The Gastroenterology Team cares for adult patients admitted as inpatients with gastroenterology conditions. This means conditions that do not require surgery and involve the bowel and the liver.
What do we do?
Our team provides management and treatment options for patient experiencing gastroenterology concerns while working closely with surgical and medical teams involved in patients care.
To ensure continuity of care, we do not take over the care of patients currently being treated by other hospitals or private gastroenterologists.
Some gastroenterology conditions require referral to specialist services in Geelong or Melbourne and in this circumstance we may provide these patients with follow up consultations on behalf of these services.
What can you expect?
Patients admitted to hospital under the gastroenterology team may be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, the General Wards or the Medical Day Unit. This will depend on the nature of their condition.
Patients are admitted for endoscopy services in partnership with the surgical teams at the hospital.
Treatment of gastroenterology conditions may involve:
- Further tests to confirm or exclude a particular diagnosis
- Procedures such as endoscopy – gastroscopy and colonoscopy
- Medications to treat inflammatory bowel disease and conditions such as hepatitis
- A combination of medications and lifestyle measures that reduce the risk of, or prevent, further problems due to irritable bowel syndrome
- Supportive care such as iron and blood transfusions
How can you access this service?
Patients are admitted to the hospital wards via the Emergency Department or more commonly from our specialist clinics. Specialist clinics are streamed to particular clinics, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, iron deficiency, and a medical/dietician coeliac disease stream. We also triage direct to endoscopy based on the GP request and information provided.
Coeliac disease patient information
Referrals addressed to Dr Elliot – coeliac stream. The tests required are according to statewide triage guidelines, (includes the coeliac genetics, and coeliac serology – with a note whether or not the patient is currently gluten free or not). All tests for coeliac disease can be normal when a patient is on a 100% gluten free diet.
Our clinic provides resources from the Coeliac Australia website, and tailors our advice to your particular situation.
Commonly Asked Questions
When do the doctors visit?
The gastroenterology team conduct a ward round each day typically beginning in the wards or the Emergency Department.
What time is discharge?
Our team considers the needs for a safe discharge from hospital at the beginning of each patient’s admission. The team takes into account your discharge needs including medications and additional supports you may require. Hospital policy is to arrange discharge before 10:00am.
What happens after an admission?
The gastroenterology team will write a discharge summary which is sent electronically to your nominated GP. We expect patients to have a follow up appointment with their GP following hospital discharge.
The gastroenterologist may ask for you to be referred to specialist clinics for follow up.
You may also receive referrals to a dietician or other allied health professionals.
Resources
Referral Process
A referral requires clinical information. The essential demographic referral requirements as per statewide referral guide:
- Reason for referral
- Duration of symptoms and current symptoms
- Relevant pathology and imaging reports
- Past medical history
- Current Medications and allergies
Essential referral content will be checked and you may be contacted if further information is required.
The referral is triaged by the specialist unit according to clinical urgency. This determines how long the patient will have to wait for an appointment.
Some patients are triaged and referred direct for endoscopy, with GP follow up after the procedure. This depends on the information provided by the GP and their specific request.
Patients with routine conditions are given the next available appointment according to clinical need. It is generally advised to continue to follow up with your GP, which may include repeating your blood tests (for example blood count, iron studies) because a significant change can mean that you are re referred and may be triaged more urgently. This includes if you are waiting for a gastroscopy or colonoscopy.
Our clinics streamline referrals for particular conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease. We also have a dedicated coeliac disease stream with a medical practitioner and dietician working with the gastroenterologists and endoscopy team.
Patients with urgent conditions are scheduled to be seen within 30 days. Patients with routine conditions are given the next available appointment according to clinical need.
Additional Information
Some clinics offer an MBS-billed service. There is no out of pocket expense to the patient. MBS-billed services require a current referral to a named specialist– please provide your patient with a 12 month referral addressed to the specialist of your choice.
Please note: your patient may be seen by another specialist in that clinic, in order to expedite their treatment.
Please note: The times to assessment may vary depending on the triage. It is particularly important that we have enough information to be able to triage appropriately to general surgery versus gastroenterology, and also to determine if direct referral to endoscopy is the most appropriate option.
If you are concerned about the delay of an outpatient appointment or if there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition, please contact the Gastroenterology Registrar on call 03 5320 4000.
Discussion with the registrar or sending a follow up referral may save your patient a visit to the Emergency Department (ED).
Referrals from ED staff are triaged in the same way as referrals from GPs with the clinical urgency rather than the source of the referral being taken into consideration.
After Hours Information
After hours the medical registrar or surgical registrar is the appropriate contact. The gastroenterology unit does not provide an after hours on call service nor a Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding service. Referrals are directed via the surgical team in the first instance.
Coeliac Stream Clinic
Coeliac disease patient information
Referrals addressed to Dr Elliot – coeliac stream. The tests required are according to statewide triage guidelines, (includes the coeliac genetics, and coeliac serology – with a note whether or not the patient is currently gluten free or not). All tests for coeliac disease can be normal when a patient is on a 100% gluten free diet.
Our clinic provides resources from the Coeliac Australia website, and tailors our advice to your particular situation.
Resources
Ballarat Base Hospital
Have something to tell us? We welcome all feedback from patients, family members or carers. Tell us more.