A good GP is worth their weight in gold.

Finding a doctor who is child friendly is one of the most important discoveries you will make and can save you wasteful journeys to the emergency department.

Staying with that doctor will make sure your child builds a good relationship with them, and help in maintaining health throughout those formative years and beyond.

What does a good GP do?

Before looking for a great GP, you need to know what to look for. This means understanding what a GP does, and how that is going to help you and your child.

A GP looks at the overall health and well-being of their patient. A specialist concentrates on a very narrow perspective, whereas the GP is concerned with the whole package.

He or she will, over time, build a picture of a child’s general health. They will instinctively know if a child’s illness is a passing cold or flu – or something more serious.

Using this in-depth knowledge of your child’s health, the GP will be able to suitably refer to specialists when, and as soon as, is needed.

Steps in finding a good GP

Parenthood is a big responsibility, and finding the best GP often becomes a major concern. But if you approach the problem in the right manner, it will cease to be a problem.

• First, start at the playground. Ask other parents about their GP experiences.
• Look on social media platforms such as Facebook, local community and parenting forums. This advice is free, and you’ll get a whole range of views.
• Speak to the practice, and find out about appointment schedules and booking procedures. Make sure they have an urgent appointments system (but only use it when it is really necessary).
• Think about what other things are important in your family GP. For example, do you share similar beliefs and health goals? Do they offer consultations in a child friendly environment? Can you speak easily with them?

Finding a good GP for you and your child isn’t as difficult as it may at first appear, but it is an important decision and takes time and a little effort to get right. When you’ve made the best choice, you’ll find a child friendly GP becomes a part of your family. And you can always rely on family.