Outreach Clinics (Paediatric)

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

ConditionsConditions

There is no condition information for this clinic

These are general Paediatric clinics aimed at children living in areas with limited access to transport and where travel to Hobart would be prohibitive to receiving care.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Scope

Assessment and management of children and young people with medical concerns.

Children who are under State Guardianship but living in this region with their kinship or foster carers will also be seen in this clinic.

Outreach clinics are conducted at Bridgewater, Geeveston and Sorell for people living in the surrounding areas.

Emergency conditions

This Clinic does not offer an emergency service.

Referral process

Referrals should be sent to the general Paediatric Clinic.  Patients that live within the surrounding areas will generally be triaged to these clinics. If you have a specific request for a patient to be seen at an outreach clinic or there is a preference for the patient to be seen at the Royal Hobart Hospital, please specify this in the referral.

A referral (preferably faxed) is required for all new appointments and must comply with the Referral Standards and specifically include:

  • History of presenting complaint
  • Antenatal and birth history
  • Developmental history (early milestones, level of current functioning, history of any regression)
  • Behavioural concerns
  • General health/associated medical issues
  • Past medical history including previous interventions, medications, allergies
  • Relevant family history

Tests

No specific investigations recommended

Please attach results of any investigations which have been performed

  • Vision and hearing assessment
  • Cognitive/developmental assessments (Griffiths, Bailey, WISC, WPPSI)
  • Radiology
  • Laboratory investigations

Interim / GP Management

Please consider a referral to St. Giles Allied Health Team (Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist) and/or Early Childhood Intervention Service if there are developmental concerns.

Please also consider sending an audiology assessment and Early Childhood Intervention Service if there is speech and language delay.

Clinic Appointments – Appointments are based on clinical priority:

Emergency

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent / category 1

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent / category 2

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine / category 3

Next available appointment

Referral template

For use by health professionals only

Additional information

If any developmental concerns: a concurrent referral to Early Childhood Intervention Service may be appropriate.