Question 1

Does my child need a referral to see one of the pediatricians?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A referral letter from a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or midwife is required to see any consultant pediatrician in British Columbia. We require our referral form to be completed.

Question 2

Will I be notified that the referral was received or accepted?

Accepted Answer

No. Please follow up with the referring healthcare provider regarding the status of the referral. Our office responds to referral requests in a timely manner (within 2-4 weeks) as outlined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. We communicate all updates regarding referral requests to the provider directly and the provider has the ability to communicate updates to families.

Question 3

How long will I wait for an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Wait time varies depending on the reason for the appointment and is only an estimate. All referrals are reviewed and triaged by our pediatricians and booked based on urgency and availability. If your concern has changed since the time of the referral, speak with your referring healthcare provider to ask them to update the referral. We kindly ask you not to email our office for updates.

Question 4

Do we now see the pediatrician for all issues?

Accepted Answer

No. The pediatrician is a specialist who only follows the child for the specific query that they have been referred for. It is common to have a one time assessment with a pediatrician or see them only a few times for follow up prior to being discharged back to the referring healthcare provider or primary care provider.

The child should continue to see a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) or urgent primary care centre as needed.

Question 5

My child has been discharged/inactive, but I want to schedule a follow-up appointment with the pediatrician. What is the process?

Accepted Answer

If your child has been discharged or it has been greater than 6 months since the last attended appointment, a re-referral letter from a primary care provider is required. It will be reviewed and triaged accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need a referral to see one of the pediatricians?

Will I be notified that the referral was received or accepted?

How long will I wait for an appointment?

Do we now see the pediatrician for all issues?

My child has been discharged/inactive, but I want to schedule a follow-up appointment with the pediatrician. What is the process?

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