Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is the medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Our gastroenterology service provides assessment, ongoing management, and specialist procedures such as endoscopy and colonoscopy for a wide range of digestive and liver conditions.

We care for and treat people with:

• Abnormal Liver Function Tests
• Bowel Cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Coeliac Disease
• Constipation with Sentinel Findings
• Diarrhoea with Sentinel Findings
• Colorectal Symptoms
• Dysphasia
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Pancreatic and Biliary Disorders
• Persistent Iron Deficiency
• Positive Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). 

Exclusions 

The following conditions/procedures are not routinely seen at Bayside Health - Regional (Bass Coast):

• Diarrhoea < 4 weeks duration without sentinel findings
• Dilated bile and pancreatic ducts 
• Fatty liver with normal liver function tests 
• Mild hepatic encephalopathy 
• Positive coeliac gene test without positive coeliac serology 
• Patients with any other gastroesophageal reflux 
• Patients with controlled symptoms 
• Patients that cease treatment and symptoms return 
• Screening for Barrett’s oesophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux without additional symptoms 
• Iron deficiency in pre-menopausal women with: 
      o  no positive coeliac serology 
      o  negative faecal occult blood test 
      o  managed menorrhagia and with good cycle control 
      o  Isolated low serum iron 
      o  Non-iron deficiency anaemia without evidence of blood loss 
      o  Vegetarian diet without iron supplementation.
• Laxative dependence 
• Patients with more than 12 months of constipation symptoms, with no sentinel findings, who have not had an adequate trial of treatment 
• Patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) negative, unless they are pregnant, immunosuppressed, or starting immunosuppressant medicines and are hepatitis B core antibody (HbcAb) positive  
• Patients who are hepatitis C (HCV) RNA negative who are not at ongoing risk of cirrhosis 
• Hepatitis C should be managed and treated through suitable community-based services wherever possible 
• Patients who are hepatitis C (HCV) RNA negative who are not at ongoing risk of cirrhosis 
• Belching 
• Halitosis 
• Fibroscans 
• Pancreatic mass.  

How to access this service

Referral to this service can be made by your general practitioner (GP), another medical specialist or a healthcare professional, as well as hospital-based staff in the emergency department, inpatient wards and other areas of the hospital.

More information for health practitioners and referrers is available here:

• Gastroenterology Referral Guide:

  Document

  GASTROENTEROLOGY Referral Guide.pdf

• Referral Form: MR-309 Outpatient specialist clinic referral

  Document

  MR-309 Outpatient Specialist Clinic Referral V2 Dec 2021.pdf

  Clinically recommended guidance and resources for Health Professionals in the Gippsland region are available through Gippsland Pathways.  

Additional resources 
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/statewide-referral-criteria/abnormal-liver-function-tests
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/statewide-referral-criteria/chronic-refractory-constipation
 

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
• Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Glasses, hearing aid(s) and/or walking frame if needed.