Updated information is available here.
A child and adolescent mental health psychiatry liaison service is now available through the Royal Children’s Hospital.
This service will provide secondary consultations to GPs in the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network region on the management of mental health problems in children and adolescents.
Secondary consult service
The service will be provided by child consultation psychiatrist, Dr Prakash Chidambaram. The service is accessed by calling Mental Health Intake on 1800 44 55 11. Dr Prakash is available on Fridays (9am to 5pm).
GPs may request a secondary consultation for a patient aged 5–17 years of age with either established or suspected mental health disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD, ADHD and ID. The secondary consultant service will provide advice regarding a range of topics including diagnostic, assessment, risks, management and referral options.
Please note the service is not appropriate for cases where there is an immediate risk or need for face-to-face assessment.
Who can access this service?
GPs, paediatricians and mental health clinicians in private clinics who wish to consult with a consultant psychiatrist to obtain advice and recommendations for assessment and treatment of acute mental health conditions in their patients/consumers. This also includes phone consults (secondary consultations) and/or with prior planning, telehealth joint reviews of consumers (primary consultations)
How can they access this service?
By emailing mhs.intake@rch.org.au or calling 1800 44 55 11 during business hours (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) to speak with an intake clinician and leave a message. The call or message will be returned by a psychiatrist.
When can they expect a response from the psychiatrist?
Between 9am to 5pm on Fridays.
Referral details are available in the Urgent or Routine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Referral page on Health Pathways Melbourne.
Disclaimer: This article was provided by The Royal Children’s Hospital. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
