Short Notice Pediatrician Appointments

o no. big hug to you.

maybe you should consider another GP.

i have always (well the 2 times that i deeded him) got an appointment on the same day with my pead. i think they do keep slots open for "walk-ins"

i'm with dr Mavrodaris at the Wilgers Pta

Hi,

I can understand your frustration! Nothing worse than a sick child and a worried mom!

I'm with Dr Verster at Wilgeheuwel in Jhb, I've had to call on my him twice in an "emergency" situation, the first time my daughter was only 5 weeks old and I was told to come in immediately and he saw me immediately (it was only a bad bum rash in the end, but being a new mommy I freaked out!). The second time my daughter was over a year, and again I was told to come into his rooms straight away. The receptionist told me that I may have to wait a bit until he can push me in between patients, but I was just so thankful that I didn't mind sitting there for 1.5hours.

His diary is really booked solid for routine appointments, but I can appreciate why that is the case. Our second baby is well on the way now, and I definitely want to use the same paed, no question about it.

I will add that I think their diary is far more flexible for really young babies, in the same way that a gynae will be able to schedule an appointment for an expecting mom at short notice, while a patient coming for a routine checkup probably can't get an appointment for 3 months!

Hi there,

We're with Dr. Lewis at Unitas (and Wilgers) in Pretoria and we had never had to wait even until the next day for an appointment. They always have appointments available for urgent cases (even if you have to go to the other practice).

I very rarely take my LG to the GP, whenever she's ill enough, 9 times out of 10 I'll take her to the Paed. Your Paed definitely has to have appointments for urgent cases, and if not, maybe it is time to look for a "back-up" Paed?

Hi Tazz

I changed to a different pead because of this. My old pead was fully booked for a month! It was a difficult move because I loved him, and had a bad experience with a pead who I just randomly picked.

The pead I go to now, if I phone early enough I can usually get an appointment for that same morning.

Even though they are fully booked you can usually leave a message for the doctor, and they should come back to you. Have you tried that?

Hi Tazz,

I'm sure it can be fustrating, I however have never encountered that problem with my children's paed, and I now feel bad for venting at my husband everytime I can't get a same day appointment. The longer I have had to wait is two days. Not sure where you live but if you're around olivedale in Johannesburg, try Dr Geetesh Vala

Sorry to hear about baby Tazz, what is the symptoms, exactly.

This often the case with Paed's however I discovered trick, although Paed's push for appointments, their schedule daily often accommodates walk in parents.

Often I would just go in the morning to the paed rooms and explain to reception, baby is very ill can't they squeeze us in the same day, so far they have done it always, in between other appointments, etc

Hope you can try it.

Hi Moomie Community,

My son is 21months now and there have been two occasions where he was really sick and I was not happy with what the GP prescribed/diagnosed. Both times he was really ill, he was at the GP three times in a space of 8days.

On both occassions, I was trying to get an appointment at his regular pediatrician and at other pediatrician's which came recommended. No pediatrician is ever available on short notice.

Has anyone ever experienced this? I sometimes feel the nature of his illness requires a specialist to have a look at him as I feel that GP's sometimes rush their appointments or they are very quick to diagnose and prescribe meds. Are pediatricians ever available for the 'regular' illnesses which children get? I cannot wait over a week for an appointment everytime I would like a second opinion as by the time we manage to get an appointment he is better?

I would like to know if I am overreacting when he does get sick as sometimes 3 rounds of antibiotics and three trips to the Dr in a space of 8 days, where everytime the diagnoses is different is a reason to be concerned?