Community paediatrics provide assessments and care for children and young people aged 0 to 16 (up to 19 years old if they get community paediatric input and are still in secondary education).
They accept referrals from doctors, schools and health and social care professionals for children and young people living in the Medway who have a Medway GP.
The team provides assessments and specialist paediatric care for children with:
- complex disabilities
- developmental delay
- cerebral palsy
- autism
- learning difficulties associated with developmental disabilities
- neurodevelopmental and metabolic problems associated with developmental delay
The staff work with parents, health visitors, nurses, therapists, mental health services and social care or education professionals, to ensure that children can get the best possible health outcomes.
They also have statutory responsibilities to:
- child protection
- the health needs of looked after children
- adoption and fostering
- provide written medical advice for children with special educational needs and disabilities when an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) has been requested
Clinic appointments take place from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, along with outreach clinics and home, special school and nursery visits.