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.

COVID -19 Changes to services

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 appointment, you will need a computer with a webcam or other smart device and the Chrome browser.

  • Log on at least 5 minutes before your child's appointment time, following the instructions given to you by email from the Gastro Admin Team when the appointment was scheduled.
  • Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed whenever possible.
  • You will also need a current Referral to be able to see the Specialist (Paediatrician referrals last for three months, GP referrals 12 months or indefinite).  

Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)

Appointments and referrals

  • Tertiary referrals, from Paediatricians only, must be addressed personally to one of the Consultants.
  • All referrals will be triaged and may be declined due to our inability to satisfy demand.
  • Patients may be reviewed by the Gastroenterology Fellow on behalf of the Consultant.
  • Email referrals to: SCHN-CHW-GastroReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au

Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic

We have reduced the number of face-to-face clinic appointments due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients who are well may be monitored via appointments using Telehealth (My Virtual Care), or over the phone. 

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.
  • Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed whenever possible or sent by post.
  • You will also need a current Referral.
  • Our clinicians are Dr Annabel Magoffin and Dr Kunal Thacker.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinics

See the IBD web page

  • Wednesday mornings
  • Thursday afternoons (fortnightly): urgent clinic appointments 

General Gastroenterology Clinic

  • Wednesday mornings

Short Gut Clinic

  • Every month: at the Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Suite 16

Liver Clinic

  • Tuesday mornings - appointments are arranged via the Liver Nurses

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.

Staff Specialist Rooms Gastroenterology Clinics

These clinics are held at the Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Suite 16 (Level 2), Hainsworth Street, Westmead (next to the multi-storey carpark). 

A current referral letter from your doctor addressed 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 Annabel Magoffin: Wednesday morning (once a month)
  • Dr Ted O'Loughlin: Wednesday morning
  • Dr Juliana Puppi: Wednesday morning
  • Dr Michael Stormon: Wednesdays (SSR Liver, 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.  

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 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 four individually addressed GP referrals sent to us at: SCHN-CHW-GastroReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Dr Michael Stormon
  • Dr Susan Siew
  • Dr Ted O'Loughlin
  • 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 Referral. 

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

SCHN Factsheets on procedures 

Other resources

Private patients

Dr Eric Cheah

  • Chatswood: Phone: 9411.8888 | Fax: 8088.8086 (WED and FRI)
  • Westmead:  Phone: 9687.4000 | Fax: 9687.4005  (WED 4-7pm)
  • Rouse Hill:  Phone: 1300 874 325  (MON and THURS pm)
  • Penrith:

Dr Shoma Dutt

Dr Cheng Hiang Lee

Dr Annabel Magoffin

Dr Michael Stormon

  • Wahroonga   (THURS afternoons)
  • Phone: 0481 707 202

Dr Kunal Thacker