Information about your Paediatric Surgery Consultation
The Appointment
Cancellations
Please notify us as early as possible so we may offer the time to other children, and arrange a more suitable time for you.
There are rare occasions your appointment may be postponed due to unforeseen emergencies with other children.
Make the most of your appointment
There is often one main issue to be dealt with at the specialist appointment. Your GP is a specialist in many areas and has referred to another specialist either for an opinion, or for further management that they cannot provide with their resources. A paediatric surgeon is a specialist for children who has extensive knowledge and experience with conditions that may require surgery.
Your referral
Your GP or Paediatrician may send through a referral to the surgeon or other specialist directly, or may give it to you. Click here to scan your referral and send it through to your surgeon. Taking the referral allows you to claim back the medicare rebate from the appointment fee. A referral from a GP is valid for 12 months, whereas a different specialist referral is only valid for 3 months from the date of the first consult.
Medical History
What are the problems? How is it affecting your child?
The referral doesn’t always include a full medical history of your child. It’s useful to have knowledge of visits to hospital, procedures and treatments already done.
The newborn examination booklet is useful for younger children.
Sometimes the issues can’t be seen all the time. Please have photos or videos ready to show us.
Results of investigations
Take images and reports of scans and laboratory tests.
Some imaging companies may give you a card with the access details for us to access your images online.
Your concerns, preferences and notes
What are the problems? How is it affecting your child?
The referral doesn’t always include a full medical history of your child. It’s useful to have knowledge of visits to hospital, procedures and treatments already done.
The newborn examination booklet is useful for younger children.
Sometimes the issues can’t be seen all the time. Please have photos or videos ready to show us
Previous treatment details
What has been tried before? Bring details of medication and other health providers involved. We like to communicate and collaborate with other teams involved
Entertainment
You’ll be given information during the appointment, and it helps for your child(ren) are entertained to enable a better discussion, and fill paperwork if required.
Support person
The specialist may provide a large amount of information, it can be a lot to digest. A support person can help in a number of ways.
Payment
- Medicare card
- Healthcare card – you may receive a discount
- EFTPOS / Credit Card. Electronic payment is preferred. Cash is not stored on site and change may not be available.
How to prepare your child for the appointment
Talk to your child
Tell them what the visit is about, and it will be safe to show the doctor what is going on.
Ask about what happens
Ask questions before the appointment, such as what causes pain, when, what it feels like. It is good to ask questions about urinary and bowel habit too.
Please review the page in the conditions section for more information on preparation.
Assure them it is safe
It may be necessary for the doctor to examine the genital area. This will always be done in a safe environment in your presence. They need to know its okay, and potentially have a phrase to let them know it is safe.