Behaviour, Development and Learning
General Paediatric Outpatients at John Hunter Children's Hospital has a streamlined process to direct children with development and behavioural concerns to the most appropriate service.
This central intake point may result in an appointment at the Child Development Team, Youth Health Team (621 Hunter St) and General Paediatrics at JHCH, Belmont Hospital or the Raymond Terrace clinic.
Central Intake Combined Referral for General Practitioners (BP) - Best Practice software
Central Intake Combined Referral for General Practitioners (MD) - Medical Director software
Central Intake Combined Referral for General Practitioners (PDF)
View the HNE Health Pathways for Paediatric Speech Pathology Referrals, Behavioural Concerns in Children, ADHD in Children and Young People and Development Concerns in Children.
Allergy/Immunology
This referral is for Paediatric Respiratory Laboratory Skin Prick Testing. The laboratory does not provide management of allergies or prescription Epipens/Anapens. View the Allergy/Immunology page.
View the HNE Health Pathways for Food Allergy in Children and Eczema (atopic dermatitis) in children.
Respiratory
The NSW Infant and Child Lung Function Centre (NICE) at John Hunter Children's Hospital provides specialist testing, which includes lung function tests, bronchial challenge, skin prick test (must complete skin prick test referral), altitude simulation, exhaled nitric oxide, nasal nitric oxide, nitrogen washout/lung clearance index, Infant lung function, cardiopulmonary exercise test. View the Respiratory Services page.
NSW Infant and Child Lung Function Centre referral
View the HNE Health Pathways for Asthma (non-acute) in Children and Croup.
Child Development Team
The Child Development Team is a specialist community health service is provided for families with children aged 2 to 12 years. The service aims to promote the health, development and wellbeing of children and help coordinate and link in with appropriate support. View the Child Development Team web page.
Child Development Team Referral Form. This referral form is suitable for health, educational or welfare professionals (aside from GPs). The Child and Family Health Team does not accept referrals from parents, caregivers or members of the general public.
For children under 10-years-of-age displaying problematic sexualised behaviours please complete the Sparks service referral form.
Community Based Speech Pathology
Community Based Speech Pathology treats children from birth to school age, with normal cognitive function or mild intellectual impairment. View the Community Based Speech Pathology page.
Community Based Speech Pathology referral
View the HNE Health Pathway for Paediatric Speech Pathology Referrals.
First Steps Parenting Centre
First Steps Parenting Centre (FSPC) is a service for families with children aged 0-5 years based at the Wallsend Health Campus. The centre provides multi-disciplinary support to families from social workers, nurses, a paediatrician and a speech pathologist. View the First Steps Parenting Centre page.
Go4Fun
Go4Fun is a community-based program, FREE for children and young people aged 7 to 13 years, along with their families, who sit outside the healthy weight range. The program supports families to make healthy lifestyle changes, producing clinically significant results on weight, fitness and self esteem. View the Go4Fun site.
View the HNE Health Pathway for Weight Management in Children.
Generic Referral
A generic referral to a specialist at John Hunter Children's Hospital requires a mandatory set of information.
The referral should include:
1. The name of the specialist
2. The child's:
* Name
* DOB
* Address
* Gender
* Medicare number
* Phone number
* Date of referral
* Clinical question
* Supporting document (relevant to the child's referral)
To view what specialty clinics are available visit http://www.hnekidshealth.nsw.gov.au/clinics
JHCH Weight Management Service
The John Hunter Children’s Hospital Weight Management Service is a multidisciplinary service, which holds outpatient clinics for children and young people with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th centile and associated co-morbidities. The service provides a combination of individual and group sessions over a 4 month period.
The program is broken up into two age brackets; 2-6 years (preschool age), 7-12 years (primary school age). There is a separate model for adolescents 13 -17 years (high school age). The clinic is currently accepting referrals for all age brackets. Please view referral criteria below.
Weight Management Service Referral Criteria
Weight Management Service Referral Form
View the HNE Health Pathway for Weight Management in Children.
Otolaryngology
Comprehensive services are provided for a wide variety of congenital and acquired conditions of the ear, nose and throat. Conditions range from airway narrowing and neck masses to chronic ear infections and hearing loss, along with treating complicated paediatric ENT problems in a multidisciplinary team environment.
For information on making a referral GPs should visit the HNE Healthpathways ENT/Otolaryngology Referrals page.
GPs may make enquiries by emailing HNELHD-AskENTClinic@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
View the HNE Health Pathways for Asymmetrical Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Dysphagia, Ear Discharge, Ear Wax, Hoarse Voice (Dysphonia), Nasal Fracture, Acute Otitis Media in Children, Otitis Media with Effusion (Glue Ear), Recurrent Epistaxis in Children, Rhinosinusitis, Tinnitus, Tonsillitis and Sore Throat, Vertigo
View the Otolaryngology page on the HNEkidshealth website.
Orthopaedics
The paediatric orthopaedic team provides advice and treatment for children with a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Referrals are accepted for new patients aged 0-16 years and ongoing referrals up to 18 years.
Referrals can only be accepted from medical practitioners. Referral from Allied Health professionals are not accepted.
View the Orthopaedics page on the HNEkidshealth website.
View the Orthopaedic HNE Health Pathways for:
Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team
The Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team (PBIRT) provides specialist multidisciplinary assessment and case management for children and young people with acquired brain injuries.
Referral Requirements
Children must:
- have a diagnosis of acquired brain injury after birth with an identified need for a multidisciplinary assessment of function.
- be aged 0-18 years.
New referrals for children aged 16 to 18 years will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine allocation to paediatric or adult services. - reside within the Child Health Network - Northern
- require a multidisciplinary assessment, medical and therapeutic interventions (i.e. not a referral for a specific discipline or maintenance)
Referral Process
- A medical referral is required to access all HNEkids Rehab Services - HNEkidsRehab Referral Form.
- A referral can be made via the Referral and Information Management Service (RIMS) by your General Practitioner or other medical practitioner.
RIMS fax number: 49236517
Visit the Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation page.
Cerebral Palsy Movement Disorders Service
The Cerebral Palsy Movement Disorder Service (CPMD) service provides specialist rehabilitation assessment, review and monitoring of children with spasticity and movement disorders.
Referral Requirements
- Children must have a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy or other movement disorder with an identified need for a multidisciplinary assessment of function.
- Be aged 0-18 years.
New referrals for children aged 16 to 18 years will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine allocation to paediatric or adult services. - Reside within the Child Health Network - Northern
- Require a multidisciplinary assessment, medical and therapeutic interventions (i.e. not a referral for a specific discipline or maintenance)
Referral Process
- A medical referral is required to access all HNEkids Rehab Services - HNEkidsRehab Referral Form.
- A referral can be made via the Referral and Information Management Service (RIMS) by your General Practitioner or other medical practitioner.
RIMS fax number: 49236517
Visit the Cerebral Plasy Movement Disorder page.
General Paediatric Rehabilitation Service
The General Paediatric Rehabilitation Service provides multidisciplinary assessment and rehabilitation care for children following significant injury, illness or surgery or a recent significant change in function.
Referral Requirements
Children must:
- have a primary functional decline post-acute phase of injury, illness or surgery or a recent significant change in function
- be aged 0-18 years.
New referrals for children aged 16 to 18 years will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine allocation to paediatric or adult services.
- reside within the Child Health Network - Northern
- require a multidisciplinary assessment, medical and therapeutic interventions (i.e. not a referral for a specific discipline or maintenance)
Referral Process
- A medical referral is required to access all HNEkids Rehab Services - HNEkidsRehab Referral Form.
- A referral can be made via the Referral and Information Management Service (RIMS) by your General Practitioner or other medical practitioner.
RIMS fax number: 49236517
Visit the General Paediatric Rehabilitation Service page.
Spinal Service
The Spinal Service provides specialist multidisciplinary assessment and management of rehabilitation needs for children and young people with spina bifida or spinal cord injury/disease.
Referral Requirements
Children must:
- have spinal cord injury/disease or spina bifida / other defined neural tube defect.
- be aged 0-18 years.
New referrals for children aged 16 to 18 years will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine allocation to paediatric or adult services. - reside within the Child Health Network - Northern
- require a multidisciplinary assessment, medical and therapeutic interventions (i.e. not a referral for a specific discipline or maintenance)
Referral Process
- A medical referral is required to access all HNEkids Rehab Services - HNEkidsRehab Referral Form.
- A referral can be made via the Referral and Information Management Service (RIMS) by your General Practitioner or other medical practitioner.
PLEASE NOTE: children with a diagnosis of spina bifida occulta with no functional limitations are not eligible for this service.
RIMS fax number: 49236517
Visit the Spinal Service page.
High Risk Hip Surveillance
The High Risk Hip Surveillance Service focuses on the regular screening x-ray assessment for children with cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental conditions with the purpose of facilitating early identification and intervention for children with progressive hip subluxation.
Referral Requirements
- Written referrals are accepted from medical specialists (including General Practitioners and Paediatricians), Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
View the Australian Hip Surveillance Guidelines for Children with Cerebral Palsy.
Visit the High Risk Hip Surveillance Service page.
Paediatric Continence Service
The Paediatric Continence Service (PCS) provides comprehensive specialist assessment and review for children and young people with long standing Faecal and Urinary Incontinence.
Referral Requirements
A medical referral is required to access the PCS.
Criteria
- Children must be aged 3-16 years
- Children must live within Greater Newcastle, Lower Hunter or Upper Hunter
- Children have been treated initially by their GP or Paediatrician which has been unsuccessful after 3-6 months.
HNEkidshealth Paediatric Continence Service Referral
For further information please contact PCS Nurse on 0419 211 518 or HNELHD-PaedContSrv@health.nsw.gov.au
Please include the following information when making a referral:
- Detailed information regarding treatment provided so far
- Any pre-existing conditions that may affect the treatment plan eg.ASD/ADHD
- Tests completed in regards to the continence issue
- Outline of treatment provided to date as per the GP
View the HNE Health Pathway for Enuresis in Children or Constipation in Children.
Download the Nocturnal Enuresis Resource Kit for professionals.
Visit the Paediatric Continence Service page or the JHCH Urology and Urinary Incontinence page.
Cardiology
The Paediatric Cardiology Service provides specialist assessment for a number of cardiac conditions in children and young people.
Criteria for referral is as follow:
- Aged up to 16 years
- Any known or suspected congenital or acquired cardiac condition
- Heart murmurs (not thought to be innocent)
- Heart rhythm problems (racing heart, irregular heartbeat, abnormally slow heart rate or heart block, faints especially with exercise).
- Inherited cardiac conditions (cardiomyopathies, inherited heart rhythm problems such as long QT)
Patients may have the following tests performed at clinic:
- Electrocardiogram
- Echocardiogram
- Chest X-ray
- 24-hour Holter monitor
- An excercise tolerance test may be required, though this will likely occur on a different day
The John Hunter Children's Hospital Cardiology Service does not perform surgery or catheter based interventions.
Fetal cardiology and antenatal counselling is arranged through the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department.
Youth, Drug and Alcohol Service
YDACS understand that families and carers’ of young people are their greatest strengths and best supports, therefore whenever possible families are included in the assessment and treatment.
Referrals can be made by any service provider including GP’s, Community Health Services, inpatient hospital units, Families & Community Services, Juvenile Justice, police, education.
Referrals
Has your patients condition changed?
- If the child needs urgent acute care, refer to Emergency Department
- If you need specialist advice contact John Hunter Switch on 49213000 and ask for relevant paediatric registrar
- If you are concerned about the child's length of wait, contact the relevant department the child was referred to or re-refer with new information
Specialist Referral Flowchart
