About Genetics at RCH
Victorian Clinical Genetic Services provides a statewide clinical and laboratory genetic diagnosis, genetic counseling and support, and genetic education service. Our laboratories provide newborn screening to all babies born in Victoria and Tasmania as well as metabolic, chromosome and molecular genetic tests.
Here at the Royal Children's Hospital we provide inpatient consultations and outpatient clinics. Some of our services include:
- Diagnosis and management of inherited bone disorders (conditions causing severe short stature)
- Diagnosis, especially of babies or children with birth defects, syndromes associated with distinctive appearance, or craniofacial disorders
- Neurogenetics clinics with a particular interest in problems with brain development
- Neurofibromatosis clinic
- Genetic skin disorders clinic
- Laboratory diagnosis and counseling for genetic cardiac disorders
- Genetic testing for certain disorders including bowel cancer
- Carrier detection of genetic conditions including cystic fibrosis and hemophilia
- Chromosome abnormalities, including those seen in leukemias
- Counselling and support concerning the impact of a genetic disorder
We also provide diagnosis and management, in partnership with the staff of the RCH, to children who have inborn errors of metabolism
How to access our service
Urgent inpatient consultations are available 24hours a day seven days per week. During office hours call (03) 8341 6201. Out of hours the on-call geneticist or on call metabolic physician can be contacted via the RCH switchboard. Urgent laboratory tests can also be accessed via the RCH switchboard.
To make a genetic outpatient appointment post a referral or contact (03) 8341 6278, and we will contact you with details of an appointment date and time. Clinics are held weekly - there is usually a waiting time of approximately 4 - 6 weeks. Some specialized clinics may have longer waiting times.
To make a new metabolic appointment post a referral or contact (03) 8341 6224, for follow up appointments please contact the RCH outpatients office.
A referral letter from a medical practitioner is required. Referral letters from other health professionals will also be accepted.
For further information:
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