Paediatric Rheumatology Service opens at John Hunter Children’s Hospital

The Paediatric Rheumatology Clinic that will be conducted on 18 February, 2010 at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital has a special meaning for young patient Bayly Turner and his mum Jo.

The availability of this in-reach Service means that patients like Bayly no longer need to travel to Sydney for regular treatment and have access to more specialised care locally.

Bayly will help to officially launch the Rheumatology Service - which includes a local clinic to assist with the management of Juvenile Arthritis and related conditions.

Director of Paediatric Tertiary Services for the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Dr Bruce Whitehead will announce the appointments of staff specialists Dr Jeff Chaitow and Dr Davinder Singh-Grewal, who will deliver this vital service through monthly in-reach clinics.

Dr Jeffrey Chaitow from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Dr Davinder Singh-Grewal who provides services at both The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick will equally share the post and supervision of the clinics in Newcastle.

Dr Chaitow has provided care to many local families who have in the past travelled to Sydney for treatment. Having access to two highly skilled and well regarded physicians committed to working with such a dynamic tertiary facility located outside a metropolitan area is a boost for the Hunter.

The Rheumatology Service wouldn’t have reached this stage so quickly had it not been for Jo Turner (Bayly’s mother) and Juliet Rosendaal from Arthritis NSW, who both played instrumental roles in highlighting this local need. It was through their involvement with the Greater Newcastle Community Forum on Health and through liaison with Local Members and meetings with Hunter New England Health Chief Executive, Dr Nigel Lyons that this service is here today.

Hunter New England has been on a journey to improve services for children requiring chronic and complex care, including those with Juvenile Arthritis.

There is no doubt that delivery of this service locally is much welcomed news for patients and their families for whom the emotional, physical and financial impact of accessing services elsewhere is acknowledged.

Dr Bruce Whitehead believes that this service will be a benefit to both families directly affected by juvenile arthritis and to the community.

“Not only will this relieve some of the burden on affected families, but will also raise awareness and increase knowledge of this condition within the Hunter Region,” Dr Whitehead said.

Implementing this new Service will provide a firm foundation from which a rigorous system of delivering chronic and complex care for children of the Hunter and New England region will be developed.

There is much work to do for these patients, but for children with Juvenile Arthritis and their families who have until now had to access specialist services in Sydney, today heralds a significant milestone in the effective management of this chronic illness.

Support for this Service has been facilitated through Council of Australian Governments (COAG) funding to help children with rehabilitation, and chronic and complex health care needs.

Media Opportunity:

Media representatives are invited to attend.
When: Thursday 18 February, 2010 at 10:30am
What: Launch of Paediatric Rheumatology Service
Where: John Hunter Children’s Hospital (HAPS Courtyard)

Media inquiries:
Lucas Coleman - 02 4921 3844, 0407 895101 (ref HNE- 2162)