Assessment Process and Team Members
Assessment Process
The Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary notifies the Cleft Lip and Palate Nurse Consultant of all newborn referrals to the clinic immediately. If the infant is born within the Sydney Metropolitan Area the Cleft Lip and Palate Nurse Consultant will visit the infant at the Maternity Hospital. If outside of this area, telephone contact will be made to the health professionals of the Maternity Unit and the caregivers.
If pre-surgical management of the cleft is indicated (ie. Presurgical orthopaedics), an early appointment will be arranged for the infant and caregivers to be seen by one of the Clinic's orthodontists, usually before the family's first full Clinic visit.
Follow up Process
The aim of the Cleft Palate Clinic is to meet and assess the newborn with a cleft condition within the first 2-4 weeks post birth, depending upon health of infant and severity of cleft. The Cleft Lip and Palate Nurse Consultant will notify you of this appointment at the Maternity Visit or via telephone contact.
The Cleft Palate Clinic is a multidisciplinary team that undertakes assessment and surgical management of children with cleft lip and/or palate and velopharyngeal incompetence, follow up of orthodontics, hearing, feeding and language development, genetic counselling. When an infant or child attends the clinic for assessment or routine appointment the various health professionals of the Cleft Palate Team, in accordance with their condition will see them. (Please see the Consultant Listing for Clinic Team Members)
The Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary will arrange appropriate follow up as requested by the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon or other team member. The appointment date and time will be posted to the family as notification for future follow up.
Where we are
The Cleft Palate Clinic is held in the Children's Assessment Centre, located up the stairs from the Speech Pathology Department on Level 3, accessible by stairs or lift.

Cleft Palate Department Phone Listing
| NAME |
PHONE |
POSITION |
EMAIL ADDRESS |
| Dr P Hayward |
C/- Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary 52079 |
Head Cleft Department Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon |
PETERH3 |
| Dr P Thompson |
C/- Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary 52079 |
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon |
|
| Dr J Vandervord |
C/- Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary 52079 |
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon |
|
| Dr R Gates |
C/- Cleft Palate Clinic Secretary 52079 |
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon |
|
| Dr E Beckenham |
52079 |
ENT Surgeon |
EDWARDB |
| Dr K Chan |
52079 |
Orthodontist |
|
| Dr T Pistolese |
52079 |
Orthodontist |
|
| Amy Walker |
51118 Page: 6758 |
Cleft Lip and Palate Nurse Consultant |
AMYW |
| David Fitzsimons |
52076 |
Speech Pathologist |
DAVIDF |
| Jeanette Cowell |
52076 |
Speech Pathologist |
JEANETTC |
| Alison Purcell |
52076 |
Speech Pathologist |
|
| Rosemary Douglas |
52788 |
Audiologist |
ROSEMARD |
| Latha Ramesh |
52788 |
Audiologist |
LATHER |
| Jean Tsembis |
52788 |
Audiologist |
JEANT |
| Belinda Sheridan |
52079 |
Secretary |
BELINDS4 |
| Paul De Sensi |
52050 |
Photographer |
PALMERID |
Contact Information
| TITLE |
NAME |
PHONE |
EMAIL |
| Head of Department |
Dr P Hayward |
52079 |
PETERH3 |
| Cleft Lip and Palate Nurse Consultant |
Amy Walker |
51118 |
AMYW |
| Secretary |
Belinda Sheridan |
52079 |
BELINDS4 |
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