Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Contact details
Department: (02) 9845 3999 | 9845 3997
Email:
Office Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday
The Gastroenterology Department provides inpatient and outpatient service for general gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hepatology, liver transplant, cystic fibrosis, non-CF pancreatic disease, clinical nutrition, parenteral nutrition and developmental disability associated dysphagia for children within NSW.
Our service delivery extends to additional patients with liver disease and/or requiring liver transplantation from the ACT and Western Australia.
Appointments and referrals
- Tertiary referrals, from Paediatricians only, letter must be addressed personally to one of the Consultants. Referrals from GPs will only be accepted in exceptional cases.
- All referrals will be triaged and some may be declined due to our inability to satisfy demand. for many clinical problems, prior assessment by a general paediatrician is preferred.
- Referrals are accepted up to a child's 16th birthday.
- Patients may be reviewed by the Gastroenterology Fellow on behalf of the Consultant.
- Email referrals to: SCHN-CHW-GastroReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au
- Endoscopy and other procedures are performed only after a paediatric gastroenterology review.
- Download the Gastroenterology Initial Consultation Form for Patients
Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinics
We have reduced the number of face-to-face clinic appointments due to COVID-19 Hospital policy.
Patients who are well may be monitored from home via appointments using Telehealth (My Virtual Care).
If you are scheduled for a Telehealth appointment you will need a computer with a webcam or other smart device and Chrome or Safari browser.
- Log on at least 5 minutes before your child's appointment time (you can also practise login at any time)
- Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed whenever possible, or sent by post.
- You may also need a current Referral from a Paediatrician.
- Our clinicians are Dr Annabel Magoffin and Dr Kunal Thacker.
Telehealth link: COPY/PASTE the entire link https://myvirtualcare.health.nsw.gov.au/public/#/schnwgastro
Your child must attend this appointment with you. Please have a current height and weight for your child.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinics
- Wednesday mornings
- Thursday afternoons (fortnightly): for urgent IBD patient reviews
General Gastroenterology Clinic
- Wednesday mornings
Liver Clinic
- Tuesday mornings
Short Gut Clinic
- Once a month: at the Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Suite 16. Clinic conducted by Dr Juliana Puppi.
Gastroenterology Clinics (located in Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Suite 16)
Hainsworth Street, Westmead (next to the multi-storey carpark)
A current referral letter from your doctor addressed personally to the Gastroenterologist, is required.
Patients are charged the current Scheduled Fee with 85% rebate from Medicare.
- Dr Susan Siew: Monday morning
- Dr Shoma Dutt: Tuesday morning
- Dr Ted O'Loughlin: Wednesday morning
- Dr Juliana Puppi: Wednesday morning
- Dr Michael Stormon: Wednesday morning (SSR Liver, Viral Hep Clinic, GI Clinic)
- Dr Kunal Thacker: Wednesday morning (once a month)
Liver Service
We have reduced the number of face-to-face clinic appointments due to COVID-19.
Patients who are well may be monitored via appointments using Telehealth "My Virtual Care" , https://myvirtualcare.health.nsw.gov.au/public/#/schnwgastro.
If you are scheduled for a Telehealth (My Virtual Care) appointment you will need a computer with a webcam or other smart device (mobile phone) and Chrome browser.
- Log on at least 5 minutes before your child's appointment time.
- Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed whenever possible.
- You will also need a current Referral.
Liver Clinic
- Tuesday mornings - appointments are arranged via SCHN-CHW-Gastroenterology@health.nsw.gov.au
How to contact a Liver nurse
Due to reduced staff, please use email to contact a Liver nurse. You will receive a response during business hours. Please do not call the office.
If your child is sick
- If your child is unwell with cough, cold, runny nose or flu–like symptoms please take them to the GP or the Emergency Department for review. You will need to call ahead.
- However, if your child has had a fever greater than 38 degrees for more than 24 hours, or a fever of 38.5 degrees or greater, they should present to ED as per our usual liver and liver transplant guidelines.
Medications
- Your child needs to continue to take their prescribed medicine. It's important to have an adequate supply.
- We require at least one week’s notice for all scripts. Please organise all external scripts with your GP being aware there may be a delay in GP appointments.
Blood tests
We'll discuss which blood tests are required with you at your appointment.
Referrals
The Liver Service is a multidisciplinary team and your child will need individually addressed GP referrals sent to us at: SCHN-CHW-GastroReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au
- Dr Michael Stormon
- Dr Susan Siew
- Dr Juliana Puppi
Intestinal Failure/TPN service
We have reduced the number of face-to-face clinic appointments due to COVID-19.
Patients who are well may be monitored via appointments using Telehealth (My Virtual Care), using Chrome web browser.
If you are scheduled for a Telehealth appointment you will need a computer with a webcam or other smart device (mobile phone) and Chrome browser.
- Log on at least 5 minutes before your child's appointment time.
- You will be allocated an appointment time for your child to be reviewed by their doctor and the Intestinal Rehabilitation CNC +/- Dietitian.
- Please ensure your child's height and weight has been recorded prior to your appointment.
- Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed whenever possible.
- We will let you know if you need blood tests at your local pathology collection centre.
- You will also need a current letter of referral from your GP.
If your child is sick
- If your child is unwell with cough, cold, runny nose or flu–like symptoms please take them to the GP or the Emergency Department for review. You will need to call ahead.
- However, if your child has a fever greater than 38 degrees and has a central venous access device, they should present to ED as per usual management.
- Your child’s medical team will be contacted on arrival to ED as required.
Medications
- Your child should continue to take their regular medications as prescribed.
- Please ensure you have an adequate supply of medications and formula requiring a script.
- There will be minimal staff at the hospital and we will require two weeks’ notice for all scripts. Prescriptions will be sent via email, fax or post where possible.
- The outpatient pharmacy at CHW will temporarily be sending all medications via courier to reduce unnecessary traffic through the hospital.
Appliances
- You will need to contact the Appliance Centre on 9845 2563 regarding all orders regularly supplied by the hospital.
- The regular 3-month supply of ancillaries will continue as per usual. If items become unavailable on backorder, an alternative will be provided where possible.
- For patients receiving ancillaries from Baxter Healthcare, please continue to liaise with the Baxter Homecare team and your Intestinal Rehabilitation CNC regarding all orders as per usual processes.
- If items become unavailable on backorder, an alternative will be provided where possible.
Contact us
- The most effective way of contacting your Intestinal Rehabilitation CNC is via email between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.
Resources
SCHN Factsheets
- Abdominal Pain and stomach ache
- Biliary Atresia
- Constipation
- Coeliac Disease
- Gastroenteritis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Jaundice in newborn babies
- Malrotation and volvulus
- Parenteral Nutrition
- Reflux
SCHN Factsheets on procedures
- Anaesthesia and Day Surgery
- Care of PICC line
- Central Venous Catheter
- Contrast Study
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Liver Biopsy
- MR Enterography
Other resources
- Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)
- Coeliac Australia
- Coeliac Australia resources
- Constipation in children Medicine Today magazine article (2017)
- BodyGuard Backpack for Parental nutrition
Private Rooms locations
Dr Shoma Dutt
- Children's Health Hub, Suite 120/24-28 Mons Road, Westmead (MONDAY afternoon)
- Phone: 1300 742 787 | Fax: 9012.0030 | admin@sydneypaediatricgastro.com.au
Dr Cheng Hiang Lee
- Macquarie G.I. Clinic (MON/TUE/FRI); Ph: 9812.3880 | F: 9812.3886 | reception@macquariegi.com
- Children's Health Hub, Suite 120/24-28 Mons Road, Westmead | Ph: 1300 742 787 (WED)
Dr Annabel Magoffin
- Terrace Doctors, 120 Victoria St, Dulwich Hill (MON/FRI alternate)
- Ph: 8355.1999 | F: 9569.5993 | reception@terracedoctors.com
Dr Edward O'Loughlin
- Children's Health Hub, Suite 120/24-28 Mons Road, Westmead
- Northern Beaches Paediatrics, 105 Frenchs Forest Rd, Frenchs Forest
- Sydney Gastrointestinal Specialist, 38 Denistone Rd, Eastwood
- Phone: 1300 742 787 (TUE/FRI) | admin@sydneypaediatricgastro.com.au
Dr Juliana Puppi
- Children's Health Hub, Suite 120/24-28 Mons Road, Westmead
- Suite 11/2-4 Aberdour Ave, Rouse Hill
- Phone: 1300 742 787 | admin@sydneypaediatricgastro.com.au
Dr Michael Stormon
- Fox Valley Medical Centre, 187 Fox Valley Rd, Wahroonga
- Phone: 0481 707 202 (THUR afternoon)
Dr Kunal Thacker
- Children's Health Hub, Suite 120/24-28 Mons Road, Westmead
- Northern Children's Specialist Centre, 68 Christie St, St Leonards
- Suite 4/L2, 171 Bigge St, Liverpool
- Suite 6&7, 82-84 Queen St, Campbelltown
- Phone: 1300 742 787 | Fax: 9012.0030
- admin@sydneypaediatricgastro.com.au
Research
To be added