Children’s Health Queensland is committed to working in partnership with the general practice community, to ensure the safest, most effective and efficient integrated care for children, young people and their families.

HealthPathways COVID-19 response

GPs can access up-to-date information about assessing, managing and caring for patients with COVID-19, specific to their local area via the HealthPathways Community site. Clinicians practicing in the Gold Coast or other areas without HealthPathways can access management advice here.

Transmission of COVID-19 by children

The Children’s Health Queensland Infection Management and Prevention Service has produced a position statement on the risk of COVID-19 and transmission by children.

Service changes at Children’s Health Queensland

For the latest information on COVID-19-related service impacts and changes at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and across Children’s Health Queensland’s statewide services, visit the dedicated COVID-19 page.

Changes to patient referrals to Children’s Health Queensland

All new referrals, including the Queensland Children’s Hospital, and Child and Youth Community Health Service referrals, will be clinically reviewed and prioritised during the pandemic response. General practitioners and families will be advised if primary care management is clinically recommended at this time, all other cases will be triaged and waitlisted. If GPs are not satisfied with the triage result, they should provide another referral with additional information. Families are advised to see their GP if their child’s condition deteriorates.

Providing ‘up close’ examinations safely

Appropriate PPE should be worn when conducting a physical examination of a patient’s mouth or throat (by close inspection or other instrument such as nasendoscope). The examination should only be performed if absolutely required to inform clinical management.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has released a practical guideline for general practitioners performing eye examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of nebulisers for children

General practice guidelines for the use of nebulisers for children during the COVID-19 response should be followed where available. Clinical advice should be provided in context with the service and the patient’s needs. Unnecessary use of nebulisers should be avoided for children with asthma and croup, however, they should not be withheld if clinically required. To learn more, download the use of nebulisers for children during a COVID-19 outbreak simulation package, designed by Children’s Health Queensland’s Simulation Training Optimising Resuscitation for Kids (STORK) team.

Transmission of respiratory viruses

Respiratory viruses are predominantly spread by droplet, and sometimes local aerosol. Secondarily, respiratory viruses spread may be spready by contact and fomite mediated transmission. Read the Children’s Health Queensland’s infectious diseases position statement on respiratory virus transmission for more information.

• COVID-19 and children
• RACGP COVID‑19 information for GPs
• ACRRM COVID-19 support
• CDNA National guidelines for public health units
• Department of Health COVID-19 resources
• HealthPathways (COVID-19)
  • HealthPathways Community
  • Gold Coast and other areas without HealthPathways
• NDIS COVID-19 information and support
• Refugee Health Network Queensland COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Information
• Ethnolink COVID-19 translated resource library
• Queensland Health resources and information for clinicians
• Don’t Forget the Bubbles, a rapid review of literature on COVID-19 epidemiology, transmission and clinical features in paediatrics
• NACCHO COVID-19 primary healthcare guidance to support healthcare teams in prevention and management of COVID-19 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Australian Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities
• Australian Department of Health resource for supporting people with an intellectual or developmental disability during the COVID-19 pandemic