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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