MercyAscot Head and Neck Service – COVID-19 Alert Level 1:

Following the recent announcement by the Prime Minister and Director General of Health in moving the Auckland region to Alert Level 1, commencing at 12PM on Friday March 12th, Auckland Head and Neck Specialists (AHNS), the MercyAscot Head and Neck service, is fully open and are available for face-to-face consultations.  

We will have processes and procedures in place to ensure we are working in a COVID-safe manner.  We have PPE, COVID-19 screening processes and access testing available, if required, to ensure we deliver safe patient-care.

We welcome your referrals. We are providing the full range of head and neck consultation and surgical services including but not limited to the following:

  • MercyAscot One Stop Diagnostic Neck Lump Clinic
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Oral Health
  • Facial Trauma 
  • Salivary gland Pathology Clinic
  • TMJ surgery and arthroscopy 
  • Skin cancer 
  • Facial deformity Surgery 

 

To new patients

After receiving a referral from your doctor our medical team will review your case and will arrange a virtual consultation with you. This can be done from a computer or a cellphone. Our Admin staff will set up the process with you over the phone and then will test the virtual clinic with you to make sure everything is working well.

During the virtual consultation you will be able to see your doctor and they will be able to see you.

If after the consultation the Doctor feels it necessary to see you in person this can be arranged in an isolated manner to keep you safe.

To current patients

Our admin team will be arranging virtual follow-up with you on a case by case basis. We are under high demand and may need to re-schedule your current appointment.

The virtual consultation can be done from a computer or a cellphone. Our Admin staff will set up the process with you over the phone and then will test the virtual clinic with you to make sure everything is working well.

During the virtual consultation you will be able to see your doctor and they will be able to see you.

If after the consultation your Doctor feels it necessary to see you in person this can be arranged in an isolated manner to keep you safe.

Head and neck disorders we treat

We treat a broad group of pathologies affecting skin, salivary glands, mouth, pharynx, larynx, cervical esophagus, nasal cavity and sinuses.

Our partner, Auckland Radiation Oncology (ARO), offers radiation oncology services and is located on our Epsom site.

Diagnostic services include access to CT, MRI, PET-CT and specialist radiologists through Mercy Radiology.  The surgical service is led by experienced surgeons from Auckland Head and Neck Specialists (AHNS).

Areas of expertise:

  • Head and neck cancers
  • Mouth and skin cancers
  • Neck and thyroid lumps
  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Ortorhinolaryngology

Innovative practice

The MercyAscot Head & Neck Service offers one-stop diagnostic neck lump clinics in Epsom, Auckland, where patients receive the following services:

  • complete head and neck clinical assessment by a head and neck surgeon;
  • ultrasound examination and fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy by a specialist head and neck radiologist;
  • immediate pathological assessment of the FNA biopsy by a pathologist.

The objective of the clinics is to perform a complete neck lump assessment and provide an immediate diagnosis at a single clinic visit, thereby minimizing treatment delay.

For more information on the MercyAscot Neck Lump clinics visit this page.

When to urgently refer to our Neck Lump Clinics?

Please urgently refer any neck lumps which meet any one of the following criteria:

  • Neck Lump increasing in size
  • Neck Lump greater than 2 cm in size
  • Neck Lump present for more than 3 weeks that has changed
  • Neck Lump present for 6 weeks or more
  • Widespread lymphadenopathy > 2cm
  • ‘B’ symptoms: night sweats, generalised itch, weight loss, fever

Why Choose Us?

  • Patient convenience
  • Expertise and experience in Head and Neck conditions
  • Multi-disciplinary team approach (Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, Speech and Swallow Therapy, Intensive Care, Wound Care Specialists)

Latest technology and evidenced-based treatment: Patients are treated by experienced specialists who offer access to the latest treatment for head and neck disorders. For example: micro-vascular surgery, 3D printed bio-modelling, VMAT radiotherapy, SPECT-CT and PET CT.

Facilities and functions: MercyAscot is the largest private hospital provider in New Zealand. We have an on-site Intensive Care Unit and an inpatient ward that focuses on post-operative care for head and neck patients.

Rehabilitation: Every patient is provided with a personalised rehabilitation plan to maximise their post-treatment quality of life. This can involve a speech and swallowing plan, physiotherapy, dental and oral prosthodontics.

Innovative, patient-centric practice:The MercyAscot Head and Neck Service offers a one-stop diagnostic Neck Lump Clinic. The objective of this clinic is to perform complete neck lump assessment at a single clinic visit, thereby minimising treatment delay for patients. 

Our Team

We believe that a team approach is vital to treating head and neck disorders and offer a personalised and evidenced-based treatment plan for each patient.

Muammar Abu-Serriah

Specialty: Head and Neck Surgery|Oral and Maxillofacial surgery|Oral & Maxillofacial Head and Neck Surgeon|Oral & Maxillofacial Head and Neck Surgery

Areas of expertise: Head and Neck Surgery|Microsurgical Reconstructive Surgery|Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Rajan Patel

Specialty: Head and Neck Surgery

Areas of expertise: Mouth and Skin Cancers|Neck and Facial Surgery|Otorhinolaryngology|Reconstructive Head|Thyroid and Neck Lumps

Mark Izzard

Specialty: Head and Neck Surgery

Areas of expertise: Mouth and Skin Cancers|Neck and Facial Surgery|Otorhinolaryngology|Reconstructive Head|Thyroid and Neck Lumps

Kevin Smith

Specialty: Head and Neck Surgery

Areas of expertise: Head and Neck Surgery|Mouth and Skin Cancers|Otorhinolaryngology|Salivary Gland Pathology|Thyroid and Neck Lumps

Kim Gear

Specialty: Oral Medicine

Areas of expertise: Diagnosis of premalignant & malignant conditions of the mouth|Dry mouth & salivary gland disorders|Halitosis|Oral presentations of systemic disease infectious diseases of the mouth|Oral ulceration|Salivary Gland Pathology

Lou Tjauw

Specialty: Nurse Specialist Surgical Oncology

Belinda Reeves

Specialty: Dietitian

Contact Us

The MercyAscot Head and Neck Service and Neck Lump Clinics are located at the Mercy Specialist Centre in Epsom. Appointments can be made through the MercyAscot Head and Neck Service.

Contact our Practice Manager for an appointment today:

View our clinics