New Patients- Referral -requirements
New Patient Referrals- Requirements and Recommendations
New or Returning Patients must first organise a referral to commence intake.
Not all referrals can be accepted. The specialist addressed in the referral will consider it and may accept or decline it entirely at their professional discretion.
Once a referral has been obtained, patients should complete the Request Appointment Form and follow the intake process via this website’s , New Patient Appointments section.
The New Patient Intake process is detailed here:
Referrals must
be addressed to a provider by name or to a specialist type (eg Paediatrician, Neonatologist, Dietitian);
state clinical reasons for the referral to the specialist;
be from a GP, a medical doctor or some other referrers allowed to refer for Medicare purposes;
be signed by the referrer, unless sent by Healthlink or equivalent;
be dated.
Due to capacity constraints & privacy protections, referrals
should be personally addressed by name.
Each associated doctor practices independently to provide healthcare and is not employed by or directed by Prosper Paediatrics. Prosper Paediatrics is not a healthcare provider and cannot triage or allocate referrals, but instead provides administrative services and facilities to the associated doctors.
Be provided to begin intake consideration for any new or returning patient.
Provide sufficient clinical information and reasons to enable triage.
Further information:
Your GP is welcome to send more than one referral. We recommend that each letter be addressed personally to a single doctor. Your GP can be funded for writing these referrals during an appointment.
Or, if the referral is to a (or one) paediatrician, you can provide consent for your referral to be considered by other specific associated paediatricians.
If your child’s referral is addressed to Dr A, you can provide written consent to have this referral addressed to Dr B and Dr C. With your written consent, these selected paediatricians will be able to consider the referral and any associated or relevant information provided or in the patient's file. They may consider the referral, decline it, or accept it and triage it at their own personal professional discretion.
You can give this consent
when completing the Request and Appointment Form or
complete the Referral Direction Consent Form.
or otherwise in writing.
A named referral, or your written request to other associated paediatricians, is consent to the sharing, collection and use of personal information with that nominated provider for the consideration of the referral by the nominated provider(s), for intake procedures; and also until the expiry of the referral term. You may withdraw your consent and ask that we deactivate the referral, close the intake, and, if an appointment has been booked, cancel it. Such requests should be made in writing and without delay.
Please review the paediatricians' wait times when considering your requests/referrals to the associated paediatricians.
Referral clinical criteria
Sufficient clinical information must be provided to ensure validity and allow the specialist to triage the referral.
Given their capacity constraints, the associated doctors will generally be more likely to consider acceptance of a referral or triage it more highly if
it details significant or serious clinical concerns and a need for specialist medical assessment, diagnosis and management regarding
medical concerns in infants, children and adolescents*.
infant, toddler & preschooler developmental concerns.
and previous, current, or planned clinical or allied health assessments, management or therapeutic pathways, referrals, and interventions for the concern.
*Dr Kennedy considers only referrals for children aged 2 or younger.
Dr Rasiah is also happy to accept referrals for paediatric infectious disease concerns.
Doctors Conway, Rasiah, Holst and Kennedy also accept private neonate referrals.
Referrals about Autism, ADHD, mental health and behaviour?
Autism: Currently, the associated providers do not offer a formal Diagnostic Assessment for Autism, but may refer for one and provide follow-up care after the report.
ADHD: The Associated Providers may conduct ADHD assessments but recommend a psychologist’s assessment due to wait times and capacity constraints. Some GPs are accredited to conduct ADHD diagnostic assessments and, if needed, establish a medication plan.
Other care options regarding ADHD and Autism or other mental health assessment and therapy: Generally, GPs should consider alternative or concurrent referral to a psychologist for assessment or therapy. GPs can also refer significant mental health concerns to a psychiatrist for an assessment and medication plan.
Other care and referral options
While you wait for your paediatrician appointment
Or if your child’s referral cannot be accepted at this time.
Summary:
To request an appointment for your child as a New or Returning Patient,
ensure your GP has sent a valid referral to them by Healthlink or has emailed it to you so that you can forward it to Prosper Paediatrics.
then complete and submit the Request Appointment Form.
if the referral is to a paediatrician/ one paediatrician, you can request in writing that other associated paediatricians also consider the referral.
Each paediatrician’s decision to accept a referral will be based on their professional discretion and judgement regarding their capacity, practice scope and style and current patient responsibilities.
The doctor may later cancel appointments (or appointment wait list places).
Your specialist may unexpectedly need to delay or cancel your child’s appointment due to illness or other circumstances or may unexpectedly close or reduce their private practice at Prosper Paediatrics. In this circumstance, other associated doctors may be able to offer an appointment, but there may be further delay, or an appointment may no longer be possible. Each associated provider practices independently and is not directed by Prosper Paediatrics. They alone make decisions about their practice and the acceptance of new patient referrals.