Attending appointments-requirements & responsibilities

When attending the appointment, please bring:

• MEDICAL REFERRAL- a hard copy in case it is needed

• BLUE BOOK -the health record (for children up to 7 years of age)

• Any forms you need the Doctor to complete

• Questionnaires, medical or allied health reports, etc.

Please also

• Ensure you have organised to pay the fee immediately following the appointment.

• Arrange for both parents to attend if possible, or otherwise share information in accordance with the requirements of your joint parental responsibilities.

• Consider the feelings and needs of staff and other visitors, including young children, and use furniture, fixtures and other items with respect and care.

• Practice hand, cough and other hygiene behaviours to limit viral transmission risks.

• Enjoy playing with the toys, reading the books (for all ages) and time together. We aim to make the visit enjoyable and fun for children, helping them play and interact rather than rely on screens and digital entertainment and distractions.

• Feel welcome to settle and feed your baby.

and please don't bring to the rooms:

• Viruses​​​​.

If you or your parent is ill on the day of the appointment or has suffered gastrointestinal symptoms in the previous 48 hours, please contact us before attending.  Illnesses such as Influenza, Gastroenteritis, Bronchiolitis, RSV and COVID-19 can pose very serious risks, especially to infants, small children and other immunocompromised people who may be exposed in the practice. If providers become ill, care for babies and children can be disrupted. Your doctor may require you to attend via Video or reschedule. Video appointment details are set out above.

• Food, drinks, loud games, or any small toys or other items that could pose a choking hazard to small children.

Apart from water, or formula or breastmilk for your baby, please plan to eat a snack or meal at home or in a nearby park or cafe before or after the appointment.

Food and beverage spillage and soiling create:

• very significant extra cleaning costs;

• infection risk for a range of bacteria and viruses such as Gastroenteritis, RSV Bronchiolitis, Covid 19;

• allergen risks.

Snacking and grazing inhibit play & development. Instead, we love to see children absorbed in and focused 100% on play, a book, or in healthy engagement with the world and others through play and conversation.

Grazing and snacking are not conducive to your child’s long-term metabolic health or a healthy emotional relationship with food. Sitting down together to share in a healthy meal or snack and a few minutes of relaxed social interaction is the ideal.

Your Child’s attendance is important and required

Your child should always attend their appointment unless their paediatric specialist has agreed otherwise beforehand. Your child’s attendance is required to allow Medicare Rebate claims.

Your child’s doctor needs to see, interact with and examine your child. They will seek to understand your child’s experience or feelings and get to know you and your child. Children should have the opportunity to develop a relationship based on trust with their doctor.

Older children and adolescents can give vital input and benefit from participation in discussions about results, medications and their healthcare generally.

What if parents wish to have an appointment without the child?

Very occasionally, a parent may attend an appointment alone, but only when agreed upon in advance by your doctor; this may be agreed upon in situations where the child is well known to your doctor and because of the child’s condition. Parents may obtain a separate referral for themselves to see the specialist, thereby avoiding higher out-of-pocket costs.

Opportunities to speak with the doctor without my child being present?

Advise practice staff or your doctor if you feel it is important to limit your child’s exposure to some of the discussions with your doctor. Some parents send a brief email outlining their concerns.

However, parents should keep in mind that children and adolescents will normally be aware of their parents talking about them. They may feel uncomfortable or upset by their parents' and doctors' perceived negativity and being talked about. Our paediatricians have a lot of experience and training in working sensitively with children and will be understanding and tactful with their young patients.

Set the Video Appointment up so your child can do an activity further away from the computer to distract them when you need to have a more discreet discussion with the doctor.

Your child’s primary or main carer or carers should attend

Paediatric specialists rely heavily on being able to obtain a “history” of the concerns and the child. Unless they are fully responsible for and involved in the day-to-day care and details of your child’s life, a grandmother, sibling, carer, or other relative or associate will not be able to provide the needed information.

An additional carer to supervise and accompany your child while you talk with the doctor.

We will aim to ensure your child feels welcome. However, children often appreciate the company of a carer and may need supervision and assistance with their behaviour.

Both parents, if possible.

Parents' involvement in their child's healthcare is usually recommended, whether separated or together. Parental cooperation and communication are required to ensure that your child's other parent is kept informed and enabled to participate in their healthcare and contribute to the doctor's understanding of their child's history and concerns, including in appointments.