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Tasmanian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (TPRS)
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics including Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic, Acquired Brain Injury Clinic, Paediatric Spinal Clinic, Combined Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Clinic and Botulinum toxin injections.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital (and telehealth)
- Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic
- Botulinum Toxin Injection Clinic
- Combined Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Clinic
North West
South
Royal Hobart Hospital (and telehealth)
- Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic
- Botulinum Toxin Injection Clinic
- Combined Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Clinic
- Spinal Clinic
- Paediatric Brain Injury Clinic (PBI)
Emergency conditions
This clinic does not offer an emergency service.
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
We provide statewide specialised rehabilitation care for children and young people with a functional impairment that is associated with complex healthcare needs.
We do not provide acute or general paediatric health care, general early childhood intervention supports that are provided by other systems and services, or disability maintenance supports that are provided by the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Services
Our interdisciplinary team can provide specialised support in the following areas:
- time-limited, coordinated and goal-directed inpatient or ambulatory rehabilitation after a recently identified functional impairment that is associated with a health condition, medical or surgical intervention
- assessment, diagnosis, and early time-limited specialised intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders (such as cerebral palsy and high risk of cerebral palsy where there are clear neurological and/or motor signs)
- assessment and management of movement disorders, including Botulinum Toxin injections and insertion of Intrathecal Baclofen pumps
- surveillance for and management of predictable complications / sequelae of congenital and acquired conditions, such as joint contractures, hip subluxation, scoliosis, and neurological or neurocognitive sequelae
- assessment and management of atypical gait patterns that are impacting on functional mobility, and further referral for evaluation in interstate gait laboratory and orthopaedic surgical intervention when indicated.
Eligibility
Our service is not condition specific. We provide specialised rehabilitation care for children and young people that have a functional impairment that is associated with complex healthcare needs.
Commonly seen conditions include:
- cerebral palsy and like conditions (including high risk of cerebral palsy)
- acquired brain injury
- complex orthopaedic conditions
- other neurological conditions (e.g. acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome)
- functional neurological disorder (with associated functional movement impairment)
- spinal cord injury and disorders
- limb deficiency (congenital and acquired)
- significant deconditioning following a prolonged hospital stay or illness.
Referral process
A referral from a medical professional, such as a Paediatrician or General Practitioner, is required to access our service, and must conform to the referral standards.
We encourage input from families, carers and involved nursing and allied health professionals in the referral process.
Before completing a referral to us please check if the child or young person (and their family/carers as appropriate) is:
- presenting with a functional impairment that is associated with complex healthcare needs
- requiring specialised paediatric rehabilitation support as per the service scope (detailed above)
- consenting to this referral and indicating they are willing to participate in a rehabilitation program and/or attend clinic appointments.
If all of the above conditions are not met, consider another service option or call us on 0439 375 397 to discuss the referral. This phone is monitored by the rehabilitation team Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Please send referrals with any supporting documentation to the centralised referral triage service:
Fax: 03 6173 0469 or
Email: [email protected]
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
All new referrals will be triaged by the statewide rehabilitation team on a weekly basis. If referrals are accepted, they will be allocated a clinic appointment at the relevant location based on clinical priority.
Urgent (Category 1)
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will try to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
We will try to see these patients within 12 weeks.
Routine (Category 3)
Next available appointment.
Additional information
For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.
