Where to take your sick child: GP, Urgent Care Clinic, or Emergency Department? 🏥🩺🚑
We know, as parents, it is never easy to see your child unwell - and knowing where to take them for the right care can be confusing. Should you book a GP appointment, head to an Urgent Care Centre, or rush to the Emergency Department? Having the confidence to make the right choice helps your child access the best care as quickly as possible and keeps our health system running smoothly.
We have created this quick guide to help you decide where to go, based on the symptoms or severity of your child’s illness or injury.
When to see your GP (General Practitioner) 🩺
Your trusted GP should be your first stop for most non-urgent medical issues. GPs know your child’s medical history and are highly equipped to help assess and manage:
• Fevers, colds or flu symptoms
• Ear infections
• Mild rashes or skin conditions
• Mild asthma symptoms
• Vomiting or diarrhoea (if mild and not dehydrated)
• Allergies
• Vaccinations
• Ongoing management of chronic conditions
Reminder: as health professionals, GP’s will always refer you to a further level of care if required.
When to go to an Urgent Care Centre 👩🏻⚕️🧑🏻⚕️
Urgent Care Centres exist to bridge the gap between GP’s and Emergency departments. They provide GP-led care to people who need urgent care, but not an emergency response^.
• Mild infections
• Mild burns
• Suspected fractures
• Suspected sprains
• Cuts that may need stitches
Check this link to learn where your nearest Urgent Care Centre is located.
When to go to the Emergency Department 🚑🏥
If you are concerned your child is seriously ill or injured, do not wait, head straight to the Emergency Department or call 000.
• Severe difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Unconsciousness or seizures
• Anaphylaxis
• Moderate-severe dehydration
• Moderate - severe head injury
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Broken bones with obvious deformity
• Burns to face, hands, genitals or large in size
• Suspected poisoning or ingestion of medication
• A baby under 3 months of age with a fever
Another fantastic option we wish to share with you all is Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).
VVED exists as a public health service for non-life-threatening emergencies, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can register through a device with camera capability. You will be connected with a team of emergency nurses and doctors, who will assess you. This service is available to all Victorians and is such a good option to access emergency health care support. *
Always trust your parental instinct - it exists for a reason, and no one knows your child better than you!
This blog is written by Shayna, a NICU/Emergency Nurse and Mum to her young daughter.
References:
^https://www.health.vic.gov.au/priority-primary-care-centres
*https://www.vved.org.au/welcome/
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