Contact
Multidisciplinary Feeding clinic: (02) 7825 0678
Dysphagia & Nutrition clinic: (02) 7825 3971
Feeding clinic (Speech Pathology department): (02) 7825 2076
About our service
Feeding support clinics at The Children's Hospital at Westmead include comprehensive services for children with varying degrees of feeding difficulties. These address ongoing feeding concerns that cannot be managed by local health or community based services and requires tertiary assessment.
Children requiring support and co-ordination of nasogastric tube feeds may also be managed by the Kids GPS service.
Referral process for clinicians
Our department is using Consultmed to manage referrals. The Consultmed platform allows health professionals to send e-referrals to us securely.
Consultmed questions and technical support: helpdesk@consultmed.co
Referral and appointment process for parents and carers
Request a referral
To make an appointment at our clinic, you will need a referral from your paediatrician or specialist.
They will assess your child, discuss your concerns, and make a referral to the appropriate service.
Track your referral
Our department uses Consultmed to manage referrals. Your referring clinician sends the e-referral to us using the secure Consultmed platform.
Once we receive the referral, we will send you an email with your tracking information. We will update you as we process the referral and book your appointment.
To receive these updates, please ask your referring clinician to include your email on the referral.
If your clinician has questions about Consultmed or require technical support, they can contact helpdesk@consultmed.co.
Need support?
If you need help or have questions about the referral and appointment process, please contact us.
Multidisciplinary Feeding clinic:
- Phone: (02) 7825 0678
- Email: SCHN-CHW-GeneralMedicine@health.nsw.gov.au
Dysphagia & Nutrition clinic:
- Phone: (02) 7825 3971
- Email: Joanna Mumford – Disability feeding support CNC
Feeding clinic (Speech Pathology department): (02) 7825 2076
Clinic information
Multidisciplinary Feeding clinic
We assist children with feeding difficulties that result from, or are associated with various medical conditions, such as cardiac, renal, and mild to moderate disability, but excluding cerebral palsy. We provide a continuum of care for discharged inpatients.
The majority of our patients are infants whose prognosis for oral feeding is yet to be determined. A written referral from a paediatrician is required.
Our clinic offers:
- Consultation and in-clinic assessment of feeding and nutrition
- Breastfeeding assessment
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow study (also known as Modified Barium Swallow)
- Specialist medical investigations
- Review, including dietetics and speech pathology
- Ongoing management, with referral back to local services as necessary
You may be referred to our clinic for any of these reasons:
- Transition from non-oral to normal oral feeding patterns, whilst supporting a healthy nutritional status
- Oral motor and sensory problems (for eg. oral aversion) resulting in poor growth
- Swallowing incoordination
In general, the Feeding team does not manage highly selective eating associated with sensory processing disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder as the team does not have the appropriate therapists for managing this issue. The usual therapists who manage these issues are Occupational Therapists and Behavioural Psychologist.
Dysphagia and Nutrition clinic
This multidisciplinary clinic provides a service to children with feeding difficulties as a result of chronic and complex medical conditions, including cerebral palsy and other physical and intellectual disabilities.
Feeding goals include restoration of healthy nutritional status, safe oral feeding and support of non-oral feeding (nasogastric tubes, gastrostomy, jejunostomy) as required. A written referral from a paediatrician is required.
The clinic offers:
- Comprehensive multidisciplinary review, including medical, dietetics, speech pathology and feeding assessments
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow study (also known as Modified Barium Swallow)
- Advice on oral and non oral feeding and stoma therapy support (gastrostomy, jejunostomy)
- Referral for other medical investigations as required
- Ongoing management in conjunction with local services
You may be referred to our clinic for any of these reasons:
- Persistent nutritional concerns
- Persistent poor growth and weight issues
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux/vomiting and food intolerance
- Problems with non-oral feeding (Naso-gastric, gastrostomy or jejunal feeding)
- Swallowing incoordination and choking concerns
Feeding Service: Speech Pathology department
The Speech Pathology department provides a targeted service to children whose feeding difficulties arise mainly from oral motor, swallowing and sensory difficulties and other mealtime management issues. The referral process requires a written referral from a paediatrician or specialist associated with The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
The clinic offers:
- Assessment and consultation by a speech pathologist
- Ongoing management, with referral back to local services as necessary
- Review
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow study (also known as Modified Barium Swallow)
- Therapy
Reasons for referral include:
- Oral motor and sensory problems
- Swallowing difficulties
- Behavioural or interaction issues surrounding eating/food refusal
The clinic works with families to establish safe feeding practices, normalise mealtime patterns and develop oral feeding skills.
