Family health centres aim to offer inclusive and supportive healthcare for the whole family and often offer a wider range of services that can be facilitated by small medical practices. Children's health services form a key part of the services provided, but parents aren't always aware of the wide range of child health services that are on offer. Read on to learn about some of the ways a family health centre can support your child's health.
Growth And Development
As you'll be aware, children grow and develop rapidly, and it can be difficult to know whether their growth and developmental stage are correct for their age. Children will be offered growth and development checks at a nurse-led child health clinic at key stages in their development. However, if you have any concerns about your child's growth and development, you can arrange a child health assessment with your family health centre at any time. During the appointment, your child's weight and height will be checked, and you'll be asked a range of questions to assess their developmental stage. Depending on the age of your child, they may be given some exercises to complete during the appointment to assess a range of skills, such as fine motor, problem-solving and critical thinking.
Mental Health Support
Children are increasingly experiencing episodes of poor mental health, which can occur for a variety of reasons, such as academic pressure or significant changes to their home life. Family health centres offer access to mental health support for all patients, regardless of age. Some centres have in-house counsellors and child psychologists, and if required, a tertiary referral can be made for your child to access the correct type of emotional support for their situation.
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is on the rise across Australia. There are many factors that can contribute to childhood obesity including spending less time being active outdoors and eating more convenience foods. There are a number of ways your family health centre can support your child to overcome obesity and get back to a healthy weight. You can schedule a lifestyle and wellbeing consultation with your GP or book an appointment with the in-house dietician. Your child will receive information and support at a level that's appropriate for their age, and parents can also be offered support and guidance in relation to cooking healthy meals and getting kids to be active.
If you'd like more information on whether a specific service is offered by your local family health centre and how to access it, get in touch with them.
