FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What types on conditions do we see?
- Who will assess my child?
- Does my child need to be with me for the virtual consult?
- What do I do if my child needs urgent care at a time when the service is not operating?
- What do I need for my appointment?
- How long will it take?
- What if I think my child requires a physical examination?
- Where might we be referred?
- Do you provide sick certificates if needed?
We will not see and treat life threatening conditions but we are able to see a variety of urgent and semi-urgent conditions such as:
- Allergies
- Cough, cold, runny nose
- Ear pain
- Throat pain
- Fever
- Minor head injuries
- Rashes
- Abdominal pain
- Minor injuries – sports injuries, sprains and strains
- Mental health
Priority Paediatrics Emergency Care is staffed by highly-skilled paediatric emergency nurses, doctors and multi-disciplinary mental health clinicians.
For medical assessments:
Yes – the nurse and medical staff will need to see your child in order to complete a comprehensive assessment and to develop the best plan of care.
For mental health assessments:
No – mental health clinicians can assess and support young people in crisis. We can also provide advice and strategies to caregivers supporting a young person in crisis.
In an emergency, call 000 or present to an Emergency Department
For non-life threatening mental health support, go to:
- Head to Health website – or call 1800 595 212
- Kids Helpline website (click the pink and white “Get Help!” button) – or call 1800 55 1800
- Headspace website (scroll down to get help for support options) – or call 1800 650 890
- Suicide Call Back Service website – Phone and online counselling or call 1300 659 467
- Lifeline website – Crisis Chat – or call 13 11 14
- 13YARN website – or call 13 92 76
- A device with a camera and audio (phone, tablet, computer)
- Your Medicare card and medical insurance details
If applicable, please make a list of your child’s past medical history and current medications. Ideally, the virtual consult should be undertaken in a quiet environment with optimal lighting to allow the nurse and doctor to see the patient and carry out a comprehensive assessment.
It is also useful to have your GP and local pharmacy contact details in case we need to provide a script or follow-up letter.
If you have a current mental health provider, we can provide them with a follow-up letter.
This will depend on your child’s condition and how many other people are using the service. Children with the most urgent conditions will be prioritised.
Our experienced nurses and doctors will guide you through some aspects of the physical examination to assist the assessment. If the nurse or doctor feels that an examination needs to occur in person they will refer you to the most appropriate service.
This will depend on your child’s condition. Referral pathways include:
- Priority Care Centres (Oaklands Park, Hindmarsh, Para Hills West, Elizabeth)
- Emergency Mental Health Team (virtual consult)
- Urgent Mental Health Care Centre (Adelaide CBD)
- Your local pharmacy
- Your local GP
- Your closest specimen collection centre
- Your closest radiology provider
- Your local emergency department that caters for paediatric patients
- Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service
- Primary Mental Health Care Services including:
- Health to Health
- Non government organisations
- Private mental health providers
Yes. If you require a sick certificate for work, school or childcare, please let the nurse/doctor know.