Parenting helped make me a children’s specialist GP

In our previous blog posts, we have introduced you to Dr Jo McCrone, who is leading our new children’s clinic in Edinburgh.

To celebrate Parents’ Week 2014, which runs from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October, Dr McCrone explains how having two children of her own developed her interest in further studying children’s medicine.

She says: “Having two children has made me far more aware and empathetic of how anxious parents and carers of sick children can be.

“It also made me realise how important it is for me to make parents feel at ease.

“I have personal experience of dealing with young babies, breastfeeding, and feeding issues.

“These issues aren’t necessarily illnesses, but all impact a child’s development.”

Children require a different approach from adults

As Dr McCrone said in a previous blog post, when you are caring for a sick child, it’s important not to ignore the parents.

Working with children, as well as being a parent, Dr McCrone realises the different approach needed to work successfully with children.

She explains: “What you have got to remember is that children aren’t simply small adults.

“They are completely different. Their personalities, anatomies and their emotional state are all different.

It’s essential to build a good rapport with children

“The entire situation has to be made as relaxing and comfortable as possible for them, which is often more challenging than for adults.

“To achieve a good result it is essential to build a really good rapport with children. Otherwise, you simply don’t get anywhere.”

If you want you and your child to be listened to, we offer longer consultation times of 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 1 hour. Call us on 0131 225 5656, email reception@your.gp or use our booking form to make an appointment.

And if you have any questions for Dr McCrone, leave a comment below, or get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.