Respiratory, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

Contact

Respiratory Secretary - Benjamin Vien

CF Clinic Coordinator - Rhonda Bell

Outpatients department

Respiratory Laboratory

Location:

  • Respiratory Medicine unit, level 0 (ground floor)

About our service

The respiratory service provides quality care, research, education and training to support children with complex respiratory disease and their families.

We also coordinate clinics for cystic fibrosis, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), bronchiectasis, complex asthma, neuromuscular disorders and infant respiratory complications. 

We attend the Tracheo Oesophageal Fistula (TOF) and long-term ventilation clinics coordinated by other teams. 

Our Respiratory Support Service provides Domiciliary oxygen and our Respiratory Laboratory Service provides:

  • a range of testing to establish a diagnosis
  • ways of assessing the severity of disease
  • monitoring of treatment and evaluation of progress.

Donate to the Respiratory department at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

Referral process for clinicians

Our department is using Consultmed to manage referrals. The Consultmed platform allows health professionals to send e-referrals to us securely.   

Consultmed questions and technical support: helpdesk@consultmed.co

Upload a referral

Referral and appointment process for parents and carers

Request a referral

To make an appointment at our clinic, you will need a referral from your GP, paediatrician or specialist. 

They will assess your child, discuss your concerns, and make a referral to the appropriate service.  

Please note: We do not accept GP referrals for asthma. For further comprehensive asthma treatment and management please refer to a general paediatrician.

Track your referral

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

Once we receive the referral, we will send you an email with your tracking information. We will update you as we process the referral and book your appointment. 

To receive these updates, please ask your referring clinician to include your email on the referral.  

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

Need support?

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

Phone: (02) 9382 1470

Email: SCHN-SCH-OPD@health.nsw.gov.aumail

 

Clinic information

We prioritise children from priority populations including:

  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
  • children living with a disability
  • children living in out-of-home-care 

Please let us know if you meet any of these criteria. Please indicate if interpreter services are required and specify the language.

Go to Outpatients, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick for more information about coming to your appointment. 

Bronchoscopy services

Flexible fibro-optic bronchoscopy are performed on appropriate cases.

Clinic days

Monday

  • Morning: Dr Saikiran Gopalakaje Respiratory Clinic (Monthly)
  • Morning: Chronic Neonatal Lung Disease (CNLD) clinic - Dr Saikiran Gopalakaje (fortnightly)
  • Morning: Rapid Review Clinic - Dr Saikiran Gopalakaje (Monthly)
  • Morning: High Risk Asthma Clinic - Dr Louisa Owens (Monthly)
  • Afternoon: Oesophageal Atresia-Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Clinic (Fortnightly)

Tuesday

  • Morning: Cystic Fibrosis Annual Review - Respiratory Team (Weekly)
  • Morning: Dr Bernadette Prentice Respiratory Clinic (Weekly)
  • Morning:  Respiratory Fellow Clinic (Weekly)
  • Afternoon: Complex Asthma Clinic - Dr Louisa Owens (Monthly)
  • Afternoon: Bronchiectasis Clinic - Dr Bernadette Prentice (Monthly)
  • Afternoon: Respiratory Fellow Bronchiectasis Clinic (Monthly)
  • Afternoon: Vascular Anomalies Clinic - Dr Yvonne Belessis (Monthly)

Wednesday

  • Morning: Cystic Fibrosis Clinic (Weekly)
  • Morning: Dr Mimi Lu Respiratory Clinic (weekly)

Thursday

  • Afternoon: Congenital Lung Clinic - Dr Sandra Chuang (Fortnightly)

Friday

  • Morning: Dr Louisa Owens Respiratory Clinic (Weekly)
  • Morning: Respiratory Fellow Clinic (Weekly)
  • Morning: Neuromuscular Clinic - Dr Sandra Chuang (Weekly)
  • Afternoon: Tracheostomy Clinic - Dr Mimi Lu (Monthly)

Respiratory Laboratory Services

The Respiratory Laboratory provides testing to establish a diagnosis, provide ways of assessing the severity of disease and to monitor treatment progress. The laboratory tests patients with a broad range of respiratory disorders including Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchiectasis, Neuromuscular disorders, Congenital lung malformations and Oesophageal Atresia (OA)/ Tracheo-oesophageal Fistula (TOF).

Referrals

All referrals are to be made electronically. Referrals must include a thorough clinical history and indication for testing.

  • External and SCH Emergency Department: via Consultmed
  • Internal orders are made via eMR 

If you are internal however would like the patients results to be sent externally (e.g. follow-up will be with their General Practitioner) please submit the referral via Consultmed.

Tests include:

  • Spirometry (with bronchodilator response)
  • Lung Volumes (Plethysmography)
  • Diffusion studies (DLCO)
  • Multiple Breath Washout (LCI)*
  • Bronchial Challenge testing: Mannitol*
  • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)*
  • Nitric Oxide: Fractional exhaled NO (FeNO) & Nasal NO (nNO)
  • Respiratory muscle strength testing: Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressures (MIP and MEP), Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure (SNIP) & Cough peak flow (CPF)
  • Hypoxic Challenge testing (HAST)*
  • Respiratory Oscillometry
  • Skin Prick Testing (aeroallergens only and must have respiratory indication)

*Can only be requested by a Paediatrician.

Information sheets

Billing and results

If the referral for a test is from a physician within the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (Randwick or Westmead), a preliminary result will be available immediately upon completion of the test.

If your referral is from a Doctor outside of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (Randwick or Westmead), a final copy of the test report, including a physician’s interpretation, will be sent to your referring doctor.

Patients that are eligible for Medicare are bulk billed. If your child is ineligible for Medicare, please contact the lab for further information.

Aiming for Asthma Improvement in Children resources

Videos, webinars and translated asthma support information for parents and carers.

See the resources

Factsheets

Browse all factsheets

Our research

We conduct research on cystic fibrosis, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia and rare lung diseases.

Explore the Respiratory Research Group

Support services

A smiling Aboriginal family.
Services for Aboriginal families
Our Aboriginal Hospital Liaison and Education officers play an important role in the care and welfare of and advocacy for Aboriginal patients and families, helping ensure a responsive and respectful patient journey.
A young girl sits on her mother's lap on a hostpital bed.
Interpreter and translation services
We can arrange a free interpreter for you. Interpreters are available for over 50 languages. Tell us which language you speak when your child is admitted, or let your nurse know.
A mother sits with her baby at a laptop.
Virtual care (telehealth) services
Virtual care, previously known as telehealth, allows patients. their families and carers to access healthcare services without leaving their home or community.