How long did you wait to see a pediatrician?

[rainbowmummy22]

Hi girls,

Interested in your wait to get into a Pediatrician.

I was a bit stunned today, I took DD to get a refferal from the GP to the local Pead up here in Ballarat and was told there is now a 8 month wait!! :thumbsdown:

I couldnt believe it, who knows how much worse she may be in March 09?!!
He is the only one up here atm, so I had no option than to take her to one in Geelong 11/2 hrs away. Even he is making me wait till November. Hopefully she doesnt need ongoing treatment with petrol prices etc.

[onemummmy]

yep sounds about right. Especially if there is only one. The one I see is one of about 3 or 4 and he has a 4 month wait minimum..have you tried the local hospital?

[WorkingClassMum]

[quote=bridgy86;2856146] I took DD to get a refferal from the GP to the local Pead up here in Ballarat and was told there is now a 8 month wait!!

[quote]


Can you train it to Melbourne?

Maybe ring the RCH and any paed's in Melbourne, and see who you can get in with and then go back to your GP to get another referral

Did you ask the receptionist to put you on the cancellation list so that if anyone cancels short term they ring you to see if you can make it?

What's bub's problem and would a specialist in that field be better?

[onemummmy]

why wouldnt the hospital be interested? They have clinics specially for this reason, then if the paed thinks there is an issue you can be referred internally to a specialist or externally to a private specialist.

[rainbowmummy22]

I dont think Ballarat has a clinic for this type of thing. Everyone with bubs up here goes straight to the Peditrician for any probs. Melbourne may, however my GP didnt suggest it. Its no worry, Geelong has me in soon enough. Just bummed I need to go to Melb or Geelong for it!! Thanks anyhow for your help girls.

[onemummmy]

ah so its a smaller hospital? Thats a shame.

[Nowhere]

wow thats a long wait, we haven never had to wait that long for any peads or specialists

[supa_star323]

We were lucky with DS (in a way) he got sick when he was 5 days old and the paed we saw at the hospital has been his paed ever since, though usually it's a month or two wait to get in, unless we call him directly for an emergency.
I have heard of people having to wait a while, but 9 months seems excessive.

[LivinOnAPrayer]

We waited four months, and in 4 months DD had lost a kilo and was very sick. so frustrating. we had to go to the papers, just to get into the pead. We live in blackhole lol.

But when alex was a baby she was very sick so we've got access to peads, ent, cardio, orthos, resp, you name it. BUT, they are 9 hrs away. :rolleyes:

[MountainGirl]

goodness me! If I ever have to see our paed. I just call and make an appointment for that day, or the next. He is exceptionally good, a Professor of Paediatrics, and is always available to see or speak with. What is the point otherwise?:confused:

[EvangelinaOne]

I live in Sydney so it is a bit different. There is more choice. We can see a paed really quick if necessary. However generally our paed is booked out for weeks and weeks, although I believe if it is urgent he will squeeze you in. I wouldn't take my DD to see a paed unless the GP thought it was necessary, :fingerscrossed: it won't be.

I feel for you. I have friends that live in an area where there is no Obgyn. Their closest Obgyn is 40 minutes away. Its a real problem. Goodness knows what the solution is:confused:. There can't even give birth in their local brand new maternity ward because of it:no:. The government really needs to help make it more attractive for young Doctors to work in these areas.

[Shajbm]

I've never waited 8 months to see a specialist. But I guess if there is only 1 then that might be right.

What does you MCHN say about the dragging the leg? What about seeing a physio?

[rainbowmummy22]

The MCHN wasnt concerned, and many of the girls at my mothers group said their bubs did the same thing. I mean she does move the leg lots..its not like hanging or anything, its just not pushing her forward. The thing is, the leg doesnt seem weak in any other things she does..so im wondering if its a coordination thing..who knows.

As for Physio, I think the Pead might refer me to one once her has seen her and ruled out anything wrong with the leg.

[Ralli]

8 months thats sounds about right.. Some places here are 18 months. I managed to get my DS into see a pead. early. They had a cancellation and contacted me. I was so grateful, maybe you should ask them if they can do that.. :)

[Mumma2Jack]

We were lucky with DS (in a way) he got sick when he was 5 days old and the paed we saw at the hospital has been his paed ever since, though usually it's a month or two wait to get in, unless we call him directly for an emergency.
I have heard of people having to wait a while, but 9 months seems excessive.


This is the exactly like us..
We get to see him when ever he tells us to come back..

8 months is an awfully long time..

[MummaBear03]

There was an appointment the next day which was a work day and one for the following week on a day i wasn't working so I waited a week because it wasn't that much of a wait. Are you going through the public system or seeing a private one? The ones through the public hospital have up to a 2 year wait :no:

[SalTheGal]

Hi Bridgy, I am from ballarat too!

Is it Harry Zehnwirth you are seeing?

I recently had DS to him, and I had to wait around 4mnths, however they put me on the cancellation list and I got in within a couple of months due to a cancellation- maybe see if this is an option.

Ballarat has just recently lost 3 other paeds so it is putting a heap of stress on Harry's clinic. :mad:

There is an outpatients clinic at the hospital- but because it is a bulk billing clinic you will have an even longer wait- so best option to go privately.

Oh and if you don't mind me asking who are you getting to see in Geelong? I work with paeds so know all of the ones in the vic west area.