Amelia WilliamsFinding a pediatric clinic that your kids don’t hate is like driving on Dominion Road at 5:00 PM – it’s a stress! As parents (and drivers!), we already know the struggle you’re going through, so we can’t leave you juggling options on your own.
In the past few weeks, we’ve been asking parents, dropping by clinics, and chatting with kids (because their opinions matter too). Finally, we have a list of top places that clinics that kids don’t just NOT hate – they love!
Check out these places for well-rounded child care.
How much does it cost to see a pediatrician in Auckland?
The cost to see a pediatrician in Auckland ranges from $400 to $500 for a private consultation. For eligible NZ children aged 0 to 13, the fees may be free.
1. MightyKids Rehab
Location: 211 Ormiston Road, Flat Bush
One of the most notable things about this clinic is its combined multidisciplinary assessments. The clinic specialises in physical and musculoskeletal evaluations, gait analysis, and posture assessments, making them ideal for kids with difficulties moving and walking, including for children with cerebral palsy and neurological injury.
Among their offerings, we find their physical therapy and medical management to be the strongest. The range of treatment options is solid, including oral medications, orthotics, serial casting, and therapy sessions. In addition, they have access to treatments like Botulinum toxin A (Botox) intramuscular injections. Unlike many clinics, they administer these using ultrasound guidance under light sedation. This means general anesthesia is avoided for faster recovery.
MightyKids practices an interdisciplinary approach linking in a paediatrician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and orthotist to promote holistic wellbeing. In other words, patients and their families get more than just seeing a paediatrician when involved with the service! What’s more, MightyKids Rehab has programs like hydrotherapy, group sessions, and community and educational events.
More importantly, clients acknowledge that the team at MightyKids “get it.” They help families get to know how to navigate the healthcare system and face the challenges.
Prices vary depending on the type and level of services that are required. This can be a barrier for those paying privately. Parents are advised to look into their insurance policies (and through ACC if applicable) and assess how much they might spend out of pocket for the consultation and treatment, as well as utilise funding streams such as the Wilson Home Trust grants and Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand e-voucher system.
Professional, kind, and skilled
“We have had a wonderful experience with Dr Jimmy and Corinne from Mighty Kids Rehab. They have worked wonders with our daughter and have been so good to deal with at every step. We can’t recommend them highly enough for their professionalism, kindness and skill.”
-Caroline Bowron | Google Reviews
Excellent service and care
“The service and care we had was excellent. The medical team’s bedside manner is fantastic, and the advice they gave helped us more than we expected. We could not recommend them highly enough.”
-Izak Tait | Google Reviews
2. Kidzhealth
Location: Suite 2/86 Great South Road, Epsom
Contact: +64 9 524 4333
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
The range of services offered by Kidzhealth is one of their biggest strengths. They offer almost everything: pediatric surgery, dermatology, nutrition, gastroenterology, and general medicine. This makes them a one-stop clinic for most cases.
The clinic also excels when it comes to minimally invasive surgeries. The clinic offers precise diagnosis and stress-free surgical preparation for a wide range of treatments, from hernia repairs to complex intestinal surgeries.
Their general pediatric services are solid, considering they’re able to cover many areas of concern. Their specialists have experience with developmental delays, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders, making them a strong choice for long-term conditions.
In general, parents love how comprehensive they are, particularly with follow-ups and post-consultation care. They offer practical advice, which means a lot for families who need to continue treatments and monitoring sessions at home.
If there’s an area for improvement, it may be their reception staff. We found inconsistent feedback in this case – others found them helpful, while others noted that they’re dismissive and unprofessional, which isn’t something parents like to see for their kids.
Pleasant and helpful staff
“I’ve read the reviews about the rude receptionist before phoning Kidzhealth and I must say I found the receptionist very pleasant and helpful. She was full of compassion for my situation, even though they couldn’t assist me, as it wasn’t in their speciality field.”
-Deanna Dendrionos | Google Reviews
Always amazing care
“Always amazing care from Kidzhealth. Not quite sure what people are talking about the receptionist, my girls have always found the team so lovely!”
-J Lind | Google Reviews
3. Starship Children’s Hospital
Location: 2 Park Road, Grafton
Contact: +64 9 367 0000
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Starship Children’s Hospital is unbeatable when it comes to the scale of services and track record. As the only dedicated children’s hospital in New Zealand, the place treats over 40,000 young patients per year in various cases.
The range of expertise and services is impressive, covering general pediatrics and neurosurgery. They also have specialised departments for infectious diseases and a world-class Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
In our conversations with families, we consistently heard praises for their nurses. In general, they were described as warm, friendly, and great with kids. Their surgical team, on the other hand, was often mentioned for the clear communication of updates.
We’re also pleased that the place’s infrastructure supports all family needs. There are facilities like the Ronald McDonald House for accommodations, as well as other convenient amenities like 24-hour clerical support and public transport access.
However, one consistent drawback we noted was the long wait time in the emergency department, sometimes even stretching for three hours. While they prioritise severe cases, some families felt overlooked, especially during non-peak hours.
Provides everything a child ever needs
“Best hospital ever. This hospital provides everything a child ever needs.. This hospital has the BEST doctors , surgeons, nurses etc. They help a lot and give you feed back daily about how your child is doing.. They also provide Ronald McDonald Rooms for those who are living far and for those that are staying with the patient.. Overall, this hospital is the most qualified, most trusted & the most best hospital that should be noticed by others.. Great Job everyone ❤️”
-Ricky Rasmussen | Google Reviews
Excellent phlebotomy team
“Excellent phlebotomy team with my baby. Calm team, supportive, and very loving. Best I’ve seen. Highly recommend. Special thanks to Helen the play specialist who was so loving to us and reassurance.”
-Vishalin Pillay | Google Reviews
4. KIDZ First Community Health
Location: 95 Wiri Station Road, Wiri
Contact: +6492630790
Website
KIDZ impressed us with their community-based approach to healthcare. Located on Wiri Station Road in Manukau, this standalone facility is easily accessible via bus and rail, with on-site parking available for visiting families.
We also found them to be among the most flexible and accessible clinic options for families. This is because they also provide services to homes, preschools, and outpatient clinics like Manukau SuperClinic.
We were particularly impressed with their specialisation in child development services. This supports children with developmental delays or disabilities in vision and hearing. They also have home care nurses to support continuity of care.
As for emotional support, we find the team supportive and responsive to queries. Many parents also pointed out that they’re compassionate and professional, interactive with goods with good energy and consistent communication.
The only drawback is that they have limited accessibility online, which makes it difficult for more families to access their services. Any improvements in this case can make things easier for more patients.
Good organisation care
“An good organisation caring the Southern District Kids’ health.
The premise is well stand alone with same of car parks plus convenient transportation in terms of bus and railway that can access to many surrounding location.”
-Victor Lo | Google Reviews
Great team to deal with!
“Great team to deal with!”
-Karen Smith | Google Reviews
5. TinyGiants Paediatric Specialists
Address: Unit 2, 188 St Heliers Bay Rd, St Heliers
Phone: 09 242 3777
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What stood out to us the most about TinyGiants was how experienced the team is. Many of them have trained or practiced in hospitals both across New Zealand and internationally.
Dr Stein, in particular, made a strong impression. Her expertise in hormonal issues is backed by overseas training through the ESPE (European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology) DOME School and Semmelweis Medical School in Budapest.
She has also worked at Cambridge Specialist Centre and Wairau Hospital in Blenheim. With that kind of background, we felt confident in her ability to handle a wide range of endocrinology problems.
We also appreciate the clinic’s comprehensive services. Alongside endocrinology, they have a gastroenterologist, a dietician, and a specialist in pediatric immunology and allergy.
Development and behavioural concerns are also well-supported through their child psychologist, feeding specialist, and speech and language therapist.
What really won us over, though, was how approachable everyone is. The doctors are friendly and calm, which many parents said helped their kids feel comfortable. Even the receptionist gets praise for being warm and welcoming.
We also like that the clinic accepts self-referrals, though they still prioritize GP referrals.
Great clinic for kids
“Great clinic for kids.very friendly reception and proffesional staff.”
-Nick Brenner, Google Review
Impeccable service
“Impeccable service, the lady on the front desk. Incredible”
–Matias Fitzwater, Google Review
