Nephrology (kidney), The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Contact
Phone: (02) 7825 3430
Email: [email protected]
Location: Department of Medicine, Diagnostic Services Building, level 3
Urgent cases: Can be referred through the Emergency Department or call (02) 7825 0000 and ask for the renal registrar who will liaise with the consultant on call for an assessment.
About our service
The nephrology department cares for children with renal disorders including glomerulonephritis, interstitial and structural kidney disease, urosepsis, renal genetic disorders and hypertension. We are the leading centre for paediatric transplantation and dialysis.
The unit provides a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic service for the full range of renal diseases, including peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis for chronic renal failure. We also provide a multi disciplinary bladder Clinic for urinary incontinence.
Our service provides:
- Day stay and outpatient care of children with other renal conditions who require administration of specific therapies or who require specialised renal nursing care.
- Day stay and outpatient care of children on haemodialysis, plasma exchange, peritoneal dialysis and following renal transplantation.
- Inpatient care of renal patients and consultative care to a range of services including PICU, Haematology, Oncology and Cardiology, incorporating plasma exchange.
Outreach
Out state-wide services include prenatal review at Royal Prince Alfred, consultancy to the high-risk unit at Liverpool and Westmead, outreach to John Hunter in Newcastle, Orange and Bathurst, support for the renal service in Canberra and support for Noumean children through CAFAT.
We are closely involved in the team-based care of complex urological disorders with urology, radiology services, and a complete transplantation service with dedicated paediatric transplant surgeons.
Referral process for clinicians
Our department is using to manage referrals.鈥疶he Consultmed platform allows health professionals to send e-referrals to us securely. 鈥�
Consultmed questions and technical support: [email protected]
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.鈥�
Track your referral
Our department uses Consultmed to manage referrals. Your referring clinician sends the e-referral to us using the secure Consultmed platform.鈥�
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.鈥�
If your clinician has questions about Consultmed or require technical support, they can contact [email protected].
Need support?
If you need help or have questions about the referral and appointment process, please contact us.鈥�
Phone: (02) 7825 3430/1
Email: [email protected]
Clinic information
Renal clinic
The renal clinics are for assessment of nephritis, hypertension, urosepsis, renal impairment, structural kidney disorders and genetic disorders of the kidney.
You will need a referral letter from your doctor or paediatrician to the specialist by name.
Monday afternoons
- Bandage Bear Outpatient department, Dr Siah Kim
- Bandage Bear Outpatient department, Prof Alexander and Dr Hugh McCarthy
Tuesday mornings
- Children鈥檚 Hospital Medical Centre, A/Prof Alexander and A/Prof Deirdre Hahn
- Renal Treatment Centre - A/Prof Anne Durkan and Dr Debbie Lewis
Tuesday afternoons
- Bandage Bear Outpatient department, A/Prof Anne Durkan and A/Prof Deirdre Hahn
- Renal Treatment Centre, Dr Noa Amir and Dr Justyna Ozimek-Kulik
Wednesday mornings
- Renal Treatment Centre, Fellow
Wednesdays (all day)
- Children鈥檚 Hospital Medical Centre, Dr Lewis
Wednesday afternoon
- Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Dr Gaya Raman
Friday morning
- Renal Treatment Centre, A/Prof Deirdre Hahn
Bladder clinic
Children with bedwetting or urinary incontinence who have failed initial management can be referred by a family doctor or paediatrician to the bladder clinic.
Clinic criteria
- Children need to have been seen by your family doctor or paediatrician and screened for an underlying cause.
- We only provide non-urgent appointments for urinary incontinence and nocturnal enuresis.
- We accept referrals for children aged 7 years and over with nocturnal enuresis, and any child who has daytime wetting after being toilet trained.
- We also accept referrals for children who have the capacity to toilet train but have been unable to do so in a timely manner, after appropriate community-based support.
- We do not accept referrals for bowel only incontinence.
Patients are seen by a team of paediatricians, nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists in the clinic.
Waitlist
This service has a waiting list of 2 years due to the large number of referrals. Therefore, we suggest whilst waiting for an appointment the child is also referred to a local paediatrician or continence service.
Clinic schedule
Wednesday mornings
- Location: Suite 16, Children's Hospital Medical Centre
- Phone: (02) 7825 0782
Thursday afternoons
- Outpatients, level 2, The Children's Hospital at Westmead (main building)
- For appointments and enquiries please call (02) 7825 3426
Genetics clinic
The Renal Genetic Clinic is run by Dr Hugh McCarthy and Senior Genetic Counsellor Lucy Kevin.
The clinic prioritises counselling and information delivery and will facilitate genetic testing where required.
All renal genetic diseases can be tested for and we utilise the federal medicare rebate to ensure no cost to the family or the hospital. If testing reveals a variant of interest in a child we will provide testing to first degree relatives and information is provided to extended family to ensure they too are able to seek appropriate counselling and testing.
Clinic criteria
- We accept referrals (addressed to Dr Hugh McCarthy) from family or local doctors, adult/paediatric nephrologists and geneticists and general paediatricians.
- We see children from birth to transition to adult care and see couples antenatally to discuss known or possible renal genetic disease.
Clinic schedule
- Monday afternoons, once a month
- Bandaged Bear Clinic, Outpatients level 2, The Children's Hospital at Westmead (main building).
Appointments
- Please call (02) 7825 3431
- Questions can be emailed to [email protected].
This clinic was established in 2016 by Dr Hugh McCarthy and Prof Stephen Alexander and is one of the founding renal genetic clinics in Australia, working closely with colleagues in , the national kidney genetic collective.
We have a strong research focus, currently participating in a nationally funded study to find genetic answers in families where standard testing has not been enough; and also the development of information resources for families who are learning about their genetic kidney disease for the first time.
Lupus clinic
This is a combined rheumatology and nephrology clinic.
You will need a referral from your paediatrician to the specialist by name.
- Location: Outpatients
- Doctors: A/Prof Deirdre Hahn (with Dr Davinder Singh-Grewal)
Outreach clinics
The hospital holds outreach clinics in rural areas.
Newcastle
- Dr Deborah Lewis
- For appointments please phone (02) 7825 3431
Orange
- Dr Deborah Lewis
- For appointments please phone (02) 7825 3431
Bathurst
- A/Prof Deidre Hahn
- For appointments please phone (02) 7825 3430
Transition clinic (adult health care)
These clinics are designed to facilitate transition of current paediatric patients to the adult nephrology service at Westmead Hospital.
Clinic schedule
- Friday mornings, every 3 months.
- Adolescent and Young Adult space (CAYAH) at Westmead Hospital.
- This map shows directions from the Bandaged Bear clinic to CAYAH.
Useful contacts
Renal treatment centre
Phone: (02) 7825 1131 or (02) 7825 1218
Transplant contacts
Transplant coordinator
- Ms Jill Farquhar, Clinical Nurse Practitioner
- Phone: (02) 7825 1218
Transplant liaison administration officer
- Mrs Kerry Duffy
- Phone: (02) 7825 3431
Appointment contacts
Appointments for:
- Prof Stephen Alexander
- A/Prof Deirdre Hahn
- Dr Noa Amir
- Dr Justyna Ozimek-Kulik
Phone: (02) 7825 3430 or [email protected]
Appointments for:
- A/Prof Anne Durkan
- Dr Deborah Lewis
- Dr Hugh McCarthy
Phone: (02) 7825 3431 or [email protected]
Appointments for:
- Dr Gaya Raman (Including Bladder Clinic)
- Dr Siah Kim
Phone (02) 7825 3426 or email [email protected]
