Refer a patient — hand, wrist and microsurgery
Information for referring practitioners
Dr Daniel Williams is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon (FRACS) with sub-specialty training in hand, wrist and microsurgery. He consults at East Coast Plastic Surgery in Southport and through Gold Coast University Hospital, and welcomes referrals from GPs and other health professionals across the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales.
This page covers what he sees, what to include in a referral, and how to send one.
Referral at a glance
Email: info@ecplasticsurgery.com.au
Phone: (07) 5591 4808
East Coast Plastic Surgery
Suite 6, Level 5, 123 Nerang Street
Southport QLD 4215
Who to refer
Acute injury and trauma
- Fractures of the wrist, hand and fingers
- Ligament injuries, carpal instability and dislocations
- Tendon and nerve injuries
- Falls onto an outstretched hand (FOOSH) with suspected bony or ligamentous injury
- Work-related hand and wrist injuries, including WorkCover Queensland and icare (insurance and care NSW) claims
Nerve conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression)
- Other compressive neuropathies of the upper limb, including cubital tunnel syndrome
- Peripheral nerve palsies
- Nerve repair, grafting and reconstruction
Peripheral nerve surgery is one of Dr Williams’ research interests.
Degenerative and chronic conditions
- Dupuytren’s contracture, including an approach using fat grafting to replace fat lost to the disease
- Trigger finger, where conservative management has not resolved symptoms
- Ganglion cysts
- Chronic wrist pain and wrist instability
- Overuse and repetitive strain injuries, including tendon inflammation
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Dr Williams has a particular interest in CRPS in both adults and children, managed through an individualised, multidisciplinary approach alongside pain specialists and allied health.
CRPS referrals are welcome at any stage, including where a diagnosis has not been confirmed.
Complex and revision cases
- Complex hand reconstruction
- Revision of previous hand or wrist surgery
- Microsurgical reconstruction, including toe-to-finger transfer
What is outside this scope
To help direct referrals appropriately:
Shoulder and orthopaedic elbow conditions are better suited to an upper limb or orthopaedic colleague. Cubital tunnel and other upper-limb nerve conditions are included above.
Cosmetic surgery referrals carry separate requirements under the Medical Board guidelines. Contact the rooms for cosmetic referral information.
Skin cancer, breast reconstruction and other reconstructive surgery: see reconstructive and skin cancer referrals.
If you are unsure whether a case fits, please call the rooms on (07) 5591 4808 — a short conversation is usually quicker than a returned referral.
What to include in your referral
Referrals are triaged on the clinical information provided. Including the following helps avoid delays and unnecessary repeat imaging:
- Mechanism and date of injury, or duration of symptoms
- Hand dominance and occupation
- Examination findings, including any neurological deficit
- Imaging already performed — please attach reports and, where possible, images
- Nerve conduction studies, if performed
- Treatment tried to date (splinting, therapy, injection)
- Relevant medical history, medications and anticoagulation
- WorkCover claim number and insurer details, if applicable
- Whether the patient is seeking public or private care
How to refer
By email — info@ecplasticsurgery.com.au
By post — East Coast Plastic Surgery, Suite 6, Level 5, 123 Nerang Street, Southport QLD 4215
By phone — (07) 5591 4808
A referral from a medical practitioner is required for the patient to access a Medicare rebate for their specialist consultation. Standard referral validity periods apply.
What happens after you refer
- The referral is triaged and the patient is contacted to arrange an appointment.
- Dr Williams assesses the patient and discusses the surgical and non-surgical options available.
- A letter is sent to the GP after the initial consultation.
- Where surgery proceeds, an operation report and post-operative plan are provided.
Referring practitioners are kept informed throughout so care remains continuous.
Public and private options
Dr Williams consults privately at East Coast Plastic Surgery in Southport and publicly through his appointment at Gold Coast University Hospital, where he is also involved in training plastic surgery registrars.
He operates at Pindara, Pacific Private and Mater Gold Coast.
If your patient is uninsured or cost is a consideration, please note this in the referral so the appropriate pathway can be discussed with them.
Fees and informed financial consent: cost estimates for hand and reconstructive elective surgery are provided at the consultation. For cosmetic surgery, estimates are provided at the time of enquiry.
Hand therapy
Hand therapy is external to the clinic and will be organised for the patient post-operatively. All surgical patients require post-operative hand therapy. Rehabilitation is planned as part of the surgical plan, with the aim of a coordinated recovery and a return to work, sport and daily activity as the patient’s progress allows.
Where a patient’s condition may be managed without surgery, hand therapy may be recommended in the first instance.
For physiotherapists and hand therapists
Dr Williams welcomes contact from physiotherapists and hand therapists managing hand and wrist patients on the Gold Coast.
You are welcome to:
- Send your assessment notes, range of motion measurements and treatment history along with the GP referral — this is useful at triage
- Contact the rooms to discuss whether a case warrants a surgical opinion — (07) 5591 4808
- Continue managing the patient’s therapy where clinically appropriate, in coordination with the surgical plan
Post-operative patients may continue therapy with their existing therapist.
About Dr Williams
Dr Daniel Williams is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, holding Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — FRACS (Plast). AHPRA registration MED0001663694.
Sub-specialty training in hand, wrist and microsurgery: Piñal y Asociados, Madrid, Spain; Clínica Cavadas, Valencia, Spain.
Appointments: Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Gold Coast University Hospital; elective and trauma hand surgery, East Coast Plastic Surgery, Southport; Senior Lecturer, Griffith University, more than a decade teaching medical students and supervising surgical trainees.
Memberships: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Australian Hand Surgery Society (AHSS).
Research interests: peripheral nerve surgery, wrist arthroscopy, reconstructive hand surgery, implant safety, and patient-reported outcome measures. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.
Common questions from referrers
Do you accept WorkCover referrals?
Yes. Work-related hand and wrist injuries form a significant part of the practice. Please include the claim number and insurer details.
Can I refer for an opinion rather than for surgery?
Yes. Not every referral results in surgery — assessment may lead to hand therapy, splinting, injection or monitoring. Referrals for a diagnostic or second opinion are welcome.
Can I refer a paediatric patient?
Yes. Dr Williams manages CRPS in children as well as adults, and accepts referrals for other paediatric hand conditions.
How long is the wait for an appointment?
The indicative wait is 2–4 weeks. Please contact the rooms to confirm current appointment availability.
Does the patient need imaging before the appointment?
Not necessarily — but if imaging has been done, attaching the reports and images avoids duplication.
Will I receive correspondence?
Yes. A letter is sent after the initial consultation. Where surgery proceeds, an operation report and post-operative plan are provided.
Send a referral
Use the form below to send the referral securely.