Request an Allergy Action Plan
In Australia, schools and childcare providers often require an ASCIA action plan for the children under their care who have mild to moderate allergies, so that symptoms of allergy can be recognised and treated appropriately.
Qoctor doctors can provide telehealth assessment for ASCIA allergy action plans for children aged 3 and over. Same day appointments are usually available. If approved by the doctor, the allergy action plan will be available to download after a brief video consultation. The service costs $31.99. Please note, if your child has an adrenaline autoinjector (e.g. Epipen) and needs an Anaphylaxis action plan, you are on the wrong page- click HERE instead for an anaphylaxis action plan.
How does it work?
- Before the video consultation, you will be asked to complete a brief online questionnaire, so we can get the details of your child’s history of allergies.
- During the video consultation, you will speak to an experienced Australian doctor who will go through some questions with you.
- Following the consultation, if it has been approved by the doctor, you can download the allergy action plan immediately/ print it at your convenience.
Advantages of requesting an allergy action plan with Qoctor:
- Our well-established online doctor service has been providing telehealth since 2015.
- It is just $31.99 for an appointment.
- We’re open 7 days a week, and a same day appointment is usually possible.
- Avoid the busy waiting rooms and long delays in local GP surgeries.
Our aim is to remove the hassle from healthcare, and offer a safe, affordable and efficient online doctor service.
FAQs – requesting an allergy action plan online
If you need to request an asthma action plan, an allergy action plan or an anaphylaxis action plan from Qoctor, you’ll usually be able to book your video appointment and, if approved by the doctor, get your document downloaded- all within a few hours. Occasionally, if you happen to be booking late in the day, you may need to wait till the following morning for the next available consultation.
Once your consultation is complete and the doctor has approved the action plan, the document can be downloaded immediately, so you’ll be able to provide it to your child’s school or childcare provider as soon as possible.
Qoctor can provide consultations for asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis action plans to children aged 3 years and above, subject to the online assessment with the doctor.
Please note, if your child has poorly managed symptoms and/or is having a lot of episodes of their asthma/allergy/anaphylaxis, it is likely that you will be advised to see a doctor in person instead, in which case a refund can be offered.
- For insect allergy – flick out sting if visible
- For tick allergy seek medical help or freeze tick and let it drop off
- Stay with person and call for help
- Give antihistamine (if prescribed)
- Phone family/emergency contact
SIGNS OF MILD TO MODERATE ALLERGIC REACTION include:
• Swelling of lips, face, eyes •Tingling mouth
• Hives or welts • Abdominal pain, vomiting.
Note that abdominal pain and vomiting can be signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy.
Common symptoms of mild to moderate allergies include:
- Swelling of the lips, face, eyes
- Tingling mouth
- Hives or welts on the skin
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
However, abdominal pain and vomiting are deemed a sign of anaphylaxis if related to an insect sting/bite.
More severe allergy symptoms associated with anaphylaxis include:
- Difficult or noisy breathing
- Swelling of the tongue
- Swelling or tightness in the throat
- Wheeze or persistent cough
- Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
- Persistent dizziness or collapse
- Pale and floppy (young children)
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) was established in 1990 as the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand. ASCIA action plans are standardised documents that allow parents, carers and teachers to take the correct steps to recognise and treat allergies and anaphylaxis affecting children under their care.
Allergic diseases are amongst the fastest growing chronic disease and public health issues in Australia, affecting around 20% of the population. They include food, insect and drug allergies, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and eczema. The most severe type of allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis, which is potentially life threatening.
The cost of a telehealth appointment to discuss an ASCIA allergy or anaphylaxis action plan (including the video consultation with the doctor) is $31.99.
If a patient wishes to also get a prescription for a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) at the same time as the action plan, the total cost is $36.99.
It is a fully private service. Unfortunately Qoctor is unable to offer bulk-billing for telehealth consultations, as Medicare rules dictate that the doctor must have seen the patient face to face within the previous 12 months for a rebate to be applied for most telehealth services. This is obviously not possible for a fully online telehealth provider such as Qoctor. However, we strive to keep our service accessible and affordable for all.
ASCIA Action Plans do not expire- the plan is actually still valid beyond the “review date”, which is just a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reviewed by their doctor and/or each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector (Epipen) prescription, which is generally every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in a person’s condition or treatment, the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be changed. However, if the patient is a child, the photo should be updated regularly, so they can be easily identified.
For more information on anaphylaxis and action plans, check out the ASCIA website.
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