Paediatrics & Child Health GP
Child Health and Paediatric GP Services in Sutherland Shire
Shire Doctors and Dentists provides GP care for children and adolescents from our Caringbah practice, located at 6/416 Kingsway, Caringbah NSW 2229, next to Sutherland Hospital.
Our GPs provide assessment, preventive care and ongoing management for a range of childhood and adolescent health concerns. The appropriate care will depend on your child’s age, symptoms, medical history and clinical needs.
At Shire Doctors and Dentists, we understand that as a parent your child’s health is a priority for you, and there can be a range of different issues that can impact a child’s overall health and wellbeing. Our GPs provide care for babies, children and adolescents, including assessment of health, growth and development. They can discuss routine preventive care as well as concerns about physical, developmental, behavioural or emotional health.
Our GPs provide child health assessments and can discuss your child’s individual health needs with you. Where a concern requires specialist assessment or care outside the practice’s scope, your GP can discuss appropriate referral options.
Our GPs can assess a range of childhood and adolescent health concerns, including immunisation needs, common childhood illnesses, developmental concerns and mental health concerns.
Child and Adolescent Health Concerns We Assess
- Childhood Immunisations
- Baby/Infant Check-Ups and Development Assessments
- Neonatal Care
- Heart Murmurs Assessment
- Breast Feeding Management
- Sleep and Settling Strategies
- “Fussy” Babies
- Common Children Illnesses
- Serious Viral Eruptions
- Rashes and Other Skin Conditions
- Respiratory Illnesses (such as Asthma)
- Middle Ear Infections and Grommets
- Tonsillitis & Ear, Nose, Throat Review
- Allergies
- Anaphylaxis Management
- Eczema
- Bed Wetting
- Learning Difficulties (such as Speech Delay)
- Gait (Walking) Abnormalities
- Behavioural Issues
- Developmental Problems
- Adolescent Mental Health
- Paediatric Surgical Problems
Development Check-Ups
Children develop at different rates, although there are developmental milestones that can provide a general guide across different stages of childhood. A GP can discuss your child’s development and assess any concerns about communication, movement, learning, behaviour or social development.
Our GPs provide ongoing child health care from infancy through adolescence, including routine developmental assessments and assessment of health concerns as they arise. They can also provide ongoing management of appropriate chronic health conditions and discuss referral where a child requires additional specialist assessment or care.
A GP may assess areas of development such as:
- Communication Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
- Gross Motor Skills
- Social and Emotional Skills
If you have concerns about your child’s development, discuss them with your GP. An assessment can help determine whether further monitoring, investigation, early support or referral may be appropriate.
Childhood Immunisations
Childhood immunisation helps protect children against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases. Our practice provides vaccination services according to the vaccines available and current Australian immunisation recommendations.
Vaccine recommendations can vary according to a child’s age, medical history, previous vaccinations and other circumstances. Your GP can review your child’s immunisation history and discuss which vaccinations may be appropriate.
For the current National Immunisation Program Schedule, refer to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The National Immunisation Schedule normally involves the following vaccinations:
| Birth | Hepatitis B |
| 2-Months | Hep B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Polio, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Diseases |
| 4-Months | Hep B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Pneumococcal Disease, Rotavirus |
| 6-Months | All of the above, but with influenza, as well as conditions that persons from the Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Community are at high risk of developing. |
| 12-Months | MMR, Meningitis ACWY, Pneumococcal Disease, And Hepatitis A (for some children). |
| 18-Months | MMR, Haemophilus Influenza B, Chicken Pox, Diphtheria, and Hepatitis A (for some children). |
| 4 Years Old | Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio, and Pneumococcal diseases in some cases. |
| 10 To 15-Years-Old | HPV and Diphtheria. |
If you have questions about vaccination, discuss them with your GP or your child’s paediatrician.
Respiratory Health
Asthma is an important respiratory health concern among Australian children. AIHW reports that asthma was the leading cause of disease burden among children aged 1-9 years in 2024. In 2022, asthma was estimated to affect 10% of boys and 6.3% of girls aged 0-14.
Our GPs can assess childhood respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties and discuss appropriate management or referral.
Our GPs can assess children with respiratory symptoms and selected respiratory conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Lower and Upper Respiratory Infections
- Coughing or Wheezing
- Bronchiolitis
- Pneumonia
- Croup
- Shortness of Breath
The appropriate management depends on the child’s age, symptoms and clinical findings. Some breathing problems require urgent or emergency assessment.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Changes in mood, behaviour, sleep, school participation, relationships or usual activities can sometimes indicate that a child or adolescent may need additional support. These changes can have many possible causes and do not necessarily indicate a mental health condition.
If you have concerns about your child’s emotional or mental wellbeing, a GP can discuss the concerns with you, assess the situation and help determine whether further support or referral may be appropriate.
If there is an immediate risk of harm or a mental health emergency, seek urgent assistance rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Child Health GP Services in the Sutherland Shire
When you book a child health appointment at Shire Doctors and Dentists, your GP can assess your child’s symptoms, health history and development and discuss appropriate management or follow-up.
If you have concerns about your child’s health, development, behaviour or wellbeing, our GPs can assess your child and discuss appropriate next steps.
Contact Shire Doctors and Dentists on 02 9063 8650 or book an appointment online.
For symptoms that are severe, rapidly worsening or potentially life-threatening, seek urgent medical attention or call Triple Zero (000).
