Paediatricians at Redcliffe Hospital

[Impatient]

Hi,
It was recommended to me that I take my bub to see a paediatrician about her arm but I'm just wondering how they work at the public hospitals? I was told by the physio to get a referral to a paed at Redcliffe hospital. I'm just wondering if anyone would know that approx waiting time to see someone at a public hospital also if they charge & approx how much being public.
I know that paeds can charge a lot but if I have to wait ages to get in at a public hospital I would rather pay the money for a quicker appointment.
Thanks

[Bon4]

Usually with a referral what happens is your GP will send the referral with the necessary information to the hospital and then you will be contacted by the hospital, usually in letter form, with further information. The wait depends on what the medical issue is. Basically the first letter you get will be to say they received your referral and have put you on the waiting list. Then when they have an appointment for you they will send you another letter with the date and time - you don't get to choose, and if you can't make it it is often another wait to get another appointment. There is no charge for seeing a paed through the public system, provided you have a medicare card.

My 6yo DD is currently on the waiting list for paeds at Redcliffe Hospital for a mental/behavioural issue so I am expecting the wait to be long, because it is not a medical issue and therefore not as high a priority.

If you just make an appointment with a paed privately (so outside of the hospital system) you could be paying over $100 a visit, but it depends on the individual doctor as to what they charge. You will be able to get some of this back on medicare though, but you will still need a referral.