Inpatient services involve the diagnosis, treatment and management of swallowing and communication disorders.

Swallowing and communication difficulties in the inpatient setting can occur for many reasons, including but not limited to:

• Acute neurological changes (e.g. stroke)
• Neuro-degenerative diseases (e.g. dementia, Parkinson's disease)
• Conditions which may lead to or exacerbate swallowing difficuties, via change in cognitive or respiratory status (e.g. delirium, cardiac dysfunction, pneumonia, COPD)
• Oncologic disease including head and neck cancer, lung cancer, neurologic cancers, metastatic or advanced cancer, and haematological malignancies

Services are provided to all wards within the hospital.

Our weekend speech pathology service prioritises cases of urgent dysphagia management.

Referrals are made on a case by case basis, where there is staff, patient or family concern regarding acute or chronic changes in swallowing and/or communication.

Referrals within the hospital should be made via the eMR system, and followed-up with either a pager to the relevant speech pathologist on weekdays, or phone call via switch on weekends.

Our department provides outpatient services from Monday-Friday.

Outpatient services include:

• Speech, language and swallowing assessment and treatment for adults with health conditions affecting communication and swallowing
• Modified Barium Swallow (Video-Fluoroscopy Swallowing Study) clinics
• Voice disorders
• Lee-Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) - voice therapy for people with Parkinson's disease

 

Use this map to find service locations:

• Modified Barium Swallow clinic is located in Radiology (4)
• Swallowing and LSVT clinics are located in the Speech Pathology department, Prince William Wing, Level 1 (6)
• Communication and voice (non-LSVT/ENT) clinics are located in the Rehabilitation Department, Prince William Wing, Ground Floor (6)

 

Our department also runs or participates in the following groups:*

• Rose Cottage Singers
• Rose Cottage Social Communication Group
• St George Hospital Aphasia Group

*These groups are currently suspended due to COVID-19 circumstances.

 

Outpatient referrals and information can be discussed on 9113 1062.

Our department collaborates in the following multi-disciplinary clinics:

 

St George Swallow Centre

A specialised bi-monthly multi-disciplinary clinic, diagnosing and treating complex swallowing disorders from all aetiologies including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, myopathies, head and neck cancer, laryngectomy, other neurological and degenerative diseases. This clinic specialises in state of the art assessment methods, and has a comprehensive research programme. Assessments conducted include Modified Barium Swallow, Videomanometry, oesophageal manometry (with impedance), pH testing impedance and FEES. A medical referral is required to attend this clinic. (website link)

Voice and Chronic Cough / Airway Clinic

This clinic is run monthly with ENT and Speech Pathology, and provides endoscopic assessment of the larynx for voice and airway conditions. A medical referral is required to attend this clinic.

Cancer Care Centre

The St George Cancer Care Centre is a comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer service housing Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Haematology, Palliative Care, Allied Health and Nursing staff, all specialising in the management of all oncologic disorders. In particular, Speech Pathology attends the weekly Head and Neck Clinic and multi-disciplinary meeting.

Rose Cottage Day Hospital

A day rehabilitation service involving Medical Rehabilitation and Allied Health teams (Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Social Work and Clinical Psychology).

 

Use this map to find service locations:

• St George Swallow Centre is located in the Outpatient department, Prince William Wing, Ground Floor (6)
• The Voice and Chronic Cough / Airway Clinic is located in ACU, Ward 2 East, Tower Ward Block (1)
• The Cancer Care Centre is accessible via the main entrance on Gray Street (2)
• Rose Cottage is located at 34 Short Street (19)

The Speech Pathology department at Calvary Hospital manages adult community and home services in this area.

Services in aged care facilities in our region are managed via Speech Pathologists in the private sector. Please contact the relevant aged care facility for information.

The Paediatric Multidisciplinary Feeding Service is a tertiary feeding service for children in our local area who have complex feeding problems such as cleft palate, neurodegenerative conditions, genetic syndromes, congenital heart disease and/or those who require enteral (tube) feeding. Please see this service's website for more information.

Click here for information about Speech Pathology paediatric community services (communication difficulties).

Inpatient services involve the diagnosis, treatment and management of swallowing and communication disorders.

Swallowing and communication difficulties in the inpatient setting can occur for many reasons, including but not limited to:

• Acute neurological changes (e.g. stroke)
• Neuro-degenerative diseases (e.g. dementia, Parkinson's disease)
• Conditions which may lead to or exacerbate swallowing difficuties, via change in cognitive or respiratory status (e.g. delirium, cardiac dysfunction, pneumonia, COPD)
• Oncologic disease including head and neck cancer, lung cancer, neurologic cancers, metastatic or advanced cancer, and haematological malignancies

Services are provided to all wards within the hospital.

Our weekend speech pathology service prioritises cases of urgent dysphagia management.

Referrals are made on a case by case basis, where there is staff, patient or family concern regarding acute or chronic changes in swallowing and/or communication.

Referrals within the hospital should be made via the eMR system, and followed-up with either a pager to the relevant speech pathologist on weekdays, or phone call via switch on weekends.

Our department provides outpatient services from Monday-Friday.

Outpatient services include:

• Speech, language and swallowing assessment and treatment for adults with health conditions affecting communication and swallowing
• Modified Barium Swallow (Video-Fluoroscopy Swallowing Study) clinics
• Voice disorders
• Lee-Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) - voice therapy for people with Parkinson's disease

 

Use this map to find service locations:

• Modified Barium Swallow clinic is located in Radiology (4)
• Swallowing and LSVT clinics are located in the Speech Pathology department, Prince William Wing, Level 1 (6)
• Communication and voice (non-LSVT/ENT) clinics are located in the Rehabilitation Department, Prince William Wing, Ground Floor (6)

 

Our department also runs or participates in the following groups:*

• Rose Cottage Singers
• Rose Cottage Social Communication Group
• St George Hospital Aphasia Group

*These groups are currently suspended due to COVID-19 circumstances.

 

Outpatient referrals and information can be discussed on 9113 1062.

Our department collaborates in the following multi-disciplinary clinics:

 

St George Swallow Centre

A specialised bi-monthly multi-disciplinary clinic, diagnosing and treating complex swallowing disorders from all aetiologies including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, myopathies, head and neck cancer, laryngectomy, other neurological and degenerative diseases. This clinic specialises in state of the art assessment methods, and has a comprehensive research programme. Assessments conducted include Modified Barium Swallow, Videomanometry, oesophageal manometry (with impedance), pH testing impedance and FEES. A medical referral is required to attend this clinic. (website link)

Voice and Chronic Cough / Airway Clinic

This clinic is run monthly with ENT and Speech Pathology, and provides endoscopic assessment of the larynx for voice and airway conditions. A medical referral is required to attend this clinic.

Cancer Care Centre

The St George Cancer Care Centre is a comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer service housing Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Haematology, Palliative Care, Allied Health and Nursing staff, all specialising in the management of all oncologic disorders. In particular, Speech Pathology attends the weekly Head and Neck Clinic and multi-disciplinary meeting.

Rose Cottage Day Hospital

A day rehabilitation service involving Medical Rehabilitation and Allied Health teams (Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Social Work and Clinical Psychology).

 

Use this map to find service locations:

• St George Swallow Centre is located in the Outpatient department, Prince William Wing, Ground Floor (6)
• The Voice and Chronic Cough / Airway Clinic is located in ACU, Ward 2 East, Tower Ward Block (1)
• The Cancer Care Centre is accessible via the main entrance on Gray Street (2)
• Rose Cottage is located at 34 Short Street (19)

The Speech Pathology department at Calvary Hospital manages adult community and home services in this area.

Services in aged care facilities in our region are managed via Speech Pathologists in the private sector. Please contact the relevant aged care facility for information.

The Paediatric Multidisciplinary Feeding Service is a tertiary feeding service for children in our local area who have complex feeding problems such as cleft palate, neurodegenerative conditions, genetic syndromes, congenital heart disease and/or those who require enteral (tube) feeding. Please see this service's website for more information.

Click here for information about Speech Pathology paediatric community services (communication difficulties).

You need a referral from your local general practitioner (GP) or other specialist to use our service. If you have a voice disorder, you will need a referral from an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. The referral letter needs to include your contact details together with the reason for your referral and your medical history.

Please ask your doctor or specialist to email or fax us your referral letter on:

Email: SESLHD-POW-SpeechPathology@health.nsw.gov.au

Fax: 02 9382 2842

A Speech Pathologist will phone you within 1 week to let you know that your referral has been received and either give you an appointment or let you know how long you might have to wait until an appointment becomes available.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone us on 02 9382 2861.

Can I chose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

Our general out patient service operates on Fridays between 8.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. We try to arrange an appointment time that suits you to attend.  However, if you have a swallowing problem and require certain tests, appointment times may be limited.

You may need to wait up to a month for an appointment before you can see a Speech Pathologist. However, you will be seen sooner if your condition is urgent.

If your GP thinks you need an urgent appointment they need to telephone us to discuss your needs.

To refer your patient please email SESLHD-POW-SpeechPathology@health.nsw.gov.au  or fax 20 9382 2842.

Referrals must include information regarding the communication or swallow concern, relevant past medical and social history, functional/mobility status, current respiratory status (for swallow) and the person to contact for an assessment (if not the patient).

 

For patients who you suspect may require an instrumental swallow assessment this should be documented in the referral paperwork e.g. “Further assessment via instrumental means may be required (at the discretion of the Speech Pathologist)” so that referral for this assessment can be made.

 

For voice assessment and therapy, patients are required to have ENT assessment prior to Speech Pathology input, with results provided to the Speech Pathologist at the initial consultation (or prior where possible).

 

Referrals are triaged every Friday. Referrals can be discussed via phone (02 9382 2861) on Fridays only. Voice-messages left on other days will be responded to on Fridays. If a matter is urgent then the Speech Pathology manager can be contacted by phone on 02 9382 2883.

 

Contact will be made with all new referrals within one week of receipt of the referral

Please do not give the referral to your patient as we will require it to assist in prioritizing or to book instrumental assessments, if required.

 

 

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us by telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present at your appointment student Speech Pathologist under the supervision of a qualified Speech Pathologist. You have a right to say no and this will have no impact in any way on the services we will provide.

You need a referral from your local general practitioner (GP) or other specialist to use our service. If you have a voice disorder, you will need a referral from an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. The referral letter needs to include your contact details together with the reason for your referral and your medical history.

Please ask your doctor or specialist to email or fax us your referral letter on:

Email: SESLHD-POW-SpeechPathology@health.nsw.gov.au

Fax: 02 9382 2842

A Speech Pathologist will phone you within 1 week to let you know that your referral has been received and either give you an appointment or let you know how long you might have to wait until an appointment becomes available.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone us on 02 9382 2861.

Can I chose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

Our general out patient service operates on Fridays between 8.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. We try to arrange an appointment time that suits you to attend.  However, if you have a swallowing problem and require certain tests, appointment times may be limited.

You may need to wait up to a month for an appointment before you can see a Speech Pathologist. However, you will be seen sooner if your condition is urgent.

If your GP thinks you need an urgent appointment they need to telephone us to discuss your needs.

To refer your patient please email SESLHD-POW-SpeechPathology@health.nsw.gov.au  or fax 20 9382 2842.

Referrals must include information regarding the communication or swallow concern, relevant past medical and social history, functional/mobility status, current respiratory status (for swallow) and the person to contact for an assessment (if not the patient).

 

For patients who you suspect may require an instrumental swallow assessment this should be documented in the referral paperwork e.g. “Further assessment via instrumental means may be required (at the discretion of the Speech Pathologist)” so that referral for this assessment can be made.

 

For voice assessment and therapy, patients are required to have ENT assessment prior to Speech Pathology input, with results provided to the Speech Pathologist at the initial consultation (or prior where possible).

 

Referrals are triaged every Friday. Referrals can be discussed via phone (02 9382 2861) on Fridays only. Voice-messages left on other days will be responded to on Fridays. If a matter is urgent then the Speech Pathology manager can be contacted by phone on 02 9382 2883.

 

Contact will be made with all new referrals within one week of receipt of the referral

Please do not give the referral to your patient as we will require it to assist in prioritizing or to book instrumental assessments, if required.

 

 

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us by telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present at your appointment student Speech Pathologist under the supervision of a qualified Speech Pathologist. You have a right to say no and this will have no impact in any way on the services we will provide.