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

The number of face-to-face clinic appointments has been restricted 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 your child is scheduled for a Telehealth appointment, you will need a computer with a webcam and using the Chrome browser.

  • Practise logging in beforehand, and on the day login at least 5 minutes before your child's appointment time, following the instructions given to you by email from the Admin Team when the appointment was organised.
  • Pathology test forms and scripts will be emailed or posted.
  • You will also need a current Referral to be able to see the Specialist (Paediatrician referrals are valid for 3 months, and GP referrals 12 months or indefinite).  

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 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 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 will 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

See the IBD web page

  • 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

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

SCHN Factsheets on procedures 

Other resources

Private patients

Dr Eric Cheah

  • Chatswood Specialist Centre, Chatswood: Ph: 9411.8888 | F: 8088.8086 (WED/FRI)
  • Westmead:  Phone: 9687.4000 | F: 9687.4005  (WED 4-7pm)
  • 11/2-4 Aberdour Ave, Rouse Hill:  Ph: 1300 874 325  (MON/THURS pm)

Dr Shoma Dutt

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

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

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