Our Physicians:

• Dr Wei Lai Vicky Chang
• Dr Shu Han Emily Liu
• Dr Anthony Byrne

Our Specialised Nurses:

• Joshua Banner – Nurse Unit Manager
• Mei Qi He – Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant

• All referrals should be sent via fax to (02) 9113 1948 or via email to SESLHD-StGeorgeChestClinic@health.nsw.gov.au  
• Referrals can be accepted from GP’s, Specialist’s, hospital in patients (teams) and Chest Clinic staff where all referrals will be triaged according to clinical need
• Immigration referrals are referred via BUPA
   

• Proof of identification
• Insurer details (workers compensation, public liability or third party)
• Any previous Chest X-Rays, CT scans, blood tests or doctors’ letters (if available)
• Adult vaccination card for pre-employment screening
• Activities to keep you entertained while waiting (for example, a book, music player with headphones, crosswords)

Please let us know if you need an interpreter.

You can contact us 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 student doctors or nurses may be involved and supervised by senior staff during your visit. You have the right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Phone

(02) 9113 2430

Fax

(02) 9113 1948

Email

SESLHD-StGeorgeChestClinic@health.nsw.gov.au 

Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 4.30 pm

 

Lower Ground floor 

Prince William Wing

Belgrave Street

Kogarah NSW 2217

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

• TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and usually affects the lungs but can be found in other parts of the body such as lymph glands, kidneys, gastrointestinal etc. TB is preventable and curable

How do people become infected with TB?

• TB is spread through the air when a person has active TB disease in their lungs or throat. It is spread when that person is talking, coughing, sneezing or singing near other people. Most people will get TB after spending a lot of time with a person with active disease.
• TB is not spread by household items such as cutlery, crockery, toilet seats or telephones

What is the difference between latent and active TB?

• Latent TB is when TB bacteria is in your body but sleeping i.e. not making you sick
• People with latent TB do not have any TB symptoms and cannot spread TB
• Once you are diagnosed with latent TB it is lifelong and is always a chance you can become active
• Active TB is when the bacteria causes infection and makes you sick with symptoms
• Without treatment TB can be spread from one person to another if disease is in the lungs or throat

What are the signs and symptoms of TB?

• Persistent cough for more than 2-3 weeks and not responding to other treatment
• Coughing up blood
• Fevers
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling of tiredness and loss of appetite
• TB that is not in lungs will have different symptoms relating to the area it is present

What does it mean to be contact of TB?

• You may have been identified as a person who has had contact with someone while they were infectious with active TB. If you are contacted by the Chest Clinic, we will commence TB screening which involves a blood test and possibly a chest X-Ray. This is preventative healthcare to help identify latent TB before developing to active TB and provide preventative treatment or monitoring

Is it safe for me to continue working and be with others?

• As a contact of a person with active TB disease, you are not infectious and cannot pass TB onto anyone else. If your screening test is positive, it still does not mean that you are infectious
• If you are diagnosed with active TB disease in your lungs or throat you will not be able to work or socialise until cleared by the Chest Clinic
• If you develop any TB symptoms do not delay in seeking medical attention

Our Department offers a wide range of services and treatments guided by Policies and Procedures in line with best evidence based practice. Any treatments that involve patients receiving a medication, the patient must obtain the medication prior to their appointment. The DMIC department does not provide medications for treatments unless otherwise stated to the individual.

• Monoclonal Antibodies infusions and injections
• Blood and Blood product administration
• CT Hydration (pre/post)
• Immunotherapy (for non-malignant cancer related conditions)
• IV fluid infusions (including IV electrolyte replacement)
• Intravenous antifungals, antibiotics, and antiviral medications
  • Other Intravenous medications given also include Actrema, Biphosphonates like Zoledronic acid and pamidronate and Avastin Infusions
• Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin therapy initiation and ongoing follow-up
• CVAD management
• Venesections (for those who are not suitable to have this done at Lifeblood)

Procedures:

• Renal Biopsy
• Tracheostomy Changes
• Complex acute wound dressings – including VAC dressings
• Bone marrow Biospy or BMAT procedures
• Ascitic Taps (abdominal paracentesis)
• Anti spasticity Treatment conducted by the Rehabilitation Team
• Lumbar Puncture procedures
• Synacthin Test/ Saline infusion Test for investigations

DMIC prioritises treatment for cohorts of individuals that require support from a hospital setting. Services that can be completed within the community for example, a General Practitioner Practice, are not appropriate for the DMIC department.

Our service is a Nurse led unit, and our team is made up of experienced and skilled professionals, such as Registered Nurses and Administrators. Medical support is provided by the General Medical Team, or respective Haematology Team if patients are receiving care for their Haematological condition.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Residing outside of SESLHD catchment area, with no need for tertiary level care.
• Residing within SESLHD, but outside of the St George catchment area (click here for catchment area) and care is able to be provided at patients SESLHD catchment hospital.
• Patient is not medically clear for discharge or is currently an inpatient
• Children under 16 years cannot be treated in DMIC, children between the ages of 16-18 years MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for duration of treatment.
• Patients that require treatment exceeding 8 hours
• Invalid referrals
• Administration of cytotoxic drugs for a malignant cancer indication
• Chronic wound management

Please note the following whilst completing the referral:

• Name, DOB, Address (MRN if internal hospital referral)
• Patients contact details
• Clinical treatment required – clear instructions of what treatment is being requested
• Medication Information (Drug, dose, route, frequency and time)

Referrals that do not meet the above criteria will not be processed by our team and will be sent back to the referrer.

We accept referrals from Specialist Consultants or General Practitioners. A referral completed by a Specialist will last 3 months and a one completed by a GP will last 1 year. Indefinite GP referrals are accepted only for the subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) program only.

Our administration team will call the patient or referring employee if the patient’s referral is expiring.

Please use this referral form and send to this email address SESLHD-STG-DMIC@health.nsw.gov.au or fax to 9113 1923.

Please ensure that all the mandatory information is completed on the form. The referral form ensures that you do not miss any important information to enable a timely and appropriate referral. External referrals that are sent in with a letter head from the MO clearly stating all essential clinical information (as indicated in the referral criteria section above) may also be accepted.

A member of our administration team will contact the patient with an appointment date once your referral has been triaged. If you have not heard from anyone from our team by [two weeks or even 4 weeks] please call 9113 2333 to follow up with your referral.

If an appointment is missed or cancelled, we will reach out to the referring medical officer by letter.

Monday to Friday – 07:30 to 17:30 (For the public 08:00 to 17:00)

Saturday – 08:00 to 16:30 (For the public 08:30 to 16:00)

We are closed Sundays and Public Holidays

DMIC contact details are:

Phone: (02) 9113 2333

Fax: (02) 9113 1923

We are currently located in the Day Medical Infusion Centre on Level 2 East in the Tower Ward Block at St George Hospital.

We are a Medicare service and your treatment will be bulk billed if you have Medicare. If you do not have Medicare you will incur a service fee in addition to extra charges depending on your treatment. If you have Private Health Insurance, you will need to pay the service and additional fees, and then liaise directly with your insurer to ascertain what can be reimbursed to you.

In the event a patient presents to DMIC feeling unwell they will be referred for medical review by their GP/Treating specialist or Nursing Staff may escort them to the Emergency Department prior to initiating treatment and the booking will be rescheduled. It is recommended that if you are feeling unwell prior to your appointment to follow up with your referring doctor and advise DMIC admin staff to reschedule your appointment.

• If you need to reschedule or have missed your appointment, please contact our department as soon as possible. Please note that if we are unable to reach you within 14 days, your referral may be returned to your referring doctor.
• Upon your arrival, kindly check in with the administrator at the front desk. You will be asked to wait in the waiting room, and a nurse will come to escort you when they are available.
• To ensure a smooth flow of appointments, we kindly ask that you arrive close to your scheduled appointment time, neither too early nor too late.
• We recommend bringing your own food and beverages, as our department has limited food options available.
• Due to space constraints and safety considerations, we advise that relatives wait in the waiting room during your treatment or return to pick you up afterward.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

• We do not provide oral or intramuscular desensitisation for allergy
• Generalised itch with no rash
• High specific IgE with no clinical symptoms
• Non-IgE mediated gastrointestinal symptoms, e.g., food/lactose intolerance.
• Chemical intolerance / occupational medicine
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
• Mast cell activation syndrome excluding mastocytosis
• Currently we are not set up for skin testing for food or aeroallergens

Monday to Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm
 

The Immunology Clinic is located on the Ground Floor, Prince William Wing, St George Hospital Belgrave St, Kogarah NSW 2217

Clinic is held weekly every Wednesday from  1pm - 4.00pm 

Parking is available at a cost in the multi-storey car park on South St or Hogben St. There is free on-street parking available in the vicinity for up to 2 hours.

Any adult patient reporting any Immunology condition over the age of 16 years.

We care for and treat people with immunological diseases, including:

• Autoimmune and inflammatory disease
• Autoinflammatory disorders such as familial Mediterranean fever.
• Neuroimmunological disease (in conjunction with a neurologist)
• Patients requiring management of immunosuppression.
• Primary immunodeficiency disorders
• Urticaria
• Angioedema
• Systemic mastocytosis
• Severe cutaneous adverse reactions, including DRESS syndrome.

Please send a referral letter to the Immunology Specialists by email: SESLHD-STG-OPD@health.nsw.gov.au 

Alternatively, you can use the St George Hospital Outpatient referral form

Please ensure that all the mandatory information is completed on the form. The referral form ensures that you do not miss any important information to enable a timely and appropriate referral.

Please note the following whilst completing the referral:

• You must address the referral to the Consultant from our Specialist team, not the hospital, clinic, outpatient department or JMO.
• The Immunology clinic requires referrals from either a GP or a Specialist medical officer.
• You must sign and date the referral and include your provider number and practice address.
• You must provide this referral prior to the appointment date.

Referrals that do not meet the above criteria will not be processed by our team.

A member of our administration team will contact the patient with an appointment date once your referral is received and has been triaged. If you have not heard from anyone from our team by two weeks, please call (02) 9113 2513 to follow up with your referral.

If an appointment is missed or cancelled, the patient will need to reschedule by contacting the Outpatients Department on (02) 9113  2513.   

We are a Medicare service. You must provide a referral that is addressed to our specialist doctor. Your patient will be bulk billed.