For Patients and Visitors
What is the Gastroenterology Service?
Conditions seen in this service includes:
- Abdominal pain (upper & lower)
- Abnormal Liver Function Tests (LFTs) & Jaundice
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Dysphagia (swallowing problems)
- Family history of colorectal cancer (CRC)
- Colonic polyps
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis)
- Hepatitis B/C
- Iron deficiency
- Nausea & vomiting (greater than 3 weeks duration)
- Positive coeliac antibodies
- Upper & Lower Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Reflux & dyspepsia
Conditions not seen include:
- Children 18 years and under – refer to Royal Children’s Hospital or other Paediatric Service
Services:
- Dedicated IBD, Liver, General Gastro & Advanced Endoscopy Clinics
- Specialist IBD & Liver Nurses
- Outpatient Gastrointestinal Investigations – Capsule Endoscopy, pH/Manometry, Fibroscan
What can I expect from the service?
Patients can expect a comprehensive assessment & management of their gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions with highly experienced and caring specialists.
How to refer to the service
A referral is required. Please visit your GP clinic
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
- Medicare card
- Up to date list of medications (or the boxes themselves)
- Recent or previous investigations relevant to the reason for the referral.
Contact us
Phone: 8405 8335
Email: SpecialistClinics@nh.org.au
For Health Professionals
Service Overview
The Department of Gastroenterology at Northern Health is a rapidly expanding centre of excellence in the provision of comprehensive gastroenterology, hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease & endoscopy services. A multidisciplinary team more than 20 experienced & highly trained gastroenterologists, clinical nurse consultants, dietitians, pharmacist and psychologist provide dedicated patient-centric IBD, Liver/Hepatology, General Gastroenterology & Advanced Endoscopy (ERCP/EUS/Complex Polypectomies) clinics across the Epping & Broadmeadows campuses.
The service also has specialist IBD and Liver Nurse support programs for existing patients. We have a dedicated gastroenterologist triage service to facilitate timely and efficient handling of referrals to the appropriate clinics. Northern Health offers diagnostic outpatient services including capsule endoscopy (must meet Medicare indications), pH/Manometry and Fibroscan.
The Department of Gastroenterology is closely involved in research, education and training, and multiple members of the multidisciplinary team frequently participate in national and international organisations to forward the field of gastroenterology.
Gastroenterology Referral Guidelines (incorporating Statewide Referral Criteria) – Click here
Gastroenterology Services not offered at Northern Health
Patients under the age of 16 years requiring a gastroenterology opinion – please direct referral to The Royal Children’s Hospital: Health Professionals or other paediatric service.
Note: Referrals for patients aged 16–18 years may or may not be accepted to adult service pending clinical triage decision by gastroenterology specialist.
For further guidance on how to manage specific conditions in general practice, or what specific investigations and information are required for specialist referral, please visit your local HealthPathways website or equivalent online care pathways website.
Click here for HealthPathways Melbourne
Please contact your local PHN if you require login access
How to refer
Urgent referrals can be discussed with the Gastroenterology Registrar by calling Northern Health switchboard Tel: 8405 8000. Acutely unwell patients should be directed to the nearest Emergency Department.
Gastroenterology specialist clinics
- Endoscopy
- General Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Inflammatory bowel disease
GP Referrals: Use Healthlink to send referrals, results and reports. For more information click here
Other Health Service Referrals: (hospitals, allied health, specialists etc): Fax your referral to 8405 8616
Diagnostic gastroenterology clinics
Please note: GP’s will need to refer to gastroenterology specialist clinic first for the below diagnostic investigations to be performed.
- Fibroscan – Referral
- Oesophageal Manometry & 24 hr pH Monitoring – Referral & Consent
- Capsule endoscopy – Referral
Gastroenterology Clinic Overview
Endoscopy Clinic
For review of patients pre/post endoscopy, FOBT, polyp surveillance, colonoscopy screening for family history of bowel cancer
Includes telephone clinic for national bowel cancer screening programme, positive FOB
General Gastroenterology Clinic
To assess, diagnose and manage GI bleeding, coeliac disease, FOBT, abnormal LFT’s Dysphagia, Chronic diarrheoa/constipation, pancreatic disease
Hepatology Clinic
To investigate, diagnose and manage patients with chronic liver disease, hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, liver lesions, fatty liver and abnormal LFT’s
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic
To investigate, diagnose, manage and coordinate the care and management of patients with medically diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Diagnostic Gastroenterology Clinics
A direct referral to the following clinics can be made without need for gastroenterology specialist referral.
Capsule Endoscopy Clinic
Allows assessment of the small bowel for patients who have active gastrointestinal bleeding without cause, persistent GI bleed or iron deficient anaemia – post gastroscopy & colonoscopy.
Fibroscan Clinic
To assess patients with chronic liver disease, including chronic Hepatitis B and C, fatty liver etc to assess the level of degree of liver scarring.
Oesophageal Manometry Clinic
To diagnose oesophageal motility disorders such as Achalasia, oesophageal spasm & measure oesophageal acid exposure – GORD.
Our Team: view here
