Frequently Asked Questions

To book an appointment:
1. You require a GP or specialist referral
2. Your GP or specialist can send the referral directly to Bella Vita Paediatrics via Healthlink, email (info@bellavitapaediatrics.com.au)
  OR
3. You can email a copy of the referral to info@bellavitapaediatrics.com.au
4. Our clinic will then contact you via email or phone to offer you an appointment
Referrals can be submitted via post, or email to info@bellavitapaediatrics.com.au
Alternatively, your GP can submit it via Healthlink.

Organising your appointment

Prior to your apppointment, you will have completed our registration form with all your important details.
If available, please bring (if not already emailed beforehand):
- reports regarding your child from other services providers (GP, medical specialists, speech therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, etc.)
- assessment results (psychology assessments, cognitive assessments, school reports, allied health assessments, etc)
- letters from relevant services (school, kinder, carers, etc.)
- Your Maternal & Child Health record (blue book or green folder)
- Any notes you have made about your child or questions you may have. It is always useful to write these items down prior to your child’s appointment.
Medicare will not provide a rebate if your child is not present at the consultation. If you know you need to speak to your paediatrician without your child present, please bring a relative or trusted friend to sit with your child in reception while you do so.
Every family is different, so we leave this up to you, or in some cases, your legal requirements. It does help your paediatrician if the main care-givers are present at the same time, it makes for easier communication and decision making.
Please notify us if parents are separated with regards to appointment notifications and correspondence.
We appreciate your time is valuable, and we always endeavour to run to time.
If we are running late it will be due to exceptional or urgent care needs and we ask for your understanding as we will always afford you the same compassionate care when needed.

Please also consider others by arriving on time for your appointment. If you need to discuss complex or multiple issues please communicate this when the appointment is being booked to allow enough time.
Telehealth appointments are available. For medicare billing purposes your child is still required to be present during the consultation.

Attending your appointment

Parking is available in front of the clinic on High street. There is an accessible parking bay located on High Street closest to Warrigal road.
903 Altona- Mordialloc Bus route stops within 100m of the clinic.
Nearest train stations are Alamein and Ashburton stations on the Alamein line or Holmesglen station on the Glen Waverley line.
Our clinic is step-free from the street and into the clinic room. Unfortunately at this time we do not have a fully accessible toilet and we apologise for this.

Getting to our clinic

Contacting your Doctor - General Enquiries, Test Results, Medication & Prescriptions

Please feel free to email the clinic at any time and we will endeavour to respond to you within 1-2 business days.
We do not provide an after hours service or urgent care so in case of an emergency call an ambulance on 000. If you have acute concerns please present to a paediatric emergency department or nearest hospital.
If you require non-urgent medical advice, please email to arrange an appointment.
Please note: Following your consultations, a report will be sent to you, your GP and/or your referring Doctor, so if you have any queries your GP may also be able to assist.
We may refer your child to have blood tests or medical imaging. In most circumstances we will plan for your child to come back to clinic for a follow-up appointment to discuss the results with you in person. This helps us provide optimal medical care and patient safety for your child, and optimal communication with you.
Sometimes we will arrange to phone you with the results when the results become available in clinic.
If you have not heard back from us when you were expecting to, or if you have concerns that your child’s symptoms are worsening, please contact our clinic and we will follow this up as quickly as possible.
If your child has been prescribed a new medication or alteration to their regular dosing, a follow up appointment will likely be arranged. It is important to attend this appointment within the recommended timeframe.
Depending on the type of medication, you may need a review appointment with your Doctor, or GP before a repeat prescription can be provided.
Please email your request to info@bellavitapaediatrics.com.au so an appointment can be arranged.
If your script is required more urgently than this please see your GP.