Canberra's nurse-led Walk-in Centres can now treat children aged one year and older for minor injuries and illnesses.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said this change provides more options for families with young children to seek local, free treatment for minor ailments, while continuing to divert young children away from our emergency departments where appropriate.
"Since first opening in 2013, our nurse-led Walk-in Centres have successfully complemented existing health care services across the community and remain very popular, with recent presentations close to 7,000 patients per month in the first six months of this year," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"Until now, Walk-in Centres have only been able to treat children from two years old. I'm really pleased that we've now been able to expand this service to include children from one year of age.
"Staff at Walk-in Centres can treat many common childhood conditions and injuries, like simple cuts that need a few sutures or dressing changes, ear infections, gastro and minor bumps and wound infections, with no appointment necessary."
The decision to treat children from one year of age at the Walk-in Centres has been informed by feedback from patients and staff, as well as emergency department presentation data.
Eighteen months of research and interviews found that there was little difference between minor common conditions and the course of treatment for two-year-olds at Walk-in Centres and one-year-olds at emergency departments.
"We know from the research that the treatment protocols and common minor conditions treated across both ages and both settings are very similar.
"While we have a wealth of paediatric knowledge in our Walk-in Centres already, our Advanced Practitioner Nurses have undertaken additional training to support this change.
"Thank you to our amazing Walk-in Centre teams for their great work and the excellent health care they continue to provide to our community," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
Children with serious or complex care needs, or whose symptoms do not improve should continue to seek medical care from a GP or attend an emergency department. Walk-in Centres will also redirect patients to GPs or emergency departments where appropriate.
Nurse-led Walk in Centres are open seven days a week, including public holidays. For current opening hours and waiting times, visit the Canberra Health services website.
