Cleft Palate Clinic

Location	Speech Pathology Department / Child Assessment Centre
Appointments	Ph: (02) 9845 2079 Fax: (02) 9845 2078 E-mail: belinds4@chw.edu.au
Consultants	Dr. P. Hayward - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon (Head of Team) Dr. C. Boorer - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. R. Gates - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. P. Thompson - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. J. Vandervord - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. J. Curotta - Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Dr. K. Chan - Specialist Orthodontist Dr. A. Pistolese - Specialist Orthodontist (Honorary) D. Fitzsimons - Speech Pathologist A. Purcell - Speech Pathologist (Honorary) A. Simon - Speech Pathologist A. Walker - Cleft Lip and Palate Clinical Nurse Consultant R. Douglas - Audiologist L. Ramesh - Audiologist J. Tsembis - Audiologist P. de Sensi - Clinical Photographer B. Sheridan - Department Secretary
Clinic days	Thursday
Method of referring	Telephone contact with Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary, followed by written referral from medical officer. Check via phone for exact referral procedure.
Function of the clinic	Assessment and surgical management of children with cleft lip and/or palate and velopharyngeal dysfunction, with follow-up of orthodontic, hearing and feeding issues.
Urgent cases	If presurgical management of the cleft is indicated (presurgiacl orthopaedics), an early appointment will be arranged for the infant and family to be seen by one of the Clinic's Orthodontists, usually before the family's first full Clinic visit.
Special interests or sub-specialty clinics	Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Clinic The VPD Clinic is a satellite clinic of the Cleft Palate Clinic and provides Speech Pathology assessments for patients with suspected velopharyngeal dysfunction. Medical referrals are required for this Clinic and appointments can be arranged as above.