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Dermatology - Royal North Shore Hospital

Ambulatory Care Centre (outpatient clinics)

Level 3 - Acute Services Building (main entry level)

Royal North Shore Hospital

Reserve Rd

St Leonards

2065

Map view

Dermatology - Royal North Shore Hospital

Contact us

General referrals, appointments and outpatient inquiries:

  • Phone: (02) 9463 1400 OR (02) 9463 1686
  • After hours/urgent contact: Please ask the patient to present to our Emergency Department.
  • Fax: (02) 9463 1065
  • Email: [email protected]

 

Paediatric referrals, appointments and outpatient inquiries:

 

We accept eReferrals from GPs via HealthLink. For more information go to: Electronic Referrals for Outpatient Clinics​ - Northern Sydney Local Health District (nsw.gov.au) 

General opening hours:

 

Monday: 08:00 - 12:30

Tuesday: 07:00 - 16:30

Wednesday: 13:30 - 16:30

Thursday: 08:00 - 16:30

Friday: 08:00 - 16:30

 

Phototherapy opening hours:

Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 07:00 - 15:15

 What we do

Dermatology is a speciality of medicine for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the skin, hair, nails, mouth and genitals. The Dermatology Department at RNSH hospital has been established to provide evidence based and cutting edge care for a wide range of skin diseases. This  includes rare and very severe conditions, that require treatments not accessible to the public elsewhere in NSW. We are a tertiary referral service consisting of highly qualified Doctors and specialist Nurses, and are internationally recognised for our research into skin diseases.

 

Our specialised clinics

  • Mohs micrographic surgery - for skin non-melanoma skin cancers on the head and neck
  • Vulval clinics - for general dermatology concerns as well as laser therapy for vulvo-vaginal disease
  • Male genital Dermatology clinics - tertiary referral clinic for sexual health physicians and Dermatologists.
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa
  • Post-transplant clinics - for patients who are immunosuppressed as a result of undergoing an organ transplant
  • Paediatric Dermatology - to treat patients up to the age of 18 with skin complaints including eczema, psoriasis, birthmarks, acne and skin infections
  • General Dermatology - inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis from different causes, skin infections, wound management including acute and chronic wounds associated with diseases that involve the skin, such as; Pyoderma gangrenosum, chronic venous disease and pressure ulcers.
  • Phototherapy - UVA/UVB light therapy for a wide range of skin disorders, including oral PUVA
  • Biologics - systemic treatments for patients with disabling inflammatory skin concerns not responsive to conventional therapies
  • Skin surgery clinics - surgical management of cutaneous tumours
  • Neurofibromatosis skin clinics - run by the genetics department to treat the skin problems found with Neurofibromatosis patients
  • Laser - Co2 laser treatment for management of severe burns scarring

 What to bring

  • Relevant test resullts (including blood tests)
  • List of current medications and drug allergies 
  • Your referral letter from your GP/Specialist 
  • Your Medicare/DVA Card 

 When to visit us

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 Dermatologist. 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. 

 

Please note that phone calls from the hospital will appear as a blocked number. Please answer our call if you can and/or turn on voicemail to allow us to leave you a message.  

 

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.
 

The RNSH Dermatology Clinic is unable to provide a service for the following:

  • Routine skin checks
  • Venous ulceration (refer to Vascular Clinic)
  • Cosmetic conditions or cosemetic laser

 How to visit us

Exits off Pacific Highway and the M1 will take you to the hospital on Reserve Road in St Leonards

Bus Route 114 stops directly at the hospital

The hospital is close to St Leonards train station

The hospital is a 5 minute walk from St Leonards Station

Street and multi storey car parking are available on the Royal North Shore hospital campus. Fees apply, so please check signage. Concession parking rates are available for patients and carers. Click here for more details.

Dermatology Clinics are located at Check in B of the Ambulatory Care Centre.

When you enter the hospital walk past the yellow lifts towards the rear of the building. The Centre is located on the right hand side of the main corridor between the orange and green lifts. Check in B is located on the right, past the enquiries desk.

 

 Referral information

Royal North Shore Hospital provides the following Dermatology clinics:

  • General dermatology
  • Paediatric dermatology
  • Skin surgery
  • High risk skin cancer (including post- organ or stem cell transplantation)
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Male genital dermatology
  • Female genital dermatology
  • Mohs micrographic surgery (not for direct GP referral)
  • Phototherapy unit

 

The following conditions should be immediately referred to the Emergency Department and be discussed with the on call dermatology registrar:   

  • Extensive blistering including suspected toxic epidermal necrolysis
  • Purpuric (bruise-like) rashes
  • Widespread and symptomatic drug eruptions
  • Erythroderma (>90% body rash)
  • Generalised pustular psoriasis
  • Eczema herpeticum
  • Skin infections in immunosuppressed patients

 

Mandatory referral information 

All Dermatology referrals must include a consultant being referred to in RNSH outpatients. If unsure, please address to Professor Gayle Fischer.

 

All referrals must include patients details including a telephone number, the reason for referral, clinical findings, treatment to date, provisional diagnosis, the impact on the patient, and any significant medical history, medications and relevant social information. 

 

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.

 

Presenting Complaint

When to Refer

RNSH Clinic

Head and neck skin cancers

Head and neck skin cancer (non melanoma)

Mohs Micrographic Surgery (contact on-call registrar to discuss prior to referral)

Vulval dermatological disease

Dermatological conditions of the female genitals of uncertain diagnosis or unresponsive to first-line treatment

  • Refer immediately and mark urgent if lesion of concern or ulceration

Female Genital Dermatology clinic

Male Genital Dermatological Concerns

Dermatological conditions of the male genitals of uncertain diagnosis or unresponsive to first-line treatment

  • Refer immediately and mark urgent if lesion of concern or ulceration

Male Genital Dermatology clinic

Hidradenitis suppurativa

Patients with a history of recurrent abscesses/boils in axilla, groin or submammary region, where Staph infection has been ruled out.

General Dermatology clinic

High risk skin cancer

Patients who are immunosuppressed as a result of undergoing organ or stem cell transplant, or other significant immunosuppression

High risk skin cancer clinic

Paediatrics

Patients under 16 with skin complaints including:

  • Eczema: refer if TCS has not been successful and systemic therapy to control eczema is required; further therapy is necessary, e.g. phototherapy or immunosuppressants; or uncertainty about diagnosis
  • Psoriasis
  • Vascular lesions (including birthmarks) in cosmetically or functionally significant sites
  • Acne: refer if inadequate response to topical/antibiotic therapy or scarring
  • Skin infections, where antibiotic treatment has failed
  • Acute skin conditions of uncertain diagnosis
  • Lesions of concern not otherwise described

Paediatric Dermatology Clinic

 

Presenting Complaint

When to Refer

RNSH Clinic

Phototherapy

Requiring phototherapy – UVA/UVB light therapy

Phototherapy Unit

Cutaneous malignancy

Requiring surgical management for cutaneous malignancy

Dermatology Surgery Clinic

Neurofibromatosis skin concerns

Patients wanting treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of neurofibromatosis.

Neurofibromatosis clinic

Ongoing skin surveillance after melanoma treatment

For skin surveillance after treatment for melanoma

General Dermatology

Suspicious pigmented skin lesion

If concern about diagnosis of melanoma or other skin cancer, but excisional biopsy unable to be performed in primary care (NOT for skin checks)

General Dermatology

Inflammatory skin conditions

Eczema inadequately responding to topical therapies

General Dermatology

Psoriasis inadequately controlled with topical corticosteroid and vitamin D analogue treatments

Skin infections not resolved with antibiotic therapy

Treatment-resistant inflammatory skin conditions

Autoimmune conditions: immunobullous disease (bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus), cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis, lichen planus

  • Refer if autoimmune cause suspected or for management after diagnosis confirmed

Chronic urticaria not responding to high-dose antihistamines taken regularly for 6 weeks

Undiagnosed skin conditions with blistering, ulceration, scarring or debilitating symptoms

Failure of all other treatments

Patients who have failed all other treatments and qualify for subsidised biological agents. Must be referred from a specialist.

General Dermatology Clinic

The RNSH Dermatology Clinic is unable to provide a service for the following:
 

  • Routine skin checks
  • Venous ulceration (refer to Vascular Clinic)
  • Cosmetic conditions
  • Laser dermatology

 

Out of Area Referral

  • Resident of NSLHD catchment – Yes, referral accepted at RNSH
  • Referral from other specialist, for specialist opinion – Yes, referral accepted at RNSH
  • Resident of other LHD that DOES NOT provide the clinic service, e.g., rural, outer metro – Yes, but service or problem needs to be documented on the referral
  • Continuing care of existing condition we already manage – Yes, provided existing or related condition documented on the referral
  • Demonstrated complexity requiring services of RNSH ACC – Yes, but reason must be explicitly documented on referral
  • Compassionate circumstances (e.g. family proximity, staff) – Yes, but reason must be explicitly documented on referral
  • Resident of other LHD that offers the service – Refer to local LHD

 

Check if the home address is within Northern Sydney Local Health District here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/lhd/Pages/lhd-maps.aspx

 

 Other information

OUR TEAM

Dermatology Consultants:

  • Professor Gayle Fischer - Department Head, Vulval & Paediatrics
  • A/Professor Stephen Shumack - Staff specialist, Male genital dermatology, haematology/dermatology combined clinic
  • Dr Adrian Lim - Staff Specialist, General
  • Dr Esther Hong - Staff Specialist - General
  • Dr William Ryman - Staff Specialist, Mohs Micrographic Surgery
  • Dr Rebecca Saunderson - Staff Specailist, General Derm,  Paediatrics & Neurofibromatosis

 

Dermatology Nursing Staff:

  • Erin Mewton - Dermatology Transitional Nurse Practitioner (T/NP)

 

Dermatology Trials Team:

  • Dr Emma Smith - Trials coordinator and health service manager

 

Dermatology Admin Officer:

  • Jenya Sarkissian 

 

It is also possible to see our dermatology consultants privately, see details below. Please note, this is not a recommendation or endorsement of any health provider or service by Northern Sydney Local Health District. 

 

Consultant

Specialist areas

Location of private rooms

Professor Gayle Fischer

Department Head

Vulval & Paediatrics

Suite 10 Level 3

North Shore Private Hospital

St Leonard’s NSW 2065

Ph (02) 99660625

A/Professor Stephen Shumack

Staff specialist – Male genital dermatology, haematology/dermatology combined clinic

Central Sydney Dermatology Sydney CBD 2000 Ph: 9221 1477
St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre Kogarah 2217 Ph: (02) 9587 4277

Dr Gilberto Moreno

Staff specialist – Mohs Micrographic Surgery Skin cancer surgery & renal transplant

The Skin Hospital Westmead 2145

P: 02 8833 3000

St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre Kogarah 2217 Ph: (02) 9587 4277

Dr Adrian Lim

Staff specialist - General

uRepublic Cosmetic Dermatology & Veins (Sydney CBD) Ph: (02) 9262 7774

St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre Kogarah 2217 Ph: (02) 9587 4277

Dr Esther Hong

Staff specialist - General

St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre Kogarah 2217 (02) 9587 4277

Dr William Ryman

Staff specialist – Mohs Micrographic Surgery

The Skin Hospital

121 Crown St

Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (02) 86512000

7 Ashley Lane Westmead 2145 (02) 88333000

Dr Rebecca Saunderson

Staff Specailist – General Derm,  Paediatrics & Neurofibromatosis

Drummoyne Dermatology Drummoyne 2047 Ph: (02) 97192936

Suite 10 Level 3 North Shore Private Hospital St Leonards 2065 (02) 99660625