Haematology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

The Haematology outpatient service is predominantly for tertiary referrals, accepting internal referrals and external referrals from paediatricians and paediatric specialists.

Referrals require a letter together with all relevant blood tests to the Haematologist by name or Dr J Curtin (head of department). Please include the following information so we can process your enquiry quickly:

• Patient’s name, DOB, address and contact details
• Medicare card details
• Contact details/address of parents/carers, including mobile number
• Indicate need for interpreter services
• Clinical details of reasons for referral. Referrals with inadequate clinical information and illegible letters will be declined.
• Attach all relevant test results
• Contact details/address of referring doctor

Referrals with inadequate information will be declined. New referrals are triaged according to clinical priority based on the information provided by the referring doctor, and parents/carers are advised of the appointment in writing.

Direct GP referrals are only accepted after discussion with the Haematologist on-call. The Haematologist on-call can provide telephone advice to GPs when required.

Please review the referral criteria and exclusions below. Referrals may be declined or redirected if they don't meet the criteria.

Referral criteria

These criteria and exclusions apply to the Haematology outpatient service.

We accept internal hospital referrals and referrals from paediatricians and paediatric specialists. Direct GP referrals can be accepted after discussion with the Haematologist on-call.

New referrals/patients accepted up to 15 years 9 months of age.

• Significant isolated cytopenias
  • Haemoglobin < 80 g/L (< 100 g/L in adolescents), iron deficiency anaemia Hb < 80 g/L
  • Neutrophil counts < 1.0 x 109/L (< 0.8 x 109/L in infants aged < 1 year) if >2 weeks duration
  • Platelet count < 50 x 109/L, 50 – 120 x 109/L if > 2 weeks duration
• Bone marrow disease
  • Aplastic anaemia and congenital bone marrow failure syndromes
  • Significant cytopenias affecting more than one cell lineage
• Haemoglobin disorders
  • Thalassaemias
  • Sickle cell disease
• Haemolytic anaemias
• Bleeding disorders
  • Haemophilia, von Willebrand disease, platelet disorders
  • Abnormal coagulation profile
• Thrombophilia, thrombo-embolic disease
• Management of anticoagulant therapy

Exclusions

• Mild or borderline isolated cytopenias of less than 3 months duration
• Thrombocytosis with platelet count < 800 x 109/L
• Cervical lymphadenopathy
• Reduced serum iron or ferritin with normal haemoglobin and red cell indices

If your referral does not meet the above criteria please contact the on-call haematologist via Switchboard on 02 7825 0000 for further discussion.

Our department uses Consultmed to manage referrals. Your referring clinician sends the e-referral to us using the secure Consultmed platform.  

Following triage, accepted patients are advised in writing of their appointment or referrers are contacted for more information. 

If your clinician has questions about Consultmed or require technical support, they can contact helpdesk@consultmed.co.  

If you need help or have questions about the referral and appointment process, please contact us.  

Phone: (02) 7825 3295

Email: schn-chw-haematology@health.nsw.gov.au