Tasmanian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (TPRS)

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.

ConditionsConditions

There is no condition information for this clinic

TPRS clinics: Paediatric Rehabilitation Clinic, Acquired Brain Injury Clinic, Paediatric Spinal Clinic, Combined Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Clinic and Botulinum toxin injections

Availability

North South North West Statewide

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.

Emergency conditions

This Clinic does not offer an emergency service.

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 outlined on For Clinicians.

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 – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.

Please send referrals with any supporting documentation to the centralised referral triage service:

Fax: (03) 6173 0469 or

Email: rehab.service@ths.tas.gov.au

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.

Emergency

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

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 endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent / category 2

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine / category 3

Next available appointment

Referral template

For use by health professionals only

Additional information

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.