When Should You Take Your Child to a GP? A Parent’s Guide

Children get sick often, and it is not always easy to tell a cold that will pass from something that needs a doctor. Knowing when to take your child to a GP, when to call 000 and when a routine check-up makes sense can save worry and help your child get the right care sooner. This guide sets out the signs healthdirect lists for seeing a doctor, the emergency signs that cannot wait, and how GP visits fit alongside vaccinations and your Maternal and Child Health service. It also explains how children’s health care works at Harpley Doctors in Werribee.

Signs it is time to take your child to a GP

Most childhood illnesses, such as colds, ear infections and gastro, are common and pass with rest and fluids. Healthdirect’s guide to looking after a sick child gives a simple rule for when to take your child to a GP: if symptoms do not improve after 2 full days, it is best to see a doctor. Seeing a doctor early can often stop an illness getting worse.

Other signs it may be time to book include when:

• paracetamol and ibuprofen are not helping
• your child has ongoing bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea
• they have had a high fever for 2 full days
• they will not drink any fluids for more than 6 hours
• they have a rash
• they are weeing less than usual, or have fewer than half the usual number of wet nappies

Age matters too. A baby under 3 months old who is not feeding well should see a doctor, and a baby under 3 months with a fever of 38°C or more should go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away. Fever is one of the most common reasons parents worry, and our article on fever in kids covers it in more detail. Above all, if you are concerned about your child’s health at any time, it is always reasonable to see a doctor.

When it is an emergency

Some signs need help straight away, not a GP appointment. Call 000 and ask for an ambulance if your child is having trouble breathing, or shows signs of a severe allergic reaction such as a change in breathing, pale skin or a swollen tongue.

Seek medical care immediately, from the nearest hospital or by calling 000, if your child:

• is very pale or difficult to wake
• has a fever with back or neck pain
• has a rash of red or purple pin-prick spots or blotches that do not turn white when you press on them, which may be a meningitis rash

If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever of 38°C or more, go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department. Our guide to GP or emergency care explains the difference for the whole family.

Visits when your child is well

Not every GP visit is about illness. Vaccinations on the National Immunisation Program schedule are given at birth, at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months and at 4 years, and our GPs give childhood immunisations at the clinic. Our article on the vaccination schedule in Victoria lists each dose. If your child has missed one, a GP can arrange a catch-up. The flu vaccine is recommended every year from 6 months of age, and at Harpley Doctors it is free for every patient.

In Victoria, the free Maternal and Child Health service also offers 10 Key Ages and Stages visits from birth to three and a half years, focused on feeding, growth, development and family wellbeing, as Better Health Channel explains. Your GP works alongside that service. If you or your Maternal and Child Health service have concerns about speech, movement or behaviour, a GP can assess your child, arrange developmental checks and refer on where needed. Our guide to the early signs of developmental delay explains what to look for at each age.

When the clinic is closed

Harpley Doctors is open Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm, weekends 9 am to 5 pm and public holidays 10 am to 3 pm. Outside those hours:

• for an emergency, call 000
• for a home doctor after hours, call 13 SICK (13 7425)
• for advice about a child from birth to school age, call the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29, 24 hours a day

Getting ready for the appointment

A little preparation helps the doctor work out what is going on. Bring your child’s Medicare card and their green book, the My Health, Learning and Development record, which Better Health Channel suggests taking to every health appointment. It also helps to note:

• when symptoms started and how they have changed
• any temperatures you have taken
• medicines you have given, with doses and times
• how much your child has been drinking, and how many wet nappies or wees they have had

Seeing a GP at Harpley Doctors

All consultations are bulk billed, including for children. Several of our doctors list children’s health among their interests, including Dr Arezoo Mirzaei, Dr Reda Aboelsaad and Dr Tina Dolatabadizadeh (paediatrics), and Dr Farzana Yasmin (child health and childhood nutrition). You can read about each of them on our team page.

You can book online through HealthEngine or call (03) 8731 1330, and walk-ins are always welcome. If your family is new to the clinic, complete the new patient registration form before you come, and bring photo ID and your Medicare card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I always wait 2 days before seeing a doctor?

No. The 2-day rule is a guide for ordinary illnesses that are not improving. If your child has any of the other warning signs, is a young baby, or you are worried at any point, see a doctor sooner. Trouble breathing is always an emergency: call 000.

Can I walk in with a sick child?

Yes. Harpley Doctors is appointment based, but walk-ins are always welcomed and accommodated.

Will I have to pay for my child’s appointment?

No. All consultations are bulk billed, including for children.

Who can I call for advice at night?

For an emergency, call 000. For advice about a baby or young child, the Maternal and Child Health Line on 13 22 29 is available 24 hours a day. For an after-hours home doctor, call 13 SICK (13 7425).