Antibiotic Allergy
Our Service
A penicillin allergy label leads to worse outcomes from infections, higher rates of multidrug resistant organisms and longer hospital stays.
Antibiotic allergy labels are often incorrect, with 9 out of 10 patients who report a penicillin allergy not actually being allergic on further testing.
We have an Inpatient Antibiotic Allergy program operating on Mondays and an Outpatient Antibiotic Allergy Clinic operating on Thursdays in the Ambulatory Care Unit.
The clinic may be contacted on 9113 2957 during working hours Monday to Friday.
CEC antibiotic allergy
ASCIA - Allergy Testing - fast facts
Our Clinic
Any patient with an antibiotic allergy who would like their antibiotic allergy reviewed can be referred for outpatient testing at St George Hospital via GP or specialist referral to Dr Richard Sullivan.
A referral form can be found here.
The ASCIA website also has a list of specialists in your area who do allergy testing.
The Antibiotic Allergy Outpatient Testing Clinic operates at the Ambulatory Care Unit on 2 East every Thursday.
The clinic can assess and test any patient with any reported antibiotic allergy.
The clinic can perform antibiotic skin testing and oral challenges, confirm if the antibiotic allergy is true, and determine which antibiotics can be given safely. This provides many more options for infection treatment and surgical prophylaxis in future.
Our Specialist Team
Our vibrant Antibiotic Allergy Team includes Health Professionals who work in Infectious Diseases, involving both doctors and nurses.
| Staff Specialists | |
| Infectious Diseases | Dr Richard Sullivan |
| Nursing | |
| Registered Nurse | Sara |
| Registered Nurse | Kate |
| Registered Nurse | Isabella |
| Administration | |
| Administrator | Lisa |
Referral Criteria
Any adult patient reporting any antibiotic allergy, including both recent and distant (e.g., childhood) reactions.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > 16 years with any reported antibiotic allergy
Exclusion Criteria
- Non-antibiotic allergies
How to send a referral
Please use this referral form or send a referral letter to Dr Richard Sullivan to seslhd-sgh-allergy@health.nsw.gov.au or fax (02) 9113 4058.
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 Antibiotic Allergy 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 91132957 to follow up with your referral.
If an appointment is missed or cancelled, we will call the patient with a plan to reschedule.
Costs for patients and rebates
We are a Medicare service. You must provide a referral that is addressed to our specialist doctor. Your patient will be bulk billed.
The Inpatient Antibiotic Allergy program operates on Mondays and the Outpatient Antibiotic Allergy Clinic operates on Thursdays in the Ambulatory Care Unit.
The clinic may be contacted on 02 9113 2957 during working hours Monday to Friday.
-33.966987116955, 151.13354080489
Hospital in the Home (HiTH)
What is HiTH?
HiTH is an acute care service that is provided free of charge to patients 18 years and over who reside within the St George area.
This service offers treatment in your home (or an agreed safe location) as a substitution for in hospital care. Treatment may be a combination of home visits, clinic visits (located in main tower ward block, Level 4 North), and/or virtual tele-health appointments.
Benefits of HiTH include, but are not limited to:
- Reduce your stay in hospital or provide a safe alternative to hospital admission
- Reduce risk of infection
- Increase independence
- Increased comfort of being in own home environment
HiTH is a team of Doctors and Nurses with access to Allied Health Professionals like Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Pharmacists if needed.
How can HiTH help you?
The HiTH team will visit you regularly at home or in the clinic. HiTH can help you with:
- Intravenous medications and antibiotics if you have an infection
- Wound Management and/ or drain care
- Blood tests and medication management
- Before and After Surgery care
What to expect if you're a patient on HiTH?
The HiTH Nurses and/or Doctor will visit in person or conduct virtual tele-health as required depending on your treatment plan. HiTH is a 7 day service so can include weekends and public holidays. The nurses will bring all the medical equipment that is needed and will regularly discuss with you the required treatment plans. When the service is no longer needed a discharge summary will be sent to your GP.
Who is eligible for HiTH?
- People over the aged of 18 who would otherwise need to be admitted to hospital
- Have an acute condition, requiring ongoing care, that can't be managed by another community or outpatient service
- Need treatment no more than twice a day
- People who are safe to stay at home, who can take care of themselves or have a carer
- People with reliable access to a telephone
How to make or cancel an appointment with HiTH?
If your Doctor recommends you for the HiTH service, you will be visited on the ward before you go home for your first assessment, or within our HITH clinic. Our staff visiting you will make appointments with you to come see you at home, or have you visit the clinic.
If you need to cancel an appointment, or will no longer be available, please talk to your nurse or contact the HiTH team on 9113 2899 or 0428 359 591. Wherever possible please contact us a few days beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
What time are the visits?
The visits are usually between 8:30am and 8:00pm daily. This will be organised for a time that suits both yourself and your required treatment.
What happens if I have an appointment and will not be available for the visit?
If you need to cancel an appointment, or will no longer be available, please talk to your nurse or contact the HiTH team on 9113 2899 or 0428 359 591. Wherever possible please contact us a few days beforehand so we can make alternative arrangements.
What do I do if I feel unwell after hours?
The HiTH service is available to contact 24 hours a day. You will be given a phone number to contact if you are concerned.
If you feel unwell, have chest pain, trouble breathing, uncontrolled bleeding or a fever please call 000 or if able go to the Emergency Department.
Do I need an interpreter?
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.
Loan Devices
We provide short term loans of equipment or devices to help you manage at home and in the community during your treatment with HiTH.
There is no cost for the loan of equipment, however, damages to equipment will be required to be returned to the HiTH Service.
Accessing Loan Devices
The HiTH team will determine if loan devices are right for your treatment in the home and will arrange your devices for you. Medical equipment then is temporarily provided to patients who are receiving care through the HiTH service. These devices or equipment are loaned to the patient for use at home during their treatment and will be returned once the treatment is completed or the patient's condition improves. It is important for patients to access and take part in a wide range of programs that meet their needs. This service will help patients take control of their own health and recovery.
Contact the nurse or contact the HiTH team on 9113 2899 or 0428 359 591 for more information.
Factsheets
-33.967739, 151.133632
Clinical Genetics
| Staff Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Rani Sachdev | Staff Specialist – Clinical Genetics |
| Dr Jason Pinner | Staff Specialist – Clinical Genetics |
| Mr Dominic Ross | Genetic Counsellor |
| Ms Rebecca Vink | Genetic Counsellor |
| Ms Natasha Mallam | Admin Officer |
| Ms Cionne Murphy | Intake Officer |
-33.9680141, 151.1342376
Healthy Ageing Program – Exercise classes
Strengthening for over 60s program
Our Strengthening for over 60s program provides safe, effective, and affordable strength and balance classes to help people 60 plus to maintain bone density, improve their functional strength, and remain independent for longer.
The program is evidence based and designed by our St George Physiotherapist and delivered by experienced exercise professionals across community venues in Bayside, Georges River & Sutherland LGAs.
The classes are suitable for most fitness levels and provides a supportive environment.
Registration and medical clearance are required for all participants.
COST:
$100 per term for 1 class per week or $150 for two classes per week (9 weeks)
Term Dates:
- Term 5 commences week starting the 21st Oct 2024
- Term 1 commences week starting 13th January 2025
- Term 2 commences week starting 24th March 2025
- Term 3 commences week starting 2nd June 2025
* It is possible to commence the program throughout the terms.
Venues / Class locations
- Caringbah: St Philips - multiple classes running on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings.
- Carss Park Community Centre - Friday mornings at 8, 9 and 10am
- Engadine Community Health Centre - Tuesday morning at 8am and 9am
- Gunnamatta Park Pavilion Cronulla - Friday mornings at 8 and 9am
- Kogarah Community Services Hub - Tuesday 11.15am and Friday 10am
- Menai Indoor Sports Centre - Thursday mornings at 10 and 11am
- Miranda Community Hall - Thursday mornings at 8, 9 and 10am
- Mortdale/Oatley Baptist Church - multiple classes running on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
- Oatley RSL Club - Thursday mornings at 8.30, 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30am
- Old's Park Sports Club - Wednesdays at 9am and 10am
- Ramsgate Lifesaving Club - Monday at 11, 12 and 1pm, plus Wednesdays at 8.30am and 9.30am
* Some classes are at capacity so please contact the office regarding availability and registration.
Forms
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Contact us:
Phone: 02 911 31397
Email: SESLHD-strength@health.nsw.gov.au
Street Address: 3 Chapel Street, Kogarah, NSW 2217
Hours of operation: Office hours are 9am - 5pm
Postal address:
Strengthening for over 60s program
3 Chapel Street, Kogarah, NSW 2217
3 Chapel Street, Kogarah, NSW 2217
Office hours are 9am - 5pm.
-33.968136, 151.1349386
Radiation Oncology
How we can help you
Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation therapy to control or kill tumour cells. It may be used to cure disease, reduce symptoms such as pain, and/or to prevent disease recurrence. Radiation therapy is a safe, effective and important part of the management of a range of cancers. Radiation can also be used for non-cancerous diseases. It may be given on its own or with other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy or surgery. Like having a routine X-ray, radiation therapy is painless.
Radiation therapy is a localised treatment which means it generally only affects the part of the body requiring treatment. Modern techniques accurately target cancer cells whilst minimising effects on normal healthy tissues.
Radiation therapy is most commonly given in the form of external X-rays generated from a treatment machine (Linear Accelerator). A course of radiotherapy treatment is often delivered over a number of days to weeks.
Radiotherapy treatment can also be delivered internally where small radioactive sources are placed inside the body (Brachytherapy). St George Cancer Care Centre specialises in a comprehensive list of brachytherapy services including prostate, breast, gynaecological, skin, lung and other sites.
Types of radiation therapy treatments available at St George Cancer Care Centre:
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for malignant and non-malignant diseases
- Volumetric Modulated Radiation Therapy (VMAT)
- Brachytherapy
Your assessment, treatment planning and care are delivered at our clinics and specialist radiation therapy facilities in the Cancer Care Centre at St George Hospital. The radiation oncology team includes doctors, nurses, radiation therapists, medical physicists and allied health professionals who will work together to ensure the best approach to suit your individual needs.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.00pm.
-33.9686313, 151.1350281
Our radiation oncologists include:
| Dr Andrej Bece |
| Dr Nadine Beydoun |
| Dr Joseph Bucci |
| Dr Yaw Chin |
| Dr Catherine Clark |
| A/Prof Peter Graham |
| Dr Gina Hesselberg |
| Dr Lucinda Morris |
| Dr Reza Rahbari |
If you have a suspected or confirmed cancer you may be referred by your medical specialist or your local family doctor to use our services. Please request your doctor to send us your referral letter and all relevant test results. Once we have received a completed referral, we will send you a confirmation appointment letter, which will tell you where your appointment is located and what information you should bring with you.
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please call us on (02) 9113 3909 / (02) 9113 1570
- Medical referral if you have it, relevant pathology results
- Current Medicare card or Veteran Affairs card
- Any Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card.
- Insurer details (for example: workers compensation, public liability or third party).
- Your Private Health Fund Membership card if you are currently insured with a private health fund.Recent x-rays or medical images and their reports, if applicable.
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.
Information about our to support our services and research can be found here https://southerncancercare.com.au/
Phone
For appointments and clinic changes:
(02) 9113 3943 / (02) 9113 1570
For the Radiation Oncology Department:
Dr Catherine Clark
A/Prof Peter Graham
(02) 9113 3903
Dr Joseph Bucci
Dr Nadine Beydoun
Dr Gina Hesselberg
(02) 9113 3831
Dr Andrej Bece
Dr Yaw Chin
Dr Reza Masoud Rahbari
Dr Greg Robertson (Gynaecological Oncologist)
(02) 9113 3934
Fax
(02) 9113 3913
Email
SESLHD-STGCancerCare@health.nsw.gov.au
Head of Department
Dr Catherine Clark
Nurse Unit Manager
Catherine Brennan
Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5.00pm
We are located in the Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital. The Cancer Care Centre can be accessed from Chapel Street Kogarah or via the corridor to the left of the Gray Street entrance of St George Hospital.
Palliative Care
How we can help you
Palliative care can improve symptoms and help you and your family to achieve the best possible quality of life throughout your illness. Help is available to anyone with any life-limiting illness, not only cancer.
We can help you to navigate through our complex care system, ensuring you have the key information you need. We will talk with you about your feelings, values and wishes for your care.
Our aim is to improve your quality of life while you face problems associated with your life-limiting illness. We aim to prevent and relieve your suffering by carefully treating your pain and other problems, be it physical, psychosocial and spiritual.
Palliative care is not just about caring for patients who are dying. The majority of our work is dedicated to improving the control of your symptoms, particularly if you have advanced disease, including advanced cancers. We can also help to make cancer treatment more tolerable.
If your family members are finding illness difficult to cope with, our team is available to help at any stage of your illness.
Cancer Care Centre
Chapel Street
Kogarah NSW 2217
-33.967582919806, 151.13424612209
The Palliative Care service includes medical and nursing specialists who see patients on the St George Hospital Campus.
We provide care for inpatients throughout St George Hospital and outpatients clinics via the Cancer Care Centre. We provide a supportive care service for heart failure, liver failure and respiratory failure patients both as inpatients and in the outpatient setting.
We partner with Calvary Health Care Kogarah to provide comprehensive and coordinated inpatient and home based Palliative Care services across the district.
Staff Specialists
Dr Caitlin Sheehan (Head of Department)
A/Prof Amy Waters
Dr Linda Sheahan
Dr Kim Caldwell
Nursing Staff
Linda Magann CNC
Mary Lafferty CNC
Sue Morris CNE
Hannah Lagrutta RN
Grace Cutcliffe CNS
Melanie Corriea CNS
Quality of life can be impacted by many different causes, including symptoms of pain, nausea, breathlessness and others. The impact of treatment can also lead to uncertainty and concern about the future. Many people living with advanced illnesses can benefit from palliative care. There is published evidence that seeing the palliative care team can even help patients with cancer to live longer and better.
If you live in the South East Sydney Southern region and have a life-limiting illness such as cancer, emphysema, heart or kidney failure you may be referred by your local family doctor or a medical specialist to use our services.
Please request your doctor to send us your referral letter together with all relevant test results to the following email address: SESLHD-StGeorge-CancerCareCentreReferrals@health.nsw.gov.au
Once we have received a completed referral, we will send you a confirmation appointment letter, which will tell you where your appointment is located and what information you should bring with you.
Please see attached referral form.
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please call us on 9113 3943
- Current Medicare card or Veteran Affairs card
- Any Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card.
- Insurer details (eg workers compensation, public liability or third party).
- Your Private Health Fund Membership card if you are currently insured with a private health fund.
- A list of your current medications.
- Recent X-rays or medical images and their reports, if applicable.
- Activities to keep you entertained while waiting (for example, a book, music player with headphones, crosswords). There is also a television and magazines available in the waiting area
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 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 no impact in any way on the services we will provide.
Our department participates in clinical research, and you may be asked if you would like to participate in a trial or study. You have a right to say no without there being any impact on your care.