Developmental checks
All children are different and, as such, will often develop in areas at a different pace. However, there are some general benchmarks that the majority of children will reach at a certain age.
Areas of development that are often assessed include communication, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social and emotional skills. If you are uncertain whether your child is developing appropriately, then bring them in for assessment. If your GP determines that they do have a developmental delay then they can advise you on the best treatment.
Immunisations
Immunisations are very important in preventing your child from developing potentially serious and life-threatening infections. We provide all the routine recommended immunisations as per the National Immunisation Schedule. If you have any questions or concerns about immunisation, especially regarding safety or effectiveness, please discuss these with your GP (often, the internet is not a reliable source for this information). If you are uncertain if your child has missed any immunisation or is up to date, please notify reception before booking an appointment to discuss this (we may need to get in old immunisation records).
Many children’s health doctors at SmartClinics offer some immunisations that are not on the routine schedule but can also prevent life-threatening illnesses such as meningococcal B. Please make an appointment with your GP to discuss whether this is suitable for your child.
Please notify the receptionist if are bringing your child in for immunisations – they will require a booking with the nurse and may sometimes require a longer appointment with the doctor.
Minor emergencies
We may be able to assist with some minor childhood emergencies depending on the age of the child and the nature of the emergency. If you are uncertain about the seriousness of the emergency, and especially if your child is unresponsive, call 000 so they can get to a hospital as urgently as possible.