DunRoaminTheUK

Hi all.

Does anyone know about the procedure required for getting your toddler referred to a pediatrician, once in Australia, and how much a consultation can cost (on average)?

Also, how quickly does the referral come through as an appointment?

Cheers.

NickyC

Your GP will usually refer you to one. They'll give you a referral letter and either you call the paediatrician for an appointment or sometimes they'll make the appointment for you. I've never had to wait more than a couple of weeks for any specialist appointment (except if it's over Christmas or happens to be around the time of their annual overseas conference). If a specialist had a particularly long lead-time and it was urgent, I'd get my GP to refer me to another one.

As to costs - specialist fees can vary enormously and they can charge what they like. They almost never bulk-bill so you have to pay up-front but can claim back from Medicare, obviously. You can ask what they charge when you make the appointment, although most will tell you automatically, if you are a new patient.

MrsDagboy

Dun, depends on what you need to see the paediatrician for I guess.

To get a referral all you need to do is go to your local GP & they will write one out for you. If you go private an appointment with a specialist can be anything from a week or so to a couple of months. Im currently waiting for my appointment with a private specialist that I booked at the beginning of April & its the 6th of July. My boys specialist can usually be seen within a week or 2 (sometimes slightly longer for a new patient, but not that long!). If its public (ie through the hospital system) it can be months. If its public it will be free, if private it depends on the doctor & if you can claim on either Medicare or your private health fund. Costs us $60 for both of our boys to see their specialist (after claiming a rebate through Medicare), usually more for a first consultation. My first consultation with the rhuematologist is going to set me back $175 & I will be able to get back $111 through Medicare. So it all depends on how much over the scheduled fee the doctor charges.

Hope that helps.

DunRoaminTheUK

Hi.

Thanks for that information.

We were told yesterday that we need to see a pediatrician concerning the physical development of our 1 year old boy as he is not crawling (well, he's on all fours but doesn't seem to be able to actually move), pointing, clapping, walking (though he's stable and independent using a walker) and a few other things too. Our local health visitor seemed to spook my wife by insisting that she see a pediatrician here ASAP but the health visitor has over reacted to something else in the past (his bowel movements) which ended up with a pediatrician telling us that there is nothing wrong with him. He seems to do a lot of the other things that a 1 year old boy should be doing by now but the health visitor seems to think that the other issues are big issues.

Anyway, given that we are anticipating our move to happen in early July, the health visitor told us that we would never get seen in time so to see one ASAP when we arrive in Brisbane.

Cheers.

milliesmum

I would just say that imo some health visitors can be a little over eager and whats normal for one child is not for the other, mine have all developed at different rates, some babies never crawl, they go straight to walking, alot don't point till their toddlers, for example my son did not bother to crawl till he was 11 months, nearly 12 and even then only if he had to, could not be bothered to walk till he was nearly 18 months and then it took another month to do it more than crawling. He just was content not to. Now he is 4 and runs jumps falls over etc etc like any other 4 year old. If you are concerned take your child to your gp for a further check up and if they think its urgent then they will advise you.

Babies/children all develop at differing rates and there are no hard and fast rules