Telehealth services offering paediatric care

Introduction

While remote and rural areas have long had access to specialised paediatric services through the Royal Flying Doctors, virtual kids’ clinics and paediatrician consults are now available nationwide and at all hours. For any parent, this is an excellent addition to the care available at local GP clinics and the A&E, especially after-hours and when you’re on the fence about needing a doctor’s advice for your child. Online paediatric services can fill the gap and be your first step when you believe your child may be ok to rest at home but want to ensure they are assessed and have access to meds, if necessary. I’ve rounded up some of the most popular options for MediCompare and also highlighted when you should instead take your child to the closest doctor’s practice or emergency room. Let’s take a look.

These range from the fully bulk-billed virtualKIDS, which is an excellent option for triaging your child at home, to flat-fee unlimited after-hours assistance by specialist paediatricians, as well as other specialised services at Cub Care. Additionally, emergency specialist care is available by appointment at Telebaby, and online access is available by advance booking to a range of other services. The listed providers offer a broad range of options for kids-only providers.

• Unlimited after-hours specialist care: Cub Care. Nationwide service with specialised services and doctors, from emergency evening support, infant clinic, immunology specialists, and behavioural care. Highly experienced paediatric physicians at a flat rate to support you throughout your child’s after-hours needs for $179 per evening (gap fee $93 with a referral), including multiple consultations, scripts, referrals, and pathology requests. Set hours from 10 am to 10 pm, with bookings necessary for other time slots.
• 24/7, free, best for triage: virtualKIDS. Provided by NSW Health, this 24/7 nurse-led service offers fully bulk-billed telehealth for kids under 16. It’s designed to be your first point of contact if you live in NSW and your child is sick outside of regular hours. Booking via HealthDirect on 1800 022 222, before a video consult on your phone or computer.
• Specialist infant care 7 days a week: Telebaby Australia. Highly rated and experienced paediatric emergency medicine consultant for newborns and infants (up to 12 months), as well as specialised acute care for kids available 7 days a week during standard business hours. Without a GP referral, you pay $300; with a referral, your gap fee is about half. (You can get a GP referral via a 24/7 telehealth provider like Instant Consult.)
• Wide range of paediatric specialists: Children Health Hub. A paediatric telehealth and in-person clinic with multiple Sydney locations and a wide range of paediatric specialists. Available 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. Bookings required. Medicare rebate if your child attended in person in the last 12 months. Prices depend on the specialty required.
• Paediatrics telehealth site by appointment. Smart Paediatrics offers an extensive range of paediatric services by connecting parents with specialists by appointment during business hours. The cost ranges from a $133 gap fee to a $399 private consultation fee. This site also offers diagnostic services for complex developmental and behavioural conditions.
• Eating disorder and behavioural support: ADHD-BED Integrated. Specialising in multidisciplinary treatment plans, this international telehealth provider, based in Australia, accepts GP referrals. It brings together child psychiatrists, nutritionists, paediatricians, and more.

Often with faster response times, lower costs, and extended hours, some generalised telehealth providers offer kids’ clinics, appointments for kids with General Practitioners, and free infant care. They can offer a good option if you are pressed for time or reasonably sure that your child just needs a repeat prescription or medical certificate, rather than specialist paediatric care. Many of the general telehealth providers I have reviewed for MediCompare offer services for children. These include the bulk-billed 13SICK, partially bulk-billed Abby Health, highly rated Hola Health, very fast Docto Online Hospital, varied InstantScripts, MyGPOnline, and more. You can check out the full reviews for more information on pricing, wait times, and other details.

Different to adults, children’s conditions can often deteriorate rapidly, especially when they are younger. As they are also not always able to tell you about their symptoms like an adult would, it is essential to use a telehealth provider only when you aren’t seriously worried about their state. Warning signs include sudden collapse or being unresponsive, severe breathing problems, and bleeding that you cannot stem. Traumatic injuries like head injuries, burns, and falls, as well as shock, seizures, drowning, and other conditions, require a physical assessment and in-person treatment. Most services will also conduct a quick pre-screening before booking to assess your child’s illness and determine if it is suitable for telehealth and doesn’t require urgent hospital care. However, this may not be the case with more generalised services.

With the NSW government recently opening its own telehealth service for children [1] to ease pressure on emergency rooms, it’s clear that there is a need for services catering to parents with children who are well enough to be assessed and cared for at home. However, due to children’s different needs, a specialised service or telehealth service offering paediatric access may be your best bet.

This information is intended for informational purposes only and should not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concerns.

[1] https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/Pages/urgent-care-virtual-kids.aspx