Western Sydney Specialists - Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Advanced Endoscopy, Geriatrics
For Appointments & Enquiries:
Phone: (02) 8814 5755
Fax: (02) 8088 6200

ABOUT US

Western Sydney Specialists is a Specialist practice located in Bella Vista. We offer specialised care for patients with a range of gastrointestinal problems. We take great pride in providing quality care for all our patients through a focus on patient satisfaction, and optimizing outcomes. Our experienced gastroenterologists are specialists in all aspects of adult Gastroenterology and Hepatology, including Advanced Endoscopy. They specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the digestive tract, pancreas and the liver.

Our gastroenterologists, Dr Raghu Gill, and Dr Rajni Tiwari have many years of experience and are at the forefront of national and international practice. They practice at both public and private Hospitals in Western Sydney as well as North West Sydney. This ensures that they maintain a leading position in terms of knowledge and expertise, and have the full support of excellent hospital facilities.

Our geriatrician, Dr. Ajay Kumar possesses a wealth of expertise in managing intricate medical conditions prevalent in the elderly. Dr. Kumar is renowned for his compassionate approach towards patient care, always going the extra mile to ensure comfort and well-being.

At Western Sydney Specialists we provide our patients with a warm and welcoming environment. Our doctors will help you understand your condition and explain available treatment options. They use the latest in endoscopic equipment and techniques to examine and treat problems of the digestive tract. Please take time to explore our website which has a wide range of information for our patients.

For your convenience we offer weekend gastroenterology consultation on Saturdays at our Bella Vista clinic.

All privately performed procedures with Dr Raghu Gill and Dr Rajni Tiwari, including anaesthetic and pathology fees, are strictly ‘NO GAP’.

If you would like to make an appointment, please call us on (02) 8814 5755.

Services

Our Specialist Doctors treat the following conditions and offer the following services:

Consulting

Our gastroenterologists offer a comprehensive assessment and treatment for a range of medical conditions including iron deficiency anaemia, irritable bowel syndrome and functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and viral hepatitis.

Bowel Cancer Screening

People who receive a positive screening result will generally be referred for a colonoscopy. A key advantage of this technique is that it allows both imaging of abnormal findings and also therapy or removal of these lesions during the same examination. Finding bowel cancer before symptoms develop dramatically improves the chance of survival. Identifying and removing polyps before they become cancerous actually prevents the development of bowel cancer.

Oesophageal diseases

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as heartburn, bloating and indigestion/dyspepsia are common in the community. Diseases and conditions of the oesophagus and stomach require advanced diagnostics, experienced gastroenterologist and careful counseling and explanation for effective treatment. We offer treatment for Oesophageal conditions including Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), achalasia, barrett's oesophagus and eosinophilic oesophagitis

Diseases of the Pancreas

Conditions affecting the pancreas and biliary tract can be life threatening and often difficult to diagnose. Our gastroenterologists will listen carefully to your symptoms, ask appropriate questions and order tests to accurately diagnose your condition and provide a treatment plan for you. They treats conditions including acute and chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cysts

Diagnostic and
Therapeutic Endoscopy

The first step to successful treatment is an accurate diagnosis. Diagnosing a digestive disorder is complex because symptoms are often nonspecific. However, our specialist doctors are experts in this field and have extensive experience diagnosing these conditions. They also perform specialty procedures to diagnose certain gastrointestinal disorders. These include colonoscopy, gastroscopy, enteral stents, banding of oesophageal varices, small bowel enteroscopy, and endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal
Infections

Gastrointestinal infections are viral, bacterial or parasitic infections that cause gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and the small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal infections can be caused by a large number of microorganisms, including Adenovirus, Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Rotavirus, Salmonella and Shigella. We offer treatment for Gastrointestinal infections.

Hepatobiliary
Disease

The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and serves the critical function of cleaning the blood and providing other metabolic functions. Diseases of the liver and biliary system are caused by viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, neoplasia, toxic chemicals, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition and metabolic disorders. We offer effective treatment and management of these conditions.

Inflammatory bowel
disease

IBD develops due to inflammation in the intestine which can result in bleeding, fever, elevation of the white blood cell count, as well as diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain. The abnormalities in IBD can usually be visualized by cross-sectional imaging (for instance a CT scan) or colonoscopy. We offer treatment for these conditions including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis and pouchitis

Dr Raghu Gill

Dr Raghu Gill

Dr Gill is an Interventional Endoscopist with extensive clinical experience in the endoscopic diagnosis and management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. His clinical practice is enhanced by his interest in evidence based treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, the bile duct, the pancreas and the liver. He has published widely and participated in research covering a wide spectrum of gastroenterology and liver related diseases and their outcomes.

Dr Gill undertook his physicians training at the Royal North Shore (RNS) Hospital and Gastroenterology fellowship at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital. He went on to complete an Advanced Fellowship in ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography), EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) and Interventional Endoscopy at the premier Duke University Hospital in North Carolina (U.S.A) which is ranked among the best in the country; he was also a Faculty member at Duke University Hospital until his return to Sydney.

Dr Gill is a member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA); and a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRACP).

Special Interests / Areas of Research:

  • Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Reflux, and Coeliac disease.
  • Endoscopic screening of: Barrett’s oesophagus, pancreatic cysts, pancreatic cancer screening, bowel cancer screening.
  • Endoscopic diagnosis, staging and treatment for gastrointestinal cancer including: oesophageal cancer, gastric (stomach) cancer, bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), pancreatic cancer and bowel cancer.
  • Interventional endoscopy including advanced imaging, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), ERCP, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).

Admissions and Procedures: Norwest Private Hospital, Lakeview Private Hospital, Healthwoods Endopscopy Centre

Languages Spoken: Dr Gill is fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu


Dr Rajni Tiwari

Dr Rajni Tiwari

Dr Rajni Tiwari is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist with a special interest in the management of Liver diseases. Dr Tiwari provides an individually tailored consultation to every patient with evidence based care in all areas of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Dr Tiwari completed her MBBS from India with four Gold Medals. She then went on to finish her post graduate training from U.K. She has done her MRCP U.K. (Membership of Royal College of Physicians) and Gastroenterology training from Nottingham University Hospital U.K. with SCE (Speciality Certificate Exam) Gastroenterology.

After completing her training in 2017, she moved to Australia to work as a Staff specialist at Westmead Hospital.

Dr Tiwari has been part of numerous studies and publications. Currently, she is a sub-investigator on number of studies for Metabolic Liver Disease, Hepatitis and Liver cancer. She is also a keen mentor for trainee doctors and involved in teaching junior doctors and medical students.

Dr Tiwari is a member of the Royal college of Physicians of Australia (RACP) and Conjoint committee for Endoscopy certification (GESA).

Special Interests / Areas of Research:

  • Management of Hepatitis, Fatty Liver disease, Advanced Liver Cirrhosis, Liver cancer.
  • Upper GI Disorders
  • Colorectal Cancer Screening
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy with/without polypectomy, Management of acute GI Bleeding of any cause, Dilatation of strictures, Placement of PEG tubes and Capsule Endoscopy (Pill Cam).

Admissions and Procedures: Westmead Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital

Languages Spoken: Dr Tiwari is fluent in English, Hindi, and Urdu.

 


Dr Ajay Kumar

Dr Ajay Kumar

Dr. Ajay Kumar is a distinguished Consultant Physician and Geriatrician with an esteemed Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). His extensive medical journey includes completing his Basic Physician Training at the renowned Royal North Shore Hospital, followed by Advanced training at Gosford, Woy Woy, and Wyong Hospitals.

A proud member of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, Dr. Kumar possesses a wealth of expertise in managing intricate medical conditions prevalent in the elderly. His specialized skills encompass comprehensive Geriatric assessments, Polypharmacy management, diagnosis and treatment of dementia, osteoporosis, frailty, and fall prevention. Additionally, he addresses the multifaceted social and emotional challenges faced by older adults and extends his care to patients in residential aged care facilities.

Dr. Kumar is renowned for his compassionate approach towards patient care, always going the extra mile to ensure comfort and well-being. As a passionate geriatric specialist, he is dedicated to empowering the communities he serves, emphasizing education and awareness about geriatric health.

Currently, Dr. Kumar holds the position of Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) at Norwest Private Hospital, and Mt Wilga Private Hospitals. Furthermore, he has Private Rooms at Bella Vista, and Berkeley Vale Private Hospitals.

With his blend of expertise, empathy, and commitment to community empowerment, Dr. Ajay Kumar stands as a beacon of excellence in geriatric care, making a profound difference in the lives of his patients and the community at large.

Admissions and Procedures: Norwest Private Hospital, and Mt Wilga Private Hospitals

Languages Spoken: Dr Kumar is fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu.

 

Procedures

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy (koe-lun-OS-kuh-pee) is an exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

During a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon.

If necessary, polyps or other types of abnormal tissue can be removed through the scope during a colonoscopy. Tissue samples (biopsies) can be taken during a colonoscopy as well.

Why It's Done

Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to:
  • Investigate intestinal signs and symptoms. A colonoscopy can help your doctor explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea and other intestinal problems.
  • Screen for bowel cancer. If you're age 50 or older and at average risk of bowel cancer — you have no bowel cancer risk factors other than age — your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to screen for bowel cancer. Colonoscopy is one option for bowel cancer screening. Talk with your doctor about your options.
  • Look for more polyps. If you have had polyps before, your doctor may recommend a follow-up colonoscopy to look for and remove any additional polyps. This is done to reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. A specialist in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses an endoscopy to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the oesophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

Why It's Done

An upper endoscopy is used to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the upper part of your digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

Your doctor may recommend a gastroscopy to:
  • Investigate symptoms. An endoscopy may help your doctor determine what's causing digestive signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Diagnose. Your doctor may use an endoscopy to collect tissue samples (biopsy) to test for diseases and conditions, such as anemia, bleeding, inflammation, diarrhea or cancers of the digestive system.
  • Treat. Your doctor can pass special tools through the endoscope to treat problems in your digestive system, such as burning a bleeding vessel to stop bleeding, widening a narrow oesophagus, clipping off a polyp or removing a foreign object.

An endoscopy is sometimes combined with other procedures, such as an ultrasound. An ultrasound probe may be attached to the endoscope to create specialized images of the wall of your oesophagus or stomach. An endoscopic ultrasound may also help your doctor create images of hard-to-reach organs, such as your pancreas. Newer endoscopes use high-definition video to provide clearer images.

Many endoscopes allow your doctor to use technology called narrow band imaging, which uses special light to help better detect precancerous conditions, such as Barrett's oesophagus.

Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy is a procedure that uses a tiny wireless camera to take pictures of your digestive tract. A capsule endoscopy camera sits inside a vitamin-size capsule you swallow. As the capsule travels through your digestive tract, the camera takes thousands of pictures that are transmitted to a recorder you wear on a belt around your waist.

Capsule endoscopy helps doctors see inside your small intestine — an area that isn't easily reached with more-traditional endoscopy procedures. Traditional endoscopy involves passing a long, flexible tube equipped with a video camera down your throat or through your rectum.

Why It's Done

Your doctor might recommend a capsule endoscopy procedure to:
  • Find the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. If you have unexplained bleeding in your digestive tract, capsule endoscopy can help find the cause.
  • Iron deficiency anaemia. It can assist in detecting small bowel lesions likely to cause iron deficiency anemia.
  • Diagnose inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease. Capsule endoscopy can reveal areas of inflammation in the small intestine.
  • Diagnose cancer. Capsule endoscopy can show tumors in the small intestine or other parts of the digestive tract.
  • Diagnose celiac disease. Capsule endoscopy is sometimes used in diagnosing and monitoring this immune reaction to eating gluten.
  • Screen for polyps. People who have inherited syndromes that can cause polyps in the small intestine might occasionally undergo capsule endoscopy.
  • Do follow-up testing after X-rays or other imaging tests. If results of an imaging test are unclear or inconclusive, your doctor might recommend a capsule endoscopy to get more information.
ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, is a procedure that examines the tubes that drain the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. The test combines the use of a flexible, lighted scope (endoscope) with X-ray pictures.

It is used to provide important information that cannot typically be obtained by other diagnostic examinations such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

Why It's Done

Your doctor might recommend an ERCP to:
  • Remove or crush gallstones. Remove gallstones from the common bile duct if they are causing problems. These may include a blockage (obstruction), inflammation or infection of the common bile duct (cholangitis), or pancreatitis.
  • Check persistent abdominal pain or jaundice.
  • Open the entry of the ducts into the bowel
  • Stretch out narrow segments Open a narrowed bile duct or insert a drain.
  • Take tissue samples. Get a tissue sample for further testing (biopsy).
  • Drain blocked areas
  • Measure the pressure inside the bile ducts (manometry).
EUS

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a minimally invasive procedure to assess digestive (gastrointestinal) and lung diseases. A special endoscope uses high-frequency sound waves to produce detailed images of the lining and walls of your digestive tract and chest, nearby organs such as the pancreas and liver, and lymph nodes

When combined with a procedure called fine-needle aspiration, EUS allows your doctor to sample (biopsy) fluid and tissue from your abdomen or chest for analysis. EUS with fine-needle aspiration can be a minimally invasive alternative to exploratory surgery.

EUS techniques are also used in certain treatments, such as draining pseudocysts

Why It's Done

EUS is used to find the cause of symptoms such as abdominal pain, to determine the extent of diseases in your digestive tract, and to evaluate findings from imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI.

EUS may help in the evaluation of:

  • Cancer of the colon, esophagus, pancreas or stomach, and ampullary and rectal cancers
  • Lymphoma
  • Barrett's esophagus
  • Neuroendocrine tumors
  • Pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts
  • Bile duct stones

EUS can help:

  • Assess how deeply a tumor penetrates your abdominal wall in esophageal, gastric, rectal and pancreatic cancers
  • Determine the extent (stage) of cancer, if present
  • Determine if cancer has spread (metastasized) to your lymph nodes or other organs
  • Evaluate abnormal findings from imaging tests, such as cysts of the pancreas
  • Guide drainage of pseudocysts and other abnormal collections of fluid in the abdomen
  • Permit precise targeting for delivering medication directly into the pancreas, liver and other organs

For Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

A Gastroenterologist is a doctor who has dedicated training and unique experience in the management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. A Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist diagnoses and treats disorders of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon.
  • Referral letter from your GP or other doctor
  • Medicare card, DVA card, Pension card, Healthcare card
  • Private Health Insurance card
  • Copies of any imaging or pathology you have had in the last 6 months
  • A list of all medications that you are currently taking
  • A list of any known drug allergies and the symptoms you may have from taking these medicines
Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records.
Ordinarily we will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent. Communication will undertaken with your GP, and if other specialists need to be involved in your care, relevant details will be passed to them, but you will be asked about this beforehand.
We accept only referred patients. This is to ensure that the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition.
No, private health insurance cannot be used to cover part of the consultation cost. There is a Medicare rebate for the consultation but this does not cover all of the consultation cost.
Your first appointment with our Gastroenterologist will entail you discussing your particular concern or problem with them. They may do a physical examination as well as ask you questions. You may be sent for further tests and be asked to return for follow up. The result of your appointment(s) will be a diagnosis being made and appropriate treatment being offered and explained fully to you.

Locations

Click below for Consulting Room Locations

    • Western Sydney Specialists, Level 2, Suite 207, 10 Norbrik Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153

    • Windsor Street Specialist Centre (WSSC), 17 Windsor Street, Richmond NSW 2753
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Click below for Hospital Locations

    • Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145
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Contact

Western Sydney Specialists

Address: Level 2, Suite 207, 10 Norbrik Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153

Country: Australia

Phone: (02) 8814 5755

Fax: (02) 8088 6200

Email: reception@westernsydneygastro.com.au


Medical Specialist Rooms Available for Rent

Specialist Medical Consulting Rooms are currently available for rent at WINDSOR STREET SPECIALIST CENTRE, 17 Windsor Street, Richmond NSW 2753. Windsor Street Specialist Centre is an 8-minute walk from East Richmond train station.


For more information, please contact the Practice Manager on (02) 8814 5755

Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians
Gastroenterological Society of Australia
Lakeview Private Hospital
Norwest Private Hospital
Duke University Hospital
Healthwoods Endopscopy Centre