Stirling resident Taleah Hunter (14) with registered nurse Lauren Haddow in the Health Check Room. Photo: Martin Kennealey
Camera IconStirling resident Taleah Hunter (14) with registered nurse Lauren Haddow in the Health Check Room. Photo: Martin Kennealey Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Stirling: Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre launches child health check centre

Laura PondStirling Times

CHILDREN living with Type 1 diabetes can access vital health checks in Stirling rather than having to visit a hospital.

The Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre is launching its child health check clinic that provides crucial monitoring tests required for people with the autoimmune condition.

The clinic will open next week thanks to $27,850 in funding from the St George Foundation.

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Centre chief executive Rebecca Johnson said Type 1 Diabetes was a complicated and unrelenting medical condition to live with.

“While families can have testing done through a hospital clinic, if they miss that appointment for any unforeseen reason, it’s important they still have easy access to get their child’s blood tested,” she said.

“We’re extremely pleased that from April we’ll be able to offer this new service at our centre.

“We’ve opted for a finger prick machine, which has comparable accuracy and is more acceptable to children than a venous draw test which can be very distressing for a child. “

Foundation executive officer Vanessa Barry said the funding would help Perth children.

“Our seed funding to establish a child’s health check clinic at the Telethon Family Centre will help to ensure children can have better access to health status checks, which is an effective step towards improving their long-term health,” she said.

The centre provides a range of services to assist children and families with Type 1 diabetes, including psychosocial and peer support, information, education, workshops and camps.

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