Paediatricians - what do they do?

In Australia, paediatricians are doctors who have had special training. They can diagnose, treat, and give medical care to babies, children and teenagers.

Paediatricians treat a wide range of childhood illnesses. They also treat injuries and health conditions.

A paediatrician might treat your baby if they are very sick. You can also take your child to a paediatrician to check their physical, mental and behavioural development.

If your child needs surgery, this will be done by a paediatric surgeon.

What training does a paediatrician have?

To be a paediatrician, you must do at least 7 years of extra training after becoming a doctor.

There are general paediatricians who look after a range of health issues. Some paediatricians choose to specialise, in areas such as:

• the fetus and unborn, premature and newborn babies
• your baby's development and behaviour
• heart conditions in infants, children and teenagers
• emergency medicine for infants, children and teenagers

Your doctor (GP) can manage most common childhood illnesses. Your doctor may refer you to a paediatrician for specialist care of more complex health conditions.

Paediatricians see and treat babies, children and teenagers with many conditions, such as:

• disabilities, such as cerebral palsy
• genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome.
• slow weight gain (failure to thrive)
• developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• bladder and bowel problems, such as constipation, bed wetting and coeliac disease

Your child may also see a paediatrician for other health issues, such as:

• chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma and allergies
• infectious diseases, such as meningitis
• cancer

Your paediatrician will ask about your child's symptoms, growth and development. They will ask to examine your child.

They may also ask about:

• your child's medical history
• family history
• any medicines they take

A paediatrician might examine and treat your baby as soon as they are born. They can check premature babies and provide newborn care.

Where do paediatricians work?

Paediatricians can work in a treatment centre or a clinic. Some work in a community health centre. Many paediatricians work in public and private children's hospitals.

They treat babies in:

• maternity units
• special care baby units
• neonatal intensive care units
• the hospital emergency department

They often work as part of a healthcare team. These teams may also include other doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals.

Ask your doctor to refer you to a suitable paediatrician. You may get a referral for your child to see a general paediatrician.

They might also suggest a paediatrician who has done extra training in a particular area such as gastroenterology (conditions that affect the gut).

Sometimes your child's health issue is not urgent. In this case, you may have a long wait before you can get an appointment with a paediatrician.

You can choose your own paediatrician. Discuss this with your doctor.

You will need a referral from your doctor or another doctor to see a paediatrician.

The referral letter lets your doctor pass on useful information about your child to the specialist. The referral letter may cover your child's:

• medical history
• relevant test results
• medicines
• other assessments and care plans

Fees for specialist doctors vary a lot, depending on:

• the type of care given to your child
• if it is in a hospital or not
• if you have private health insurance
• what fee the paediatrician chooses to charge

You can see a specialist at a public hospital clinic. This covered by Medicare, so you don't need to pay anything.

If you plan to use private health insurance, contact your health fund to find out what costs they will cover.

You can find out the costs before you go for your first appointment. You can also ask what costs are covered by Medicare.

If the costs are too high, you can:

• consider seeing a different specialist
• talk to your doctor (GP) about other options
• read this Commonwealth fact sheet on doctor's bills

Talk to your doctor or child health nurse if you have questions about paediatricians.