A small number of patients are recommended surgery in Sydney; where that applies, the reasons are explained.

Is robotic-assisted knee replacement available in Coffs Harbour?

Yes. Robotic-assisted knee replacement and custom knee implants are available at Baringa Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour, as well as at Dr Broadhead's Sydney hospitals. Whether a robotic-assisted or conventional technique is recommended depends on each patient's circumstances.

Will I need to travel to Sydney for treatment?

Usually not for hip and knee surgery. Sydney is recommended for some patients (those with medical conditions needing intensive-care-level support, and some complex revision operations), because the larger hospitals there carry additional resources. Specialised bone and soft tissue tumour surgery is also performed in Sydney at a specialist sarcoma centre.

Where does Dr Broadhead consult in Coffs Harbour?

At Harbour Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Suite 203, 343 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450. Appointments (referral required) can be made on (02) 9052 1883.

Which hospitals does he operate at on the Mid North Coast?

Baringa Private Hospital and Coffs Harbour Health Campus. The hospital chosen depends on each patient's medical and surgical needs.

Which areas does Dr Broadhead see patients from?

The Coffs Coast and the wider Mid North Coast, the Clarence Valley, the Macleay and Hastings, and the wider North Coast including the Northern Rivers. Patients also travel from the New England and North West, including Armidale and Tamworth. Patients travelling long distances within NSW may be eligible for assistance with travel and accommodation costs.

What will the surgery cost?

It depends on your health fund, level of cover and hospital. A written quotation is always provided before surgery is booked, and no-gap arrangements exist with a number of health funds. The costs guide explains how it all works in plain language.

Is help available with travel costs for country patients?

Patients travelling long distances within NSW may be eligible for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS). Reception can point you to the application details when you book.

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