Child gastroenterology
We care for children and young people with stomach and digestive system problems across Hunter New England. Our team helps find the cause of symptoms and supports families with treatment and ongoing care.
About our gastroenterology services
The Paediatric Gastroenterology Team provides specialised, multi-disciplinary care to babies, children and adolescents with a range of gastro-intestinal, liver, pancreas and complex nutritional problems. We care for inpatients as well as providing an outpatient clinic service based at John Hunter Children’s Hospital. We also provide a consultation service throughout the Hunter New England Local Health District and Northern NSW.
What kinds of problems do we deal with?
The Paediatric Gastroenterology Department provides a comprehensive service including assessment and management of:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Coeliac disease
- Intestinal failure, including parenteral (intravenous) nutrition
- Oesophageal disorders
- Acute and chronic liver disease, including chronic viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B and C)
- Post-liver transplant medical care
- Pancreatic disorders
- Other complex GI and nutritional problems.
What procedures or investigations do we perform?
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Interventional endoscopy, including polypectomy, stricture dilatation, variceal banding and procedure to stop bleeding
- Capsule endoscopy
- Percutaneous liver biopsy
- Oesophageal pH and impedance studies
- Intestinal ultrasound
Our specialist medical staff:
- Dr Scott Nightingale
- Dr Li-Zsa Tan
- Dr Vivek Rajasekaran
How do I make an appointment?
All referrals are reviewed by our clinical team. Whilst any doctor can make a referral, due to the large number of referrals we receive, we cannot accept referrals for constipation, soiling (encopresis) or infant reflux from GPs. This is in line with NSW Health Statewide Referral Criteria for our public clinics.
The urgency of a referral is based on the information provided in the doctor’s referral. Sometimes advice is given to the referring doctor and an appointment is not required in our clinics.
Referrals are triaged, and placed on our waitlist. When an appointment is allocated, you will be contacted.
Many people are waiting for an appointment in our clinics. If you are offered an appointment and cannot make it, please notify the clinics as soon as possible, so that others may be offered the appointment. If you do not attend an appointment, or cancel at late notice, it may be some time before another appointment can be offered due to service demand.
Contact Us
Referring doctors are encouraged to us the SeNT eReferral system to send referrals to HNELHD. If your GP management system does not support SeNT, you may FAX referral to (02) 49 223904. The clinic can be contacted on (02) 49 213750.