Paediatrician | Children Doctor

Paediatric Care

If you are struggling to find the best children’s doctor, at Dr Helen Medical we are experts with children and young people, with most of us being both parents and healthcare professionals!

We offer a compassionate, calm and reassuring clinic space for children and young people and our healthcare professionals are adept at putting your child at ease.

If you have a concern regarding children’s health, would like a paediatric checkup,  children’s vaccinations or an appointment with a paediatrician, then please do get in touch to book an appointment. 

paediatrician children doctor
paediatrician dr helen medical dr vasiliki bolodima

Dr Vasiliki Balodima

Consultant Paediatrician With Interest in Allergies

Dr Vas Balodima is a highly experienced and compassionate Consultant Paediatrician, with a specialist focus on children’s allergies. She is currently working as a Locum Paediatric Consultant at Whittington NHS Trust in London, where she continues to provide expert care to children and their families.

Dr Balodima began her medical journey in Greece, where she completed her medical degree before relocating to the UK to pursue her Paediatric training. Her extensive training took place across leading healthcare institutions in London, Wales, and Wessex, equipping her with a broad and deep understanding of paediatric medicine. In 2015, she was awarded Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH), a recognition of her dedication and clinical expertise…

Services Prices

 If you prefer to see a Paediatrician virtually, please mention this at booking.

GP Appointment

£200

Appointment Fee

HPV Vaccination

£170

Per Dose (2 doses required)

Meningitis ACWY Vaccination

£75

One Vaccination Provided

Meningitis B Vaccination

£75

Per Dose (2 doses required)

Chickenpox Vaccination

£75

Per Dose (2 doses required)

45 Min Paediatric Assessment

£250

60 Minute Allergy Assessment

£300

30 Minute GP Appointment

£139

paediatrician children doctor

Paediatrician Services available include, but are not limited to

  • Vaccinations (including for Varicella i.e Chicken Pox, Influenza i.e. flu or other vaccinations not included on the NHS programme) 
  • A paediatric wellness check 
  • Appointments with a range of specialists such as ENT 
  • Paediatric blood tests

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our paediatric allergy services, appointments, or treatments? Here are some common questions to help you get the information you need.

We assess and manage a wide range of health concerns in babies, children, and teenagers. These include feeding or weight concerns, reflux, constipation, skin rashes, respiratory issues,  developmental concerns, sleep difficulties, infections, and general wellbeing checks. No issue is too small — we’re here to support your child’s health at every stage.

Each appointment includes a detailed discussion of your child’s symptoms and medical history, a thorough physical examination, and time to answer your questions. We’ll provide a clear diagnosis where possible, explain any findings, and offer a tailored plan for treatment or further investigations if needed.

Yes. Our private paediatric service can be used alongside NHS care. You don’t need a referral to book, and we’re happy to provide a second opinion, speed up access to care, or offer additional reassurance. We can also share our findings with your child’s NHS team to support joined-up care.

While GPs provide excellent general care, a Consultant Paediatrician is a specialist doctor with advanced training and experience in diagnosing and managing more complex or persistent issues in children. If your child’s symptoms have not improved, need investigation, or you simply want a specialist opinion, we’re here to help.

Yes, we assess a range of developmental concerns including speech delay, motor skills, social and emotional development, and school-related issues. If needed, we can refer for additional assessments or support services and help guide you through the next steps.

Please bring your child’s red book (if available), a list of any medications, and notes on symptoms or questions you may have. Any previous letters, test results, or reports (e.g. from a GP, health visitor, or school) are also helpful. Most importantly, bring your child — we aim to make the visit relaxed, supportive, and child-friendly.

The NHS offers the HPV vaccine free of charge to all young people aged 12 to 18 as part of its routine vaccination program. This is to help protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to various cancers, including cervical, throat, and anal cancers. For individuals who are sexually active but missed the vaccine during the recommended age range, there is still a benefit to receiving the vaccine. Even if they have already been exposed to some HPV strains, they may not yet have encountered all of them, and the vaccine can still provide protection against the remaining strains that could pose a risk in the future. It’s important to note that the vaccine is most effective when administered before any exposure to HPV, but it can still offer significant protection for those who may have already been sexually active. If you’re unsure about whether the vaccine is right for you, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional who can offer guidance based on your personal circumstances. 

Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection caused by bacteria known as Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria are classified into 13 different groups, with five of them—groups A, B, C, W, and Y—accounting for nearly all cases of severe meningococcal infections. Meningococcal infections can lead to life-threatening conditions such as meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord) and sepsis (a bloodstream infection). 

The disease can affect anyone, but certain age groups are at higher risk. Meningococcal infections are most commonly seen in infants, children, and adolescents, with the highest incidence occurring in children under the age of 5 and in teenagers and young adults, particularly those between the ages of 16 and 23. These age groups are more susceptible due to factors such as the close contact found in environments like schools, universities, and military barracks, which can facilitate the spread of the bacteria. 

In the UK, the NHS offers vaccinations to help protect against meningococcal disease. The vaccine provides protection against the most common and dangerous strains of the bacteria, including group B and group C, as well as the W and Y strains, which have seen an increase in cases in recent years. The vaccination schedule typically includes doses for children at 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and a booster at age 14, as well as a catch-up vaccination for teenagers and young adults (up to age 25) who may have missed previous doses. 

If you’re unsure whether you or your child has received the meningococcal vaccine or if they are within the recommended age group, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent this potentially fatal infection and protect public health. 

One dose is sufficient to provide protection.

The MenB vaccine is given to infants as part of their routine immunisations: 

  • At 8 weeks: First dose of the MenB vaccine. 
  • At 16 weeks: Second dose of the MenB vaccine. 
  • At 12 months: A booster dose of the MenB vaccine. 

This vaccination helps protect against the Neisseria meningitidis group B strain, which is responsible for a significant number of meningitis cases, particularly in infants and young children. 

The MenB vaccine was introduced as part of the routine NHS immunisation schedule for infants in the UK in September 2015. It was initially offered to babies born on or after July 1, 2015. 

In addition to infants, the MenB vaccine can also be given to older children, teenagers, or those at higher risk of meningitis B infection, but it is not routinely provided to older age groups. If you’re unsure whether you or your child has received the MenB vaccine, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider for guidance. 

The vaccine has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of meningitis B in those who receive it, offering protection against this potentially fatal infection. 

The catch-up schedule for those who missed their infant doses would typically consist of two doses of the MenB vaccine, given a few months apart. 

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection that is most commonly contracted during childhood. The virus, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through direct contact with the blisters or skin lesions of someone who is infected. As a result, chickenpox can spread quickly in places like schools, nurseries, and households. 

While chickenpox is generally mild in children, it can become more severe as people get older. Symptoms of the infection typically include an itchy rash that progresses into fluid-filled blisters, fever, and general discomfort. In children, the illness usually resolves within a week or two, but in adults and older individuals, chickenpox can cause more serious complications, such as bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia, or even long-term nerve pain (known as post-herpetic neuralgia) in some cases. 

To help protect against chickenpox, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for all children, starting from 1 year old onwards, and can significantly reduce the risk of getting the infection or developing severe complications. The vaccine is also offered to individuals who have not had chickenpox and are at risk, including older children, adolescents, and adults who have not been vaccinated or previously infected. 

In the UK, the chickenpox vaccine is not currently part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Two doses are required, one month apart.