Spinal Cord Injury Outpatient Services - Royal North Shore Hospital

Royal North Shore Hospital offers a comprehensive range of specialist services for people with newly acquired and established spinal cord injuries (SCI). We provide a holistic rehabilitation medicine review of people with a spinal cord injury who live in the catchment area for the Northern Sector of the State-wide Spinal Cord Injury Service (SSCIS) – the northern part of metropolitan Sydney and Northern NSW encompassing the follows LHDs – Northern NSW, Mid North Coast, Hunter New England, Western NSW, Far West, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Northern Sydney & Western Sydney. Appointments are offered to patients both face to face and virtually (where possible to do so). 

Post hospital discharge reviews are seen with an aim to avoid further hospitalisations. We have specialised clinics which include: 

• Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation (Medical) Clinic: This clinical reviews spinal related medical issues such as spasticity, neurogenic bowel and bladder dysfunction, autonomic dysreflexia, skin & pressure injuries, change in function or pain exacerbation. (Video-consultation is routinely offered to all patients). 
• Tetraplegic Hand Clinic: Services all of NSW and the ACT for the purpose of providing consultation for those with cervical level spinal cord injury in the optimal management of their upper limb and hands. This provides patients with access to reconstructive upper limb surgery and aims to optimise upper limb function and independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) and leisure activities for those with tetraplegia. 
• Spinal Plastics Service (SPS): Multidisciplinary assessment of spinal cord injured patients with decubitus ulcers/skin integrity issues. This involves a review by a Plastic Surgeon, Spinal Rehabilitation Physician, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker and Dietitian. 
• Sexuality and Fertility Clinic: provides assessment, education and intervention for SCI related fertility issues and vibro-ejaculation procedures as well as management and counselling of patients with changes in sexual function following spinal cord injury. Treatment of sexually transmitted infections is not addressed in this clinic. 
• Colorectal surgical clinic consultations 
• Orthotics 
• Dynamic Bladder Studies 
• Urology Clinic 
• Urology-Spinal Catheter Change Clinic: Only available for complicated SPC or urethral catheter change upon medical approval. 
• Spasticity Clinic: Not limited or exclusive to persons with SCI. 
• Respiratory Failure Clinic: This is a weekly RNSH clinic run by a respiratory and sleep physician for patients with (or at risk of) type 2 respiratory failure and/or on home bilevel ventilation. This is suited to patients with a high cervical cord injury. Not limited or exclusive to persons with SCI. 
• CPAP Clinic: This is a twice weekly clinic for patients with sleep apnoea who are established on CPAP therapy. This may include SCI patients with simple sleep apnoea, especially if their injury is at the thoracic level and below. Not limited or exclusive to persons with SCI. 

• Images / Scans and reports related to these
• Blood Results
• Test results
• List of current medications
• Referral
• Medicare Card if you have one

Your GP or non-GP specialist is always your first step in seeking treatment for any condition. You will be referred to our service if your treating doctor feels that your treatment requires the input of a Specialist. Once we receive the referral it will be reviewed by a doctor and you will be notified of the outcome and next steps. Please allow at least 4 weeks for this process to be undertaken. We see patients either face to face or via telehealth - your specialist will let you know what the best option is for you.

Please note that phone calls from the hospital will appear as a blocked number.

If you have a scheduled appointment you will receive a reminder text message.

Please allow a full afternoon for your appointment. Some patients require a longer review and delays can occur.

This service manages patients with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) secondary to a non-progressive aetiology only  (traumatic /non traumatic) and excludes all progressive causes,  i.e., MS , congenital lesions , metastatic lesions , spina bifida). 

Indications for referral for clinic appointment for SCI (Spinal Cord Injury):

• Patients with an acquired spinal cord injury
• Persistent neurological impairment
• Requires specialist input from a spinal cord service
• Residing within northern part of metropolitan Sydney and northern NSW

Indications for referral for clinic appointment for SPS (Spinal Plastics Service) :

• Patient with pressure injury that may benefit from multidisciplinary team input
• Patients with an acquired spinal cord injury
• Persistent neurological impairment
• Requires specialist input from a spinal cord service
• Residing within northern part of metropolitan Sydney and northern NSW

We see people with a spinal cord injury who live in the catchment area for the Northern Sector of the State-wide Spinal Cord Injury Service (SSCIS) – the northern part of metropolitan Sydney and Northern NSW encompassing the follows LHDs – Northern NSW, Mid North Coast, Hunter New England, Western NSW, Far West, Nepean Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Northern Sydney & Western Sydney. 

Please indicate preferred language if an interpreter is required. 

Please attach results of any investigations to the referral and ensure the patient brings hard copies to their appointment. This will help avoid unnecessary duplication of tests, additional appointments and delay. 

Referrals with insufficient information will be returned until further information is provided to the clinic. 
 

OUR TEAM 

• Spinal Cord Injury Rehab (Medical) Clinics: 
  • Dr Jasbeer Kaur – Spinal Rehabilitation & Spinal Medicine   
  • Dr Priyadarshini Chari – Spinal Rehabilitation, sexuality & fertility post SCI  BP variability   
  • Dr Samuel Arthurs – Spinal Rehabilitation, muscle botox, sexuality & fertility post SCI   
  • Dr Feng Liang – Spinal Rehabilitation , Sexuality & fertility post SCI  

• Spinal Plastics Services (SPS): 
  • Dr Priyadarshini Chari –Spinal  Rehabilitation &  complex wounds 
  • Dr Samuel Arthurs – Spinal Rehabilitation & complex wounds 
  • Dr Feng Liang – Spinal  Rehabilitation and complex wounds 

Spinal cord injured patients are as defined by SSCIS (traumatic and non-traumatic non-progressive and exclude progressive and degenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, congenital lesions and metastatic lesions. 

Seating and Wheelchair services for people with a SCI - held at Royal Rehabilitation Centre (Ryde). For appointments call AT&S directly on (02) 9808 9292 or Fax (02) 9808 9682. 

Related Services:

• Tetraplegic Hand 
• Plastics Services 
• Urology 
• Orthotics
• Colorectal 
• Respiratory 
• Spasticity