Endoscopy in Western Sydney

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday
7:30am – 5:00pm
(Closed on public holidays)

Contact Details

Endoscopy enquiries (11:00am – 3:00pm)

 (02) 8890 5883

Getting to the Endoscopy Department

• Enter Westmead Hospital via Entrance 9 from Hawkesbury Road
• Turn left into Children’s Emergency
• Walk towards Zouki Café
• Take the lift on the left to Level 3
• Check in at the Endoscopy Reception

Paid parking is available, and there are short-stay drop-off zones. See parking information. 

We provide a wide range of advanced endoscopy procedures, including:

• Gastroscopy and colonoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
• Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
• Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• PEG feeding tube insertion
• Upper and lower GI dilatation
• Bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
• Flexible cystoscopy

Your healthcare team will talk to you about what to expect before and after your procedure.

Appointment details

For gastroenterology patients:

• A Westmead Endoscopy nurse will contact you about one week before your appointment
• They will confirm your arrival time, fasting instructions, and bowel preparation (if needed)

If you have not been contacted within 3 days of your scheduled appointment, please call (02) 8890 5883.

What to bring on the day

Please bring:

• Your Medicare card
• A list of all medications you take (or the medication boxes/Webster pack)
• Your completed Patient Health Questionnaire
  (Include vitamins, herbal medicines, and supplements)

The Rapid Access FOBT Clinic reviews and triages referrals for asymptomatic patients who have returned a positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) as part of bowel cancer screening.

Patients are assessed by a specialist nurse and, if eligible, are referred for colonoscopy.

Referral eligibility

The clinic is for:

• Patients without symptoms
• Patients with a positive FOBT
• Patients living in the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) catchment areas served by:
  • Westmead Hospital
  • Auburn Hospital
  • Blacktown Hospital
  • Mount Druitt Hospital

What happens after assessment?

• Patients are reviewed by a specialty nurse
• Eligible patients are booked for a colonoscopy at Westmead or Auburn Hospital
• Patients receive education about:
  • Bowel preparation
  • Diet before the procedure

After the procedure:

• The endoscopy report, pathology results, and discharge instructions are sent to the referring doctor
• Patients are only followed up in Gastroenterology Clinic if needed

Can I refer symptomatic patients?

No. The Rapid Access FOBT Clinic is only for patients with no symptoms.

Patients with:

• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Alarm features

should be referred to the General Gastroenterology Clinic instead.

Fax referrals to: (02) 8890 8333

How do I refer a patient?

1. Complete the Rapid Access FOBT Clinic Referral Form (PDF 268.46KB)
2. Email the form to WSLHD-Westmead-FOBT@health.nsw.gov.au

Please include:

• Patient health summary
• Current medication list
• FOBT pathology result
• Recent blood tests (FBC and iron studies)
• Relevant imaging
• Previous endoscopy reports (if available)

Clinic enquiries: 0439 702 568

Will the appointment cost the patient anything?

• Patients with a valid Medicare Card are bulk billed
• Patients without Medicare will be charged the schedule fee

Who will the patient see?

• A/Prof Nicholas Burgess, Gastroenterologist
• Betty Lo or Alison Bannister, Clinical Nurse Consultants

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia. It often starts as a small growth called a polyp.

Polyps usually cause no symptoms, but they can turn into cancer over time. Finding and removing polyps early can prevent bowel cancer or find it at an early, treatable stage.

Screening is very important for people aged 50–74 years, even if they feel well.

An FOBT is a simple home test that checks for small amounts of blood in your stool.

• You collect small samples at home
• The samples are mailed to a laboratory
• Results are sent to you and your GP

Free test kits are sent every two years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Results

• Negative result: No blood found
  • Repeat screening in two years
  • See your GP if you develop symptoms
• Positive result: Blood found
  • This does not mean you have cancer
  • You should see your GP for further tests

You need a referral from your GP or specialist.

Once referred:

• You will receive an appointment letter by mail
• Read the letter carefully and contact the clinic if you have questions

Please bring:

• Your Medicare card
• A list of all medications (including vitamins and supplements)
• Your completed Patient Health Questionnaire
• Specialist details (if applicable)

Patients with a Medicare Card are bulk billed. Patients without Medicare will need to pay the schedule fee. Payment is made at the Cashiers Office (Level 2) before the appointment. 

Westmead Clinic

• Every Friday, 2:00pm – 4:30pm
• University Clinic, Westmead Hospital

Directions, parking, and public transport details are included in your appointment letter.

• Phone: 0439 702 568 (Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30am – 5pm)
• Fax: (02) 8890 5118
• Email:WSLHD-Westmead-FOBT@health.nsw.gov.au

We perform a wide range of procedures, including:

Gastrointestinal (Digestive System) procedures

• Gastroscopy (looking at the oesophagus, stomach, and small bowel)
• Colonoscopy (looking at the large bowel)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Capsule endoscopy (swallowing a small camera)
• Polypectomy (removal of polyps)
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
• Upper and lower GI dilatation (stretching narrow areas)
• PEG feeding tube insertion
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsy (FNB)
• Single balloon enteroscopy (SBE)

Respiratory (Lung) procedures

• Bronchoscopy
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS – radial and linear)
• Fine needle aspiration and biopsy

Your doctor will explain which procedure is right for you and why it has been recommended. 

Endoscopy Unit

Location: Blacktown Hospital Building B, Level 2, Room 1

Hours: Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 8am-4pm

Contact number:(02) 8670 8056

Email: wslhd-bh-endoscopy@health.nsw.gov.au  

Before your appointment

• You will be contacted by the Nursing team from Unit B21 - Blacktown Hospital about your procedure a week before your appointment
• They will confirm your arrival time, fasting instructions, and bowel preparation (if needed)
• The nursing team will attempt to call you 3 times, your confirmation is required in order for your surgery to proceed.
• If you have not been contacted by Unit B21 between 1PM and 4PM one working day before your procedure, please contact the unit on (02) 8670 8132 or (02) 8670 8131 by 4:30pm to confirm your procedure and receive fasting/medication requirements.

On the day

• Bring your Medicare Card
• See parking and directions at Blacktown Hospital

We believe patients and families are an important part of the care team. We aim to provide care that is safe, respectful, and suited to your needs.

We work with you to:

• Explain procedures, benefits, and risks in clear language
• Help you take part in decisions about your care
• Respect your cultural, language, and personal needs
• Encourage questions and feedback

Interpreters and extra support services are available if needed.

Helpful fact sheets and videos are available on:

• Bowel cancer prevention
• Bowel polyps
• Bowel preparation
• Colonoscopy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• ERCP
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Flexible bronchoscopy

You can find these resources through patient resources from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) website. 

Find out more about your healthcare rights.