Royal Children’s Hospital has developed Kids Health Information for Parents: it’s an on-line resource, developed by clinicians at RCH for everyone seeking information about childhood ailments.  St Kilda coach Grant Thomas recently joined staff at the hospital to launch the web-site: as the father of eight he has experienced the worry of having a sick child and wondering what to do!

Medical and allied health professionals at RCH believe it’s important to ensure patients, parents and carers can access information about a relevant diagnosis or procedure that is easy to understand, easy to source, and helps them make decisions about treatment. 

Kids Health Information for Parents is presented in print friendly fact sheets and will also be a support tool for GPs, Maternal & Child Health Nurses, school nurses and others involved in caring for a child.

At RCH parents are encouraged to be active participants in the care of their children, to be fully informed about their child’s illness and the treatment they are receiving and to ask questions if they don’t understand.  While a doctor is explaining what’s wrong with a sick child, and what treatment will be given, parents are often distracted because of worry and concern about their child.  They can forget what’s been explained as soon as they leave the clinic.  The fact sheets can be printed by the treating physician and taken away for reference later on.  Some sheets have space for a clinician to write instructions specific to the child’s care.

The fact sheets can be beneficial for schools, where a child is ill or recovering from a particular ailment – staff can access the information so they are informed about the child’s illness. 

Grant Thomas thinks this on-line site will be a great resource for parents.  “As the father of eight children, my wife and I experienced the usual childhood ailments with our children,” he said. “I encourage parents to check out this site: being informed about an illness can reduce a lot of unnecessary anxiety.” 

Media enquiries contact Julie Webber 0407 327 418 or 9345 5522 and page