Paediatric Gastroenterology at John Hunter Children’s Hospital

The paediatric gastroenterology team provides specialised, multi-disciplinary care to babies, children and adolescents with a range of gastro-intestinal, liver, and complex nutritional problems.  We care for inpatients as well as providing a busy outpatient clinic service based at John Hunter Children’s Hospital.  We also provide a consultation service throughout the Hunter New England Local Health Network and beyond.

What kinds of problems do we deal with?

The Paediatric Gastroenterology Department provides a comprehensive service including assessment and management of:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Coeliac disease
• Malabsorption and chronic diarrhoea
• Short gut, intestinal motility disorders
• Oesophageal disorders
• Complicated failure to thrive
• Acute and chronic liver disease
• Chronic viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B and C)
• Pancreatic disorders
• Other complex GI and nutritional problems.

Our specialist staff

Dr Scott Nightingale (Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist – diagnoses and treats gastrointestinal and liver conditions, and performs procedures such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, and liver biopsy).

Ms Elizabeth Notaras (Clinical Nurse Consultant – coordinates the care of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, those with enteral feeding devices, and performs oesophageal pH studies).

Ms Deirdre Burgess (Paediatric Dietitian – provides assessment and advice on nutritional management, including that of coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease to patients within our service).

Ms Lena Heinsch (Paediatric Social Worker – provides emotional and practical support and assistance to patients and families within our service).

Ms Sue Cronin (Secretary to Dr Nightingale – provides clerical and administrative support to the team).

The Paediatric Gastroenterology Registrar is a junior Doctor who works as part of our team under the supervision of Dr Nightingale, and is usually training to be a Paediatrician. This position changes every 3-6 months.

How do I make an appointment?

Referrals are accepted from any Doctor, however due to the large number of referrals, we cannot accept referrals for constipation from GPs.  The urgency of a referral is based on the information provided in the Doctor’s referral. 

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.

Contact Us

Your Doctor may make a referral to our clinic by faxing a letter to Dr Nightingale on 02 4922 3904.  The clinics can be contacted on 02 49213750.