Referrals

All specialist clinic appointments require an initial referral. To consider your child's need for a specialist appointment a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or specialist is required. Some patients get a referral following treatment at the RCH Emergency Department or after their stay in hospital.

Some clinics require an updated referral for follow up appointments. If an updated referral is required for your child's appointment you will be notified by text message. Please bring your updated referral to your next appointment and hand it to the desk staff before you see the doctor.

First appointment

The information provided from your GP or Specialist will help us determine the suitability and urgency for your child's appointment.

If your child's referral is not suitable your GP or specialist will be notified and they will discuss the outcome and options with you.

Suitable referrals will be prioritised according to clinical need:

• If 'urgent', you will be notified by text message and an appointment will be scheduled within 30 days.
• If 'non-urgent', your child will be placed on a waiting list. You will be notified by post and text message.

Waiting list

All 'non-urgent' referrals will be placed onto a waiting list. Wait times vary depending on the clinic and current demand. It is our goal to see all non-urgent patients within 12 months.

While waiting for an appointment, you will receive a text message every 3 months. This is our way of keeping in touch, to ensure your child still needs a specialist appointment and your details (such as address and contacts) haven't changed.

Please respond 'NO' if your child no longer needs an appointment or has been seen somewhere else. 

Please respond 'YES' if you wish to remain on the waiting list.

If you need to update any of your child's or family details, please call us on 9345 6180

Follow up appointments

Clinics are booked up to 6 months in advance. 

• Follow up appointments for less than 2 weeks should be made at the reception desk on the day you attend the clinic. 
• Follow up appointments for more than 2 weeks and less than 6 months will be sent out in the mail.
• Follow up appointments for more than 6 months will be sent to you closer to the required date.

Cancelling or rescheduling appointments

It is important that you let us know as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your child's appointment. Changing or cancelling appointments may delay your child's treatment. 

If you don't let us know that you are unable to attend we cannot offer this appointment to another child. 

Please call Specialist Clinics on (03) 9345 6180 between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

You can also cancel or reschedule your appointment online via the Specialist clinics change of appointment form.

Telehealth appointments

RCH offers appointments via video consultation which is commonly known as telehealth. 

Online video consultations are available for rural, regional and interstate families and patients and can be held either at home or with the child's GP or other health care provider.

Telehealth is most suited for review appointments. If you would like to consider your next appointment using telehealth please discuss with your clinician if it is clinically appropriate. 

Refer to Telehealth for more information.