Spinal Injuries Outpatient Clinics - Information for Health Professionals

Our services 

We are one of two units in New South Wales providing care for patients with spinal cord injuries. We strive to ensure your patients can maximise independence and quality of life. We aim to actively involve patients and carers in planning their care. 

We also have an acute inpatient ward and rehabilitation inpatient ward. 

Our outpatient units continue to support your patients with:

  • Respiratory problems
  • Bladder and bowel management
  • Skin pressure wounds
  • Deep vein thrombosis 
  • Pain management
  • Spasticity 
  • Changes in sexual function
  • Mental health.

Our clinics are located at the Department of Spinal and Rehabilitation Medicine, Level 2, High St building, Prince of Wales Hospital (Building 2 on our campus map). 

Information about how to get to our Randwick campus

Clinic

What we do

Clinic days

Clinic times

Spinal outpatient clinic

Medical review

Mondays

9.30am-12.30pm

Spasticity clinic

Spinal Medical Specialist, Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist

Thursdays

1.30-3.30pm

Liaison psychiatry spinal clinic

Mental health review

First and third Monday of the month

10.00am-1.00pm

Seating Clinic

Seating Clinic is a joint service between Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Engineering.

We work with people who are reliant on a wheelchair to determine the most appropriate wheelchair, cushion and backrest for their needs. We provide advice regarding pressure injury management (in relation to wheelchairs and shower commodes) as well as managing postural changes that arise.

To access the Seating Clinic, you must be under the care of a POWH clinician.

Contact details: SESLHD-RehabEng@health.nsw.gov.au

Mon - Fri 

By appointment

Full Name

Position Title and/or Subspecialty

Dr Sachin Shetty

Head of Department – Spinal Physician

Dr Stella Engel

Spinal Physician – Spinal Multidisciplinary Clinic

Dr Monica Ling

Spinal Physician – Spasticity Clinic

Dr Pooja Arora Spinal Physician 
Dr Bonne Lee Spinal Physician - Spinal Pressure Care Clinic
Dr Alison Bautovich Psychiatrist - Liaison Psychiatry Spinal Clinic 

Our team also includes: 

  • Medical staff
  • Nursing staff
  • Physiotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Dietitian
  • Speech Therapists
  • Social workers
  • Psychologist
  • Orthotists

We accept all patients with spinal cord injuries following an inpatient admission, or with a referral for treatment and management from a GP or specialist. 

Please review our services provided and referral criteria. 

Referral forms

If your patient is eligible for treatment, please use this referral form. Fax the referral form to (02) 9382 8570.

All mandatory information must be complete. The referral form ensures that you do not miss any mandatory information to enable a timely and appropriate referral.

Mandatory information for public and private referrals

You may receive a fax requesting a review of your referral if any of the following information is missing:

  • Patient details, including full name, date of birth, phone number and Medicare number
  • Consultant name (for private referrals)
  • Clinic name 
  • Next of Kin details
  • Reason for referral 
  • Diagnosis 
  • Clinical urgency
  • Results from investigations.

Private referrals (bulk-billed through Medicare)

All patients have the right to choose to be treated as a public or private patient for outpatient attendances. If your patient chooses to be treated privately and bulk-billed through Medicare, your referral must meet the following criteria:

  • You must address the referral to one Consultant from our Specialist team, not the hospital, clinic, outpatient department or JMO
  • You must sign and date the referral, and include your provider number and practice address
  • You must state the period of referral in months, or refer “indefinitely”
  • You must provide this referral on or prior to the appointment date.

We cannot process your referral if it does not meet the above criteria prior to your patient's initial appointment.

Your patient can choose to amend your referral on the day of their initial appointment. If you provide a private referral that is addressed to a Consultant, your patient may choose to: 

  • Seek treatment from another provider within our team and change the Consultant's name on the referral themselves, or
  • Decide to be treated as a public patient for their initial appointment, for which the private referral will be valid.

Please note that it is also inappropriate for our administration team to recommend a Consultant for your patient. We have listed the names and specialties of our Consultants above to help you decide on the most appropriate practitioner. 

Urgent referrals 

If your patient needs to be seen urgently, please phone our Department on (02) 9382 8496.

Who will contact your patient to schedule an appointment?

Our Consultants will triage your referral upon receipt. Our administration team will then organise an appointment date and time over the phone.

Most patients are seen within a few weeks, but urgent patients will be seen sooner.

Who can you contact to follow up on a referral? 

You may contact the Department of Spinal and Rehabilitation Medicine on (02) 9382 8496 to follow up on a referral.

What is the process if a patient misses or cancels their appointment?

If your patient needs to change or cancel their appointment they should phone (02) 9382 8496. If your patient cancels their appointment, we will contact your patient to reschedule their appointment.

We are a Medicare service. You must provide a referral that is addressed to one of our Specialist team if your patient wishes to be bulk-billed.