Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - No category 1 criteria
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Child Development Services · Refer Your Patient
Toe Walking (Child Development Service)
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Toe Walking (Child Development Service).
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Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - For children under 3 years of age, the child has a persistent pattern of toe walking (50-100% of the time) that has been present for greater than 6 months after the commencement of independent walking - Asymmetrical toe walking or any neurological concerns - Children older than 3 years of age, where there is a functional deterioration affecting safety and development of motor skills (e.g., frequent falling) - Children with difficulty standing on flat feet
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. Recommended to be seen within 90 - 180 calendar days - Children older than 3 years of age (up to the commencement of school) with: - Persistent pattern of toe walking (50-100% of the time) - Passive ankle dorsiflexion (0o or less) that is affecting function (e.g., multiple falls, difficulties with squatting) and motor skill development. The child may be unable to walk on their heels, or actively dorsiflex ankle beyond neutral Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days - For children referred over 3 years of age with full range of motion who have a persistent pattern of toe walking (50-100% of the time) who have motor skill delay or multiple falls
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- Family history of toe walking - Age of onset / duration of persistent toe walking - Percentage of time in toe walking - Muscle range of motion limitation - Any previous management for persistent toe walking, and if family were able to follow on with suggested ongoing treatment - Any previous medical investigations (e.g., Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) - Balance / history of falls (e.g., multiple times a day) - Presence of pain - Spine examination abnormalities - Presence of leg length discrepancy
Out of scope / wrong door
The following conditions are out of scope for this service: - Children who require developmental monitoring/surveillance (in the absence of developmental delay) should be referred to GP or Child Health Nurse. - Educational assessment of school age children - Services that should be initially provided by primary care or community based allied health care for children, including well infant care and advice, parenting and behaviour management for young children, developmental services for children with mild developmental delay - Health screening assessments including on entry to foster care - Acute paediatric concerns - Developmental Allied Health intervention services will not be provided for Children who are eligible for Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) / National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) For children who are non-Australian citizens but still meet clinical criteria for an underlying disability as defined by ECEI/NDIS, CDS Gold Coast is unable to provide long term allied health intervention services. - Allied health developmental intervention services are not provided for children who are school-age (prep to year 12)
Parent service: Child Development Services
Send outpatient referrals to
- Smart Referrals preferred (Best Practice or Medical Director)
- Medical Objects GQ42150009Z (lookup qh → QHEALTH, GOLD COAST HEALTH OUTPATIENT)
- HealthLink EDI Qldgchsd
- Fax (07) 5687 4497 — Booking and Referral Centre
- Post: Booking and Referral Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport QLD 4215
- Clinic enquiries 1300 559 083
HealthPathways
Sign in for localised assessment and management. HealthPathways does not send the referral. Register: gchealthpathways@health.qld.gov.au