Complex Musculoskeletal Service at Kids Rehab, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Contact details

Appointments and enquiries

Referrals

Location

  • Children's Assessment Centre, Level 3 Outpatients, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

The Complex Musculoskeletal Service is part of Kids Rehab. It is a statewide service caring for children and young people who have conditions present from birth and/or inherited conditions primarily affecting bones, joints, tendons and ligaments which result in musculoskeletal disability.

The Complex Musculoskeletal Service provides information and specialist support regarding the child/young person’s additional needs. We aim to support children, young people and their families through the main developmental, growth and transitional periods in a child’s life to promote active participation in their home, school and community.

A multidisciplinary team helps to coordinate the child/young person’s rehabilitation needs by providing hands-on medical and allied health services, advice and support to parents and families, local health professionals, teachers, and others who are involved in the child's care.

Services offered: 

  • Outpatient clinics and appointments for therapy and medical review
  • Day rehabilitation services
  • Developmental groups
  • School readiness
  • Outreach services, including home and school visits and community liaison.
  • Camp Lion Heart, an annual camp organised by the Kids Rehab Team for children with a disability aged between 7-12 years old.
  • Referral to other specialist services e.g.Orthopaedics, Neurology

Clinic

When: Tuesday mornings

Where: Children's Assessment Centre on Level 3

What to expect at your appointment

  • Appointments last approximately 50 minutes and involve looking at the child or young person’s current health, functional abilities and everyday life skills.
  • Please bring any relevant school, medical or therapy reports as well as mobility aids to the appointment.
  • The patient is typically reviewed by a Specialist Rehabilitation Doctor, Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. 
  • Following the appointment referrals may be made to other community services, for example, local physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sporting and educational services.
  • Make sure your child wears comfortable, active clothing for their appointment e.g. shorts and a singlet. Treating therapists from the community are also welcome to attend or provide feedback for the appointment.

Frequency of appointments 

It is common for your child to have frequent appointments with the Complex Musculoskeletal Service in the first few years of their life, and then at important times in their lives such as starting daycare/pre-school, starting school, starting high school and moving on to adult services.

Referral criteria

Patients must be under 15 years, 11 months old

Medical referrals accepting for a child residing in NSW diagnosed with:

  • Skeletal dysplasia eg. Achondroplasia
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta and other primary bone fragility disorders
  • Arthrogryposis (non-syndromic)
  • Marfans Syndrome, Loeys Dietz Syndrome and molecularly confirmed rare subtypes of Ehlers – Danlos Syndromes
  • Lysosomal Storage Disorders with rehabilitation goals

Paediatrician/specialist referrals accepted for children residing in NSW Western Child Health Network for:

Referrals must demonstrate:

  • Evidence of one of the above diagnoses
  • The child or young person’s functional challenges and subsequent rehabilitation goals
  • Referrals must be addressed to Dr Louise Tofts and emailed to SCHN-CHW-KidsRehab@health.nsw.gov.au or faxed to the Kids Rehab Department. Fax: (02) 9845 0685

The intake process

The referral to the Complex Musculoskeletal Service is reviewed by the Intake Officer and discussed with the team to determine whether the child/young person is eligible for the service.

If the child/young person has been accepted into the Musculoskeletal Service they will be put onto the waitlist for a Musculoskeletal Clinic appointment. Please be aware this process can take up to 2 months.

If you have an emergency or require urgent medical care please go to your GP, Paediatrician or Local Emergency Department.

Factsheets and resources

Factsheets

Information sheets

Support agencies