Waitematā DHB Endocrinology Service

Public Service, Endocrinology

What is Endocrinology ?

Endocrinology is the science of hormones. Hormones are chemicals produced by one part of the body and act upon another part.

Your endocrinologist is a specialist doctor interested in diseases that affect your hormones. The major areas endocrinologists work in are:

You will be referred by your General Practitioner (GP) to an endocrinologist if you have a problem with any part of your endocrine system (the system that makes hormones). Your referral will be prioritised (given a position on a list of other referrals) depending on the disease and its severity.
The average waiting time before an appointment at a clinic ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on priority.
You may be asked to undergo some tests or fill in a questionnaire before seeing the doctor in the clinic to help with the diagnosis.
You will see either a specialist or a registrar (a doctor training to become a specialist who works under the supervision of a specialist).
You may have ongoing follow-up in the clinic or have your treatment carried out by your GP with advice from the specialist.
The WDHB Endocrinology Service does not undertake treatment of infertility.

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