Paediatrics and Child Health

The Emergency Department at FMC has a special section for assessing children. An adjacent waiting area contains toys, a television and videos. Each year approximately 14,000 children are seen in emergency and, of these, 25% are admitted to FMC.

The 33-bed Paediatric Unit (Children’s Ward) is specially designed to meet the needs of children and their families. Children are admitted to the Paediatric Unit for problems ranging from emergency medical and surgical conditions to adolescent eating and mood disorders.

Parents are welcomed to visit as often as possible during their child’s hospital stay and encouraged to live-in. Bed and breakfast accommodation is available. The hospital school is staffed by a school teacher and a school services officer, providing educational support and activities in the classroom and by the bedside.

An extensive range of paediatric clinics are available at FMC, with some clinics provided in collaboration with visiting specialists from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. For families living south of the hospital, FMC offers clinics at Noarlunga Health Services as an outreach service.

Paediatric clinics within Flinders Medical Centre (FMC):

• General
  • Paediatric General Clinics
• Sub-specialties
  • Paediatric Cardiology Clinic
  • Paediatric Diabetic/Endocrine Clinic
  • Paediatric Dietetic Clinic
  • Paediatric Gastroenterology Clinic
  • Paediatric Genetic Clinic
  • Paediatric Immunology & Allergy Clinic
  • Paediatric Neonatology Clinic
  • Paediatric Neurology Clinic
  • Paediatric Orthopaedic Clinic
  • Paediatric Psychiatry Clinic
  • Paediatric Psychology Clinic
  • Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic
  • Paediatric Renal Clinic
  • Paediatric Speech Pathology Clinic
  • Paediatric Surgery Clinic

The Children’s Assessment Team at FMC is an inter-disciplinary team that provides specialised assessments of children with multiple or severe development problems including conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Staff in the team include:

• Clinical psychologist
• Occupational therapist
• Paediatrician
• Physiotherapist
• Speech pathologist
• Secretary
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services representative
• Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) consultant

Most children and families will not see all of these professionals. The types of assessments are coordinated according to the needs of each child and family. Sometimes, professionals from other relevant or involved agencies participate in the assessment and/or feedback session for a child and family.

Children at risk of abuse or neglect may be referred to the FMC Child Protection Service.

The Child Protection Service at FMC serves the southern, south western and south eastern metropolitan and country areas of South Australia. Currently, the Child Protection Service offers a fortnightly visiting service in the south-east of the State.

The team consists of clinical psychologists, social workers, doctors, research and administrative staff and has specialist expertise in the area of child abuse and neglect.

The Child Protection Service doctors and clinicians provide comprehensive medical and psychosocial assessments, and longer term interventions for children and families dealing with abuse and neglect. Child Protection Service doctors also provide forensic medical assessments for acute presentations of child abuse.