Children's Specialist Centre is a child and adolescent health clinic at 9 Caledonian Road in St Albans, Christchurch. It was set up in 2007 by four doctors to diagnose and treat health problems in children from babyhood to adolescence, with specialists from several areas. The centre says it aims to be child, parent and family-friendly. GP referrals are triaged by the centre's team before an appointment is arranged. We hear the current wait is about three months because of high demand, though the wait does not apply to paediatric surgeons or dietitians. Triage can take up to two weeks, because the clinicians work here part-time while also practising elsewhere. A repeat prescription from the centre's specialist costs $25.00 as at 2026. The centre has a zero-tolerance policy for threatening or aggressive behaviour towards staff.
Parents' views are mixed. Some praise the reception staff and say the centre has been helpful over several years, with one describing a receptionist who made a toddler laugh. A parent who saw a paediatrician for a diagnosis says the doctor was thorough. Another, who paid privately and waited for an education assessment, says communication from the clinic was poor. Femina Health and MeNZ Medical are both within 0.1 km. For a family who wants a specialist diagnosis for a child in the St Albans area, the wait and the costs are the main points to weigh.