Accepting Private Referrals

Advanced Gastroenterology & Interventional Endoscopy

Comprehensive specialist care for digestive and liver disorders on the Mid North Coast. Our team offers the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, including advanced techniques previously only available in metropolitan centres.

Open Access Endoscopy (02) 6581 1266
A/Prof Stuart Kostalas

A/Prof Stuart Kostalas

MB(Hons1), MM(ClinEpi), MSc(Oxon),
MBiostatistics, GStat, FRACP
Director of Endoscopy · Interventional Endoscopist
A/Professor, UNSW
DPhil Candidate, Oxford
ESD & Serrated Polyps
GESA (Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy, ERCP)
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Port Macquarie Private Hospital
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University of NSW
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University of Oxford
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PM Gastro Research Group
Our Procedures
Comprehensive Endoscopic Services

From routine screening to complex therapeutic intervention, we offer the full spectrum of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

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Gastroscopy

Upper GI endoscopy for investigation of reflux, dyspepsia, dysphagia, coeliac disease, and surveillance of Barrett's oesophagus.

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Colonoscopy

High-definition colonoscopy with advanced polyp detection. National Bowel Cancer Screening Program accredited.

Quality Benchmarked
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ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for bile duct stones, strictures, and pancreatico-biliary disorders.

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Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

EMR of large flat colonic polyps and early superficial cancers, avoiding the need for surgical resection.

Advanced Therapeutic
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Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

ESD for en-bloc resection of complex neoplastic lesions. A/Prof Kostalas trained in Japan and established the Mid North Coast's first ESD service.

Regional First
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Third Space Endoscopy

Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR), submucosal tunnel endoscopic resection (STER), Z-POEM for Zenker's diverticulum, and G-POEM for gastroparesis, offering minimally invasive alternatives to surgery for lesions arising from deeper layers of the GI wall and functional disorders.

Advanced Therapeutic Regional First
Quality in Colonoscopy
Measurable Excellence

We benchmark our performance against international quality indicators, because your safety depends on the quality of the procedure.

>75%

Adenoma Detection Rate

Three times the recommended benchmark of 25%, reflecting meticulous inspection technique and advanced detection methods

>99%

Caecal Intubation Rate

Complete examination of the colon, well above the 95% quality threshold

>45%

Sessile Serrated Lesion Detection Rate

Significantly exceeding national benchmarks for detection of these commonly missed precancerous lesions

Why Quality Metrics Matter

The quality of your colonoscopy directly affects whether polyps and early cancers are detected. Studies consistently demonstrate that a higher adenoma detection rate is associated with a lower risk of interval colorectal cancer.

A/Prof Kostalas is committed to transparent reporting of quality indicators and participates in national benchmarking programs. Our practice philosophy is that every colonoscopy should be performed as if it were the only opportunity to detect disease.

We use high-definition endoscopes with virtual chromoendoscopy (NBI/BLI) to enhance polyp detection and characterisation, reducing unnecessary biopsies and improving diagnostic accuracy.

Our Team
Specialist Clinicians

Experienced gastroenterologists providing comprehensive care across the Mid North Coast.

A/Prof Stuart Kostalas

A/Prof Stuart Kostalas

MB(Hons1), MM(ClinEpi), MSc(Oxon), MBiostatistics, GStat, FRACP
Director of Endoscopy · Interventional Endoscopist

A/Prof Kostalas is a consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist with subspecialty expertise in interventional endoscopy. He has resided in Port Macquarie since 2013. He holds a conjoint professorial appointment at the University of NSW and is completing his DPhil at the University of Oxford, researching serrated polyposis syndrome. He founded the Port Macquarie Gastroenterology Research Group in 2023 and established the annual Port Macquarie ESD Course in collaboration with Japanese expert endoscopists.

ESD EMR ERCP IBD Hepatology
Dr Josh McCarthy

Dr Josh McCarthy

BMed, FRACP
Gastroenterologist · Hepatologist

Dr Josh McCarthy is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist who grew up in the Port Macquarie region. He completed his medical degree at the University of Newcastle and advanced training across Port Macquarie, Lismore, Sydney, and Newcastle, including an endoscopy fellowship at John Hunter Hospital where he continues as a staff specialist. His clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening, advanced polyp resection, quality improvement in endoscopy, and inflammatory bowel disease management.

Colonoscopy Gastroscopy Polyp Resection IBD Hepatology
CM

Clyte May

CNC, Postgrad Acute Care, Midwifery, Primary Health
Clinical Nurse Consultant · IBD

Clyte is our IBD Clinical Nurse Consultant with over 40 years of nursing experience, specialising in Inflammatory Bowel Disease care since 2011. As the founding CNC for IBD services on the NSW Mid North Coast, she established comprehensive care pathways that improved access to specialised IBD care in this regional area. Clyte co-founded the NSW/ACT IBD Nurses group and served on the IBDNA National Committee (2018-2024). She holds specialist IBD education from Queensland University, Harvard University (Immunology), and the Advanced IBD Nurse School.

IBD Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis Patient Education
Research & Education
Advancing Gastroenterology

Our commitment to research and education ensures patients receive care informed by the latest evidence.

Port Macquarie Gastroenterology Research Group

Founded in 2023, our research group focuses on improving outcomes in endoscopic practice, with a particular emphasis on serrated neoplasia and quality in colonoscopy. Our peer-reviewed publications include:

  • Peer-reviewed Publications — We have published studies on serrated polyposis syndrome, sessile serrated lesion detection and detection benchmarks
  • ESD Research — Collaborative publications with Japanese colleagues on endoscopic submucosal dissection techniques and outcomes
  • Ongoing Clinical Research — Multiple manuscripts under review across high-impact gastroenterology journals
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Port Macquarie ESD Course

Annual hands-on training course in Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection, developed in collaboration with leading Japanese expert endoscopists. Bringing world-class ESD education to regional Australia.

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Academic Appointments

Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of NSW. Completing his DPhil at the University of Oxford. Active involvement in medical student and registrar teaching.

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Quality Improvement

Ongoing research into colonoscopy quality benchmarking, adenoma detection optimisation, and serrated polyp recognition.

Conditions We Manage
Patient Education

Understanding your condition is the first step to effective treatment.

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Bowel Cancer Screening

If detected early, up to 90% of bowel cancers can be treated successfully. We participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Learn more →
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Comprehensive IBD management for over 250 patients, supported by a specialist IBD nurse. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis care.

Learn more →
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Difficulty Swallowing

Investigation and management of oesophageal disorders including strictures, motility disorders, and eosinophilic oesophagitis.

Learn more →
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Liver Disorders

Diagnosis and management of liver conditions including fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and abnormal liver function tests.

Learn more →
Private Patients

Open Access Endoscopy

Skip lengthy public hospital waiting lists. Our Open Access Endoscopy program provides private patients with timely access to specialist endoscopy, typically within 2 to 4 weeks of referral.

Your consultation and procedure are performed on the same day at Port Macquarie Private Hospital, minimising disruption and wait times.

Request Open Access
1

GP Referral

Your GP provides a referral to our practice

2

Appointment Scheduled

Our team contacts you to arrange a date, typically within 2 to 4 weeks

3

Same-day Consultation & Procedure

See the specialist and have your procedure at Port Macquarie Private Hospital on the same day

4

Results & Follow-up

Results communicated to you and your GP with a clear management plan

Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
We are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm (closed 12:30 - 1:30pm for lunch). Please note: we are closed during all public holidays, and close for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year.
The first thing you will need to do is get your GP to send a referral to our rooms. It is important that we have the referral before you call us to ensure that we book the most appropriate appointment type. Please do not contact us until you know the referral has been sent. Please also ask your GP to note on the referral if you have private health insurance as this may help expedite the process.
Yes. If you have private health insurance (and are covered for Endoscopy) we can book you straight in for a procedure at the Private Hospital and the doctor will consult you there in hospital on the same day. This will speed up the process by several months.
Yes. It is possible to Self-Fund a procedure at the Private Hospital. If you would prefer not to wait an unknown length of time on the public waiting list, and would like the assurance of knowing exactly when and who will do your procedure, we can book you straight in for both the consultation and procedure on the same day at the Private Hospital. Please contact our rooms for a quote if you would like to consider this option.
Gastroscopy: 30473. Colonoscopy: 32222 to 32229.
Foods to avoid: Seeds, nuts and coconut (including those in bread, cereal, desserts), whole-grain products, raw or dried fruits (prunes, berries, raisins, figs, pineapple), most raw vegetables, certain cooked vegetables (peas, broccoli, onions, winter squash, brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn, cauliflower, potatoes with skin, baked beans), beans, lentils, tofu, tough meats with gristle, smoked or cured deli meats, cheese with seeds/nuts/fruit, crunchy peanut butter, jam, marmalade, preserves, pickles, olives, relish, sauerkraut, horseradish, popcorn, fruit juices with pulp or seeds, prune juice, pear nectar, and chewing gum.

What you can eat: Well-cooked vegetables without seeds (asparagus tips, beets, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, squash, pumpkin), cooked potatoes without skin, tomato sauce (no seeds), ripe bananas, soft cantaloupe, honeydew, canned/cooked fruits without seeds or skin, avocado, refined white breads and plain crackers, cold cereals (puffed rice, corn flakes), white rice, noodles, refined pasta, and milk products in moderation.
The day before your colonoscopy: You can ONLY consume clear fluids. Do not eat any food, and do not have milk, cream or non-dairy creamer.

On the day of your colonoscopy: You can continue to consume clear fluids, but from 2 hours prior to your procedure time you must stop all fluids (including water).

Clear fluids include: Water, black tea or coffee (no milk), clear soup/broth/Bonox, soft drinks, sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade), cordial, strained fruit juice without pulp, clear apple juice, yellow or orange jelly (no blackcurrant, red, purple, green or blue drinks or jelly), and a few barley sugar lollies.
Our rooms will provide you with details of where you can buy your prep and the specific instructions you will need to follow. Please purchase your kit at least a week prior to your procedure date.
Try chilling the mixture in the fridge first, and then drink it through a straw. Don't try to drink it all at once. Space out drinking it over about an hour, and drink something else from the clear fluids list in between (or even at the same time).
Please call the hospital where you are having your procedure and ask for the Pre-Admission Nurse.
At least 2 weeks prior to your procedure date you will need to attend our rooms to collect your paperwork and pay your fees (and if booked for a colonoscopy, collect your Prep Kit). The admission paperwork will then need to be taken to the Private Hospital at least a week prior to your procedure. In that week leading up to your procedure date the Pre-Admission Nurse at the hospital will give you a call, and on the day before your procedure the hospital will call again to advise you of the actual time and when to present.

On the day you can expect to be in the hospital for approximately 3 to 4 hours (unless advised otherwise), however the procedure itself usually lasts only about 20 to 30 minutes. Please note that you will need somebody to collect you after your procedure as you will not be allowed to drive due to the light anaesthetic.
Get in Touch
Contact Us

Our reception team is available Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 5:00pm (closed 12:30 - 1:30pm).

Address

Suite 22 / 15 Chancellors Drive
Thrumster NSW 2444

Phone

(02) 6581 1266

Email

reception@portmacquariegastro.com.au

Hours

Monday to Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
(Closed 12:30 - 1:30pm for lunch)
Friday to Sunday: Closed

Referrals

Referrals can be emailed to the address above or faxed to the practice. Please include relevant investigation results and a clinical summary.

[Google Maps embed: Suite 22 / 15 Chancellors Drive, Thrumster]

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