Very happy with the entire process. Very friendly, kind and caring
Posted Date : 06/02/2023
Prof. Richard Harvey
male
Otolaryngologist (ENT)
Accepting new patients
Insurance Accepted
Phone Number
Spoken Languages
English
Address
Sydney, NSW, Australia & New Zealand
Education
- University of New South Wales, University of Oxford, Medical University of South Carolina
Areas of Expertise
Other Specialties
General Surgeon, Allergist / Immunologist
Awards & Recognitions
- Scientific publications (see link)
Reviews
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Affiliated Clinics
Anonymous
In the year 2000 I began to have continual hay fever and sinus problems. I saw an allergy specialist then an ENT who treated me with many different medications and over the next few years performed 7 surgeries for re-growing polyps. I have Samter’s Triad; asthma, nasal polyps and a severe allergy to aspirin.
The polyps continued to re-grow and life was very miserable. I was referred to a different ENT who performed another surgery including drilling (at the inner edge of my eyebrows) into my frontal sinuses. This was very painful. Again the polyps returned and after 2 years I had to have another surgery with this same ENT. Always I was told after the surgeries, “we’ll see you when the polyps regrow.” I now had had 9 surgeries and no hope of an end in sight.
At a dental appointment I was discussing my ongoing problems. My dentist found me the name of Dr Richard Harvey and recommended I see him. At this stage my sinuses were very bad and I relied on daily anti histamines, pain killers and nasal sprays just to get on with my life.
Meeting Richard, immediately I felt confident that he would help me. He offered a treatment regimen after surgery that hopefully will prevent or at least slow down the polyp growth.
My surgery in October went very well and I have the utmost confidence that I am on the road to recovery. For the first time in 17 years I can smell.
Richard is kind, considerate and understands that this chronic condition has ruled my life. He has given me hope that I will continue to get better. Everyone on Richard’s team are thoughtful and lovely people.
Anonymous
In the later months of 2016, MRI scans discovered I had a very large meningioma (6 cm x 5 cm) sitting on top of smell receptors at the base of my skull. My diagnosis was a shock to say the least. I was referred to Professor Richard Harvey for treatment.
From the moment I sat down in Professor Harvey’s clinic, I felt a sense of calm. He explained everything succinctly and yet comprehensively enough for me to fully understand and I had opportunities to ask questions. His quiet, unassuming, yet caring manner allowed me to feel comfortable enough to open up and discuss my concerns re upcoming surgery.
My greatest fears prior to surgery were how a tumour of this magnitude could be safely removed without damaging my optic nerve or major blood vessels that sat very close by, and if the tumour were malignant. Professor Harvey did explain that the type of tumour I had was 90% benign, but surgical excision would be the only guarantee of that.
Late Sept 2016, I was booked in for extensive brain surgery. Professor Harvey and another highly skilled and regarded surgeon Dr Andrew Davidson (Neurosurgeon) would perform my surgery. The plan going in was 3 fold: They would attempt to remove as much of the tumour as possible through endoscopic surgery. Following this, if necessary a small incision was to be made through my left brow. This could potentially allow both surgeons to collaboratively remove other unreachable sections of the tumour. Finally, a craniotomy would be the final stage of the operation. During this phase it was anticipated that complete removal of all remaining sections of the tumour would occur. Needless to say, I was aware that the significance of what I was about to undergo was nothing short of a medical miracle, as too were the potential risks.
Following my Initial Consultation with Professor Harvey, I mulled over everything in my mind. Surreal as the situation was, I felt utter calm with the fact that this was something I just had to do. My reaction to what I was about to embark on was perhaps one of my greatest life challenges. It was something that I had to dig deep for; find my personal strength.
Mere words cannot express my gratitude to Professor Harvey and Dr Andrew Davidson. Without their collaborative brilliance and personal skill set of the highest calibre, I would never have been able to muster the emotional strength to front up on my surgery day and feel that I would be OK. I honestly felt and still believe that they both cared about how I would cope with the surgery – both emotionally and physically. Having both these incredible surgeons assure me that my surgery had every chance of being successful put me of the mindset that it would be. My utmost respect goes to Professor Harvey and his full team.
Today marks 14 months on from my surgery – My tumour was in fact benign and it was completely removed – a brilliant success. I believe the surgery itself was some 10 hours in duration. To have the great misfortune with my health in 2016 and paradoxically come across a brilliant human being who performs medical miracles with such humility has been life changing for me.
May I also mention – Prior to my surgery, both Professor Harvey and Dr Andrew Davidson didn’t think it possible to remove my entire tumour with endoscopic surgery. However, they managed to!!! I didn’t have a craniotomy! As a female with long hair, I didn’t have to endure such a procedure. When I woke from surgery and touch my head, I cried – I still had hair. I later spoke with one of the many Doctors involved with my surgery and found out that Professor Harvey spent some 2 hours working meticulously to extract a large segment of bone at the base of my skull – this enabled both he and Dr Davidson to have an open passageway to perform their work solely by endoscopic surgery- my miracle.
I would also like to say that my subsequent check-ups have continued to be nothing less than encouraging, reassuring and of course at my most recent check-up, I felt pride walking in to see Professor Harvey and showing him the result of his wonderful work….a very happy and healthy patient – me
I’m aware that Professor Harvey is heavily involved in research, a supervisor of numerous international specialists in training, and obviously lives a very full life pioneering medical breakthroughs in all types of nose and base of skull surgery. Anyone who has the fortune of having him as their Specialist is in the very best of hands (literally).
Thank you also to lovely Susan who is Professor Harvey’s Practice Manager – nothing is, or has ever been too difficult for her in organising many matters for me. Every single interaction I’ve had with Susan has been professional, warm and meticulous. Thank you Susan!
Anonymous
I found Professor Harvey after an unsatisfactory experience with a Central Coast Ear Nose and throat specialist. I had undergone sinus surgery which left me with daily severe headaches and no satisfactory explanation as to why these were occurring. Professor Harvey gave me confidence that with a further operation he repair the work done by the previous surgeon and restore the functionality of my sinuses. I went ahead with the surgery which led to a rapid recovery and was surprisingly free of post operative pain. I was in and out of the hospital in the same day.
I had great discomfort with the previous operation due to pressure from ballon like inserts in my nose to stop bleeding. Professor Harvey did not use this technique but stopped any bleeding in a less painful and more effective way.
I had been offered further surgery by my previous ENT specialist but that would have required holes drilled into my forehead which Professor Harvey deemed completely unnecessary despite his intention to undertake more extensive surgery.
It has now been more than three months since Professor Harvey has operated on my sinuses and I an completely free of headaches and sinus infection and I am able to breath through my nose far better than I have for many years.
I am very pleased that I met Professor Harvey and was able to benefit from his unique skills.
Anonymous
I was referred to Professor Richard Harvey by another highly regarded Professor of Rhinology, who had determined that I had major sinus issues that he couldn’t deal with himself including nasal polyps, scaring and a perforated septum from an operation I had 20 years before. Since that operation I had relied on nasal sprays, but these had stopped working for me, and even more worrying I had lost my sense of smell for approximately 3 years.
I clearly had major sinus issues and Richard Harvey was the best in his field to find a solution for me.
When I met Richard I immediately felt at ease and he carefully explained the options that were available to me and in my ‘last chance saloon’ situation that was very reassuring. When the time came for the operation Richard teamed up with an excellent Anaesthetist and I went into the operating theatre with a high level of confidence.
The operation was a big success and although it took over 4 hours, I was able to go home the same day, I could breathe easily without any packing in my nose and more or less immediately my sense of smell returned, I could smell the roses!
Richard’s post-operative care has also been highly professional and he delights in the progress I have made as his patient. He is also a mentor for young ENT Doctors from around the world which is a testament to his passion for his job, professionalism and far reaching reputation.
If you are like me and have deferred surgery for too long, or are nervous about what it entails, you are in excellent hands with Richard Harvey and I wholeheartedly recommend him.
Anonymous
There are people in life that you meet and within a few seconds know you have met the “one”. Professor Richard Harvey is one of those people. His welcoming smile, his personable, friendly nature, his amazing knowledge and experience, his detailed, straight forward communication, and his life saving surgical skills.
Following an incidental finding on an MRI (vertigo investigation), I was referred to several Neurosurgeons. Over three months, I monitored the lesion and met with all four Neurosurgeons. I was referred to Professor Harvey by Neurosurgeon #3. I knew that they would operate through the nose, and a Plastic Surgeon (EN&T) was a must! I contacted Professor Harvey’s practice, and Susan his Practice Manager called me back whilst she was on holidays. She understood the uncertainty I was experiencing with the wait to see the Neurosurgeons and uncertainty of the diagnosis and made sure my appointment was as soon as possible.
I met Professor Harvey and he took me into his rooms and introduced me to two Trainee Doctors. I gave him my collection of MRI’s and he took me through every set and explained in layman’s terms what he could see, and why he thought the lesion was a Chordoma. As you can imagine when you are going through a diagnosis which started as a fluke finding, you crave information to understand. Professor Harvey was amazing. He provided the detail I needed, whilst educating two new Doctors (which I also respect). He used a model “head” to show me how he would operate. I had seen Neurosurgeon #3 the day before and had a fourth one lined up for the next day. Professor Harvey operated with both. I asked him who I should choose, and he told me it was entirely up to me, both Neurosurgeons were very skilled and experienced, but I had to choose based on who I felt most comfortable with. He told me to call him the next day on his mobile to discuss my choice. I called him and advised that I had chosen Dr Mark Winder. Professor Harvey had operated with Dr Winder for many years. The two of them worked as a team and depended on each other’s expertise and skill. On the 5th April 2017, I went to St Vincent’s Hospital and had the lesion removed. It tested positive for Chordoma which is a super rare, one in a million, bone based tumour. Professor Harvey was very supportive throughout my 9 day stay in hospital. My sense of smell had gone, my taste was affected, and he provided me the reassurance I needed, that the surgery went very well, and they hoped that they had removed the whole tumour. Professor Harvey was my primary Doctor who managed my case going forward. He advised that I needed to see an Oncologist and referred me to one at Macquarie Hospital. I had two follow ups post-surgery and both times Professor Harvey was very supportive and informative. His level of care, empathy and genuine interest in my welfare was excellent.
I am also very appreciative that Professor Harvey charges in accordance with my private health insurance and Medicare, with no additional gap/out of pocket expenses. The out of pocket expenses I incurred with the Anesthetist, Neurosurgeon, hospital and MRI’s amounted to more than $10,000. When you can’t work due to health dramas, the gap payments is another stress on the family.
I can’t thank Richard (Professor Harvey) enough for the life changing impact he has had on my life. I have since been to Switzerland for Proton Therapy (Radiation) and will find out in December (MRI) if it has worked to keep the Chordoma at Bay. I would recommend Professor Harvey to anyone looking for exceptional, expertise from an EN&T Surgeon – he’s the best!