Karen & Mark

We are in the process of emigrating to Perth and we need to find out some medical info before we proceed any further. Our daughter, 20 months old, has a vascular birthmark (port wine stain) on her hand/arm/chest. She is under Great Ormond St Hosp in the UK and although the birthmark is not life threatening, she will need pulse dye laser therapy treatment throughout her life. Our doctor was unsure whether this treatment is available in Australia at all and, if it is, whether they would treat a birthmark that is not on the face. She mentioned 2 possible centres (the treatment has to be carried out at a specialist centre dealing with children with vascular birthmarks) - one in Sydney and one in New Zealand! Obviously safety is very important, being an infant. In the UK the procedure would be carried out under general anaesthetic until she is older. Does anyone know whether this treatment is available in Australia?

Here's hoping someone can help!

Karen & Mark

Kate2112

I did a quick search on google and came up with this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract. How wide spread this treatment is available I dont know but it may be a starting point.
Good luck.

Wendy

I really think that this type of question needs to be discussed with a registered migration agent as it may have an impact on your application. If your daughter needs treatment then they are going to assess the cost of it and it may mean you will not get a visa.

Please don't let me worry you as I don't mean to but I really do think you need an expert opinion.

Good Luck
Wendy

Karen & Mark

Thanks for this and for taking the time to look.

Karen & Mark

We have already asked our migration agent and one of his suggestions was to post our query on this website! We haven't had our medicals yet but they don't think it will affect our visa application as it isn't a life threatening condition. We hope that someone looking at this website might be able to help.

GinaUK

Best to get advice from a good migration agent who specialises in health matters. Try Peter Bollard in Sydney: http://users.bigpond.net.au/onk/

He gets mentioned here a lot. No hrm in contacting him.

Gina

Wendy

That's brill then.

happymum

I would have thought your agent should be finding this sort of thing out for you, not directing you to websites. That's what we pay them for after all. Also he should have researched this one for you before you put your main appl in.

I don't think the medical decisions are always made in terms of whether a condition is simply life threatening or not (glad it is "not" in your daughter's case though). I gather it is more about how much a condition is going to cost the Australian medical system over a lifetime.

I've also seen Peter Bollard mentioned alot, so that would be a good place to start. Very best luck to you and please keep us posted.

Also, maybe try posting on the immigration forum as that where some very good agents and mods hang out.

thebears

http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/contacts.htm

Suggest you make contact to discuss your problem directly.

Karen & Mark

Thanks for that link - I've sent them an e-mail.